The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-06-17

who's your clientT
Now Oliver hal been expecting thi
question. but its abruptness startled him.
Il am
The judges eyebrows suddenly lifted.
lexpect to plead my own cause oil
yer continued.
Hunt, eh? versus whomr qucric,
the Judge.
Shaw
Hunt versus ShawY
1T was the judges turn to start.
Yes said Oliver. Miss Fanny ovel
there is the defendant
The Judge looked hard mt Fanny, who
didn't look mt him ut all. .
Look here, Oliver he fcgan Mt length
his wrath rising. this won't do. You
have been trihing with me. What dc
you mean, sirY
The Judge was getting into heat. Ol
liver cast desp,iring glance mt Fanny
which seemed To give him courage, fol
he Immediately said
.Ahcmr
We'll. SIR said the judge. What are
you waiting for?
MAY it please the courtr said Oliver
The court looked more mystiiicd than
pleased. but contrived To nod. in so cute
n manner, however, that Oliver derived
little encouragement from IL.
Il told your honor. this morning. Oil
yer continued. that should bring In the
matter by Thursday. On consultation
with the defense we deemed il cXpedicni
to present our cause tonight, provided
your honor would grant us hearing,
We have no witnesses To be examined
on either side, and whether the defense
will have anything tn say remains to be
seen. hope to state my clients case 50
satisfactory. and plead his cause so sue
cessfnlly, that the learned Judge, who,
by the way has promised me his hearty
cooperation, will have no difficulty In
arriving at u decision in my clients fl-
vor.'
In the first place. sir, must state that
/ love your daughter, dcyotcdly, and
have some reason TO believe that she Is
not wholly indifferent to me-
The effects of this shot was immcdi,
atcly visible. Tho Judge looked harder
than ever at Fanny, while the young lady
showed evident signs Of CONSERVATION.
Oliver resumed:
am aware that my career rs n lawyer
has not been such Us to Justify me in ask
ing the priceless gift of her love. Even
had tho assurance to prefer such claim
/ know both her and your honor too well
to think that il would be regarded with
favor. began the study of law, not be-
cause Tliked IL. but because l hoped to
gain from it strength Of mind, clearness
of thought and soundncss of Judgment.
Ny tastes have ever been for literature
and even in my college days was fur
tive contributor to some respectable jour
nails. i have continued To write more or
less ever since, and so well have my ef-
forts been received that am determined
to devote my attention to literature exclu-
sively. A short time since, was offered
u share in the management and editOrship
of the Universal Eagle. accepted tho
without hcsltating longer than
was sufficient to convince me the terms
were reasonable. And now
only desire an assurance Fl IOm your daugh-
ter that she will accompany me to the
scene Of my new labors, and your own
l have kept my literary pro-
cliyities secret, partly because of dis
like to have my productions recognized
and criticised by friends, and partly be-
cause knew that IN editorial life was
among tho last things that my father
would have chosen for me, and / wished
to fully demonstrate my ability and apti-
tude before saying anything. In view of
these considerations, cntrcat your honor
to give that confidence to my client, which
i am sure he will never forfeit
The plaintiff sat down, wipng the per-
spiratiOn from the lawyers face with the
clients pockcLhandkerchicf.
The Judge hal by this time cleared his
somewhat mystilied wits, taken rapid
but careful survey of the situation, and
formed his decision. He said:
Has the defendant anything to offer?
Come. Fanny, what can You say for your
self AMI against the plaintiifp Can you
prove that Oliver oughtnt to have you?
must say that, so far, the suit is In his
favor. and unless you make u pretty strong
defence. | shall bc Obliged to render de-
cision for the plaintiff
MAY 1t please the court said Fanny,
Il fear can make but u weak defence
Oliver already knows that my heart pleads
for him. and my reason says nothing
against him. And while | honor him for
not asking me to be his wife while his
character seemed unstable and his life
am glad that he has been
able To clear away all doubts and show
himself so worthy and noble; for, dear
papa. love him better than all the world
besides, and would u great deal rather hc
would be an editor than a lawyer, l am
sure
This unlawycr-like speech caused OH
yer to make very unlawyer-like move
ment, and the defence was so utterly de-
fanccless that she came very near disap-
pearing in the plaintiffs arms.
Hey, hcyr said the judge. n pretty nr-
gument. surely. Why. you give up with
out struggle. / decide for Oliycr-for
the plaintiff, / mean
.Really, now. Oliver. you were dcep.
weren't you" pursued the judge. You
rascal! But what about the twenty thou
sand. eh. Oliver? Well. well. we won't
quarrel about Il now. She'll have tha,
much at least-thirty likely enoughr
Then again
An editor, is Il? I'd rather you'd been
n lawyer; but it's harl sailing against the
wind. If hnny's suitcd, II doesn't mat
ter. God bless you BOTH and tho judge
retired precipitatcly.
when they were alone, Oliver said:
DO you remember once saying that i
was too fanciful for lawycr|
Yes returned Fanny, and think 81
yet; but l didn't say you were too much
so for an editor,
AT any rate,' said Oliver. Il have been
successful once
Entirely 'rejoincd Fanny; you outwit-
ted the judge