The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-22


thereof. Penson took readily to his
new vocation, and ultimately became noted
as keen adept in the tortuous shifty prac-
tice so highly appreciated by the class of
clients with whom he had chiefly to deal /;
though l do not believe he would have lent
himself to any decidedly unprofessional ex-
pedient, dangerously near as in the fervor
of his temperament he might at times have
ventured near the faintly-traced boundary
line which marks the limit which an at
torney may not overstep in defense of the
most liberal and interesting of clients.
For the rest, Richard Penson was fairly
conducted, pleasant, companionable young
fellow, except when, more freshly -primed
than usual, and alone with some one or
two of his intimates he got maudlin about
Judith Morton-her charms caprices, cru
elites. A detestable infliction, / we'll re-
member, were those obliging condolences /;
but rested so slightly upon my memory,
that the sole and hazy impression l derived
from them was that he had been Tilted by
handsome young shrew, who, most likely
on account of her birthstone temper, had
not yet obtained husband, when Richard
Penson finished his time, and inscribed his
name on the roll as an attorney of the
Court of Kings Bench. Soon after that
event he left town for Westmoreland, in re-
newed quest, had no doubt of his old
flame. I neither saw nor heard any thing
of him again till about three years after
ward, when met him just by the Great
Turnstile, Holborn but so changed was he,
that /, for some moments, vainly cast about
in my memory as to whom the pallid, care
worn, poverty stricken man whose proffered
hand mechanically held in mine, could be.
"You do not remember me?" he said,
with dull, wintery smile. The voice, and
a peculiar north-country accent, enabled
me to do so instantly, and l blurted out,
Orchard Penson But, good God what
has come to you? Why you look like an
old man ~
81 am one," he answered. cage is not
always truly reckoned by years"
"Surely," said, after a slight pause,
"that old craze of yours about the West
moreland spit-fre you used to talk of, can
not have made such wreck of sensible
man?"
"Certainly not or, at least, not in the
way you appear to suppose. But come if
you have an hour to spare, and will stand
treat for few glasses, will tell you all
about it,"
"Stand treat for few glasses p The
hot blood burned in my cheeks and tenn
pies as / echoed this sad confession of
meanness and degradation from my former
acquaintance but he did not appear to
heed, or was callous to, the implied mean
ing Of the exclamation and upon my STAN
mering out that he was welcome to as
many glasses as he chose to have, he
frightened up into kind of sickly gayety,
said, "I was always trump" and led the
way to tavern in Chancery Lane. There.
and at subsequent interviews l was made
acquainted with the following strange and
warning story. Much of the dialogue,
which he had morbid fondness for re-
peating, he had written out.
When Richard Penson, after an absence
of more than five years, revisited his birth
place, he found Judith Morton still single
and though in her twenty-third year, as
freshly beautiful, to his mind, as when he
had last seen her. He soon found, more
over, that it was quite out of the question
that she should become his wife, albeit the
refusal was this time moro gently intima-
ted than on former occasion. According
to the gossip of the neighborhood, one
Robert Masters, thriving statesman" I"
but about ten years her senior, had been
courting her off and on for long time
but somehow the affair seemed as far or
farther Off than ever from a matrimonial
termination. 1t was also reported that a
former beau of hers, Charles Harpur, who
had emigrated to America, and greatly
prospered there, with whom she had con-
stantly corresponded, was shortly expected
to pay visit to England, and of course TO
Westmoreland. Thus admonished of the
folly Of further indulgence in his dream
fancies, Penson turned his lingering steps
first toward Appleby, whore, however, no
opening for an additional attorney pre-
sented itself, and finally he came as far
southwark as Liverpool, opened an Office in
Scotland Road, and diligently strove to
edge himself into the legal business of that
ilourishing city. The result was so dis
heartening, that at the end of about six
months fruitless eDdeayor he had made up
his mind TO sell his office-desk. stool. chairs.