The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-11-05

4 NAoAAAAanAAs4
4 communication with him Suid claimant
proved indeed 70 be in the legal profession,
which was disappointment for the grub
ber but as there was really something in
the evidence he had Lit upon, his time was
not entirely thrown away. ..
Thiswas the Startling Information which
was conveyed to Ar. Johnstone m the
hard, sharp words Of . lawyeT's letter, and
which he now communicated In his dis
| tress to Miss Plumptree and Annie They
| cheered him with aanguine speeches; and
| when he had gathered his wits together
he started for London to seek an inter-
view with his solicitor.
| The acute gentleman informed him that
there really seemed to be. something in
the claim which was set mp but that it
would take deal of legislation to prove
| il, and 20 far - he could see, it was odds
1 on the man in possession eventually win
ming the day. But stiI. II an advantage
GUS compromise were to be suggested, it
might be as well to take it into considera-
ton .-s 80 j
So Mr.. Johnstone took 10 walking for
hours about the garden Of joss House
Villa with his eyes bent ON II toes, and
his hands closed behind his back, lost in
thought, and muttering at interval : Ad
vantageous compromise" -
l. He was accustomed to spread q silk
pocket over his head after
dinner, and take forty winks-at the rate
of one wink to two minutes; but his
slumbers now were strangely disturbed
He would turn and mutter,. and his muter-
ings to the excitement of Annie's curios-
ity, invariably formed some part of the
words Advantageous compromised"
/
Miss Plumptree and ANNE Johnstone
| sat In the same queer Rlmmer-house over
looking the dragon in the chickweed, en-
| work, the advance of the year being
shown by basket of apricots which stood
| in the place of the strawberries. Mr..
Johnstone sat near them in silent abstrac-
| tion. At intervals, indeed, he would tilt
his chair forward to bring his hand in
range of the mellow fruit, of which, he
was devouring q choleraic quantity; but
he seemed to do 80 mechanically, as il he
did not quite know what he was about
| and, indeed, while his palate was engaged
with the apricotA his mind was absorbed
in contemplation Of his position. .
That fine, that remarkably fine wo-
mar" he said to himself, as his eyes rest
ed admiringly on Miss Plumptree, "will
not marry me until that girl is off nv
hands, which is less likely to happen than
ever, now that it is doubtful If / can give
her, or even leave her a penny. And yet,
if these fellows really manage to take
away my money-and there is no know
ing what lawyers may not do in that way
it win be an extra reason why should
marry a woman with a nice competence to
make up. / wonder how George the
Fourth would have acted under similar
circumstances? But bah! how could he
possibly have been placed in them? When
king has his property taken from him,
he does not 60 TO law; he fights, or rather,
other people fight, which is better still,
and settle the matter that way"
His meditations were interrupted by q
servant bearing card, who told him that
a gentleman wished to see him.
"Where have you shown him?"
"Into the grand music hall" replied the
girl.
Too much fiurried to say q word to
either of the ladies, Mr.. Johnstone
hastened to the grand music-hall, an apart
ment fifteen feet by thirteen, where he
found young man.
The-ah 1.-The claimant, believer"
said Mr.. Johnstone, glancing from his
visitor to the card he held in his hand.
"Yes," replied the other "The course
which have taken in calling upon you
personally, may seem somewhat strange, es-
pecially for lawyer; but there has
been some mention of the possibil-
ity of compromise; and to tell
the simple truth, you have been
in possession 80 long, and the information
which enables me to contest your rights
has come from 81 disreputable quarter,
that am rather ashamed of my position,
and would prefer settling the matter
amicably to commencing long course of
litigation.
IA very unprofessional view of the case,
I own, but beg you to believe that /
should have no such scruples if were
acting for client 1t is delicate matter,
however, to make the first approaches
towards compromise in writing, because,
if your opponent is unwilling to entertain
it, he may take it as an acknowledg edgment
of weakness, and become confirmed In the |
strength of his case or, he may find a
weapon in some sentence of your letter |
which may be turned against you. So 1
have determined to sink the lawyer I am
only a very young one, and call upon you |
personally to talk the matter over quietly, !
and see if You are inclined to meet me |
halfway. OF course, you will commit
yourself to nothing without consulting |
your solicitor"
II am no great friend to litigation my
SELF" said Mr.. Johnstone and If you |
can show me that your claim is really q |
good one. l am ready to listen to what
you-have to propose. .er
The young man then commenced trans
lating the case from jargon into English !;
and when his auditor seemed to, have a |
pretty clear idea of it in all its bearings, |
he told him that he had sooner the first |
sketch of q compromise should come from
him.
"Are you married!" cried Mr.. John
stone, his eyes Frightening with sudden
idea.
"No."
"Then, by George! I" slapping his thigh,
why not marry my niece !" ...asi,.,, q.
You do me great honor, I am sure"
stammered the young man. I" So unexpect-
ed! so suddeni No idea ofmarrying, un-
less-Besides, have not the pleasure
of knowing the lady; in fact, was not |
aware you had niece"
80, you shaH soon know her" cried
Mr.. Johnstone; "she is in the garden. |
Come and be introduced" And he led |
the way to the summer-house, his visitor |
following him with face of comic per-
plexity
"Marry another; perhaps afterwards to
find her-neverI !" he said to himself
annie" said Mr.. Johnstone, "let me |
introduce you to- H0lloa u
No wonder he, as well as Miss Plump |
tree, was astonisxed, for the stranger cried |
out: Annie, my Annie, is it possible |"
and rushed forward to seize her hand,
which she gave him with little cry Of
aNed {" e
"Why, Annie, have you met Mr.. whis-
ton before?" s.7.e. .,...g.5
"Yes, uncle" Eeea ~ss1lT
@Oyes sir" said Ned Winston; and
when she disappeared from Dreary street
50 mysterlously and suddenly, was in
despair. / have looked for her every
where; have advertised for her in the
sensation column of the Times, not BY
name, Of course, but 90 that she might I'M
derstand" 5feft
"We have it sent the second day, and
the supplement does not come with it."
Well, I expect you do not want the
whole story over again, 80 we may omit
| the rest of the conversation. Everything
was arranged satisfactorily. Ned Whis-
ton, who was doing respectable and year
ly increasing business, married Annie
when the peaches came in; nice sum
was paid down on their marriage, and the
remainder of the property secured to
them on Mr.. Johnstone's death, subject to
an annuity to be paid to his widow, if he
left one.