The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-07-09
MAS OLD BEAU.
BY CARL RRESr.

The recent revelations concerning
deed forgeries at criminal trial at
Chicago have reminded me of an in
cident that occurred few years ago,
in the vicinity Of st. Louis, which
seems to me to be worth relating.
Clara aud Mary Merwin, sisters
and orphans, we're in the sitling-room
Of their pleasant home, on the edge
of village near the Missouri. Their
mother had been dead several years;
their father had lately died, leaving
them an estate, as they supposed, Of
the value of some forty thousand dol
lars, but they had learned quite re-
Gently that the property was encum-
bered to such an extent that they
were likely to be deprived Of it all.
This discovery, as may be supposed,
filed them with sadness and anxiety,
and they were seated in silence, un-
able to read, to converse, to work, to
do anything but brood over their
great misfortune.
While they were thus occupied
with sombre thoughts, q buggy drove
up in front Of the house, aman alight-
ed, and the buggy drove away.
The man must have been a little ON
the shady side of fifty, TO Judge from
his gray hairs, although his face was
fresh and unwrinkled. He was dress
ed with remarkable neatness, and his
manner indicated briskness as we'll as
precision. In one hand he carried a
small valise, and in the other an UNI
brela, and he stepped quickly to the
door and rang the bell. In few
minutes he was ushefed into the pres
ence of the young ladies'.
q ~ amsobliged to introduce myself, f"
he said, smiling and bowling in a
courtly manner Abner Pierce
Here is my card professional card.
You will perceive that l am lawyer
in st. Louis, and presumably re-
spectacle man. Don't be afraid;
am not here to hurt you, but to help
you. / have the honor to call myself
friend of your family that is to
say, although it is many years since |
have seen any member of said family
l always had the highest possible re-
gard for your now sainted mother,
and nothing would please me better
than to be Of some service to her
children.
"We are happy to meet you" muir
INJURED Clara. " K
"Thank you. | happened to heai
no matter how-that you are in
trouble, aud have come up here il
the belief that l can assist you.
hope you will feel that You can trust
me. l am actually an honest man
although a lawyer, and l mean well
although I'may express myself clum
silly" s%tss7ssA
II am free to admit that we neeC
assistance and advice, and that W,
have not known to whom to lool
for it.
"Very well. It is a good thing
no doubt, that I have come. Nov
sit down, and tell me all about it. !"
Clara Merwin, who was the eide
of the orphans, and the leader il
everything, told how she and her sis
ter had taken out letters of admins
tration upon their fathers estate
when man of whom they had neve
J before heard put in an appearance
land presented a mortgage, witt
bond included, executed by the lat,
Mr.. Merwin upon his real estate, TO
the sum Of forty thousand dollars
Not couteut with prohibiting then
from attempting to sell anything, h
had tied up their money in bank
leaving them absolutely pennilesa
They had used their credit. bat trades
men we're beconing impatient, an
some had refused to supply them ful
ther without pay
"This is u bad case" said MI
Pierce. "You need money--that
the first thing to be attended to-
You must let me act as your banke
until | get ,ou odtof this scrape, an
J. that won't be long, | hope. Ho'
much do you over
"More than one hundred dollars,
answered Clara.
, The old gentleman counted OF
two hundred dollars from a well-hlle
pocket-book, and handed it to her.
s'For your mothers sake, he saiC
:, when she refused to receive it, an
he forced il upon her in such a wa
that she could not help taking it. d
then accepted the young ladies inv
! tation to make their house his hon
during his stay, and went in to dinn'
with them.
) "Is there any place / can smoke
he asked, when they had returned
the sitting-room.
E "You can smoke here" said Il
z z impulsive Mary. "Paalwayssmok
= here, and we are used to it.
SO be took meerschaum and son
r tobacco from his valise, and was SOC
putting away with an air OF gre
= contentment.
II can think better when l smoke
he said. ibid you have any leg
y advice in the matter OF that mortgag
Miss Merwih?"
Eyes, sir" replied Clara. 10
LAWYER said that it was plain ca
against us, although it was strani
that we had never heard Of the MOI
gage before"
I. Every strange. What is the mar
!" Of the man who holds it?"
y alexander Campbell"
= "Huml A good name. bnt a b
man, ! am afraid When and whe
can see him?'
oHe will be here this afternoon
!. + answered Clara. He proposes,
n we will make him deed Of the r'
ng estate. to give up the bond and mo
~ gage, leaving our money in bal
- and the rest Of the personal pro
o,-fv