Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-14
DAVID MOSS, ATTORNEY.

books, an empty desk and dilapidauod arm chair
proclaimed my legal status. had waitedpatient.
ly for criminals and psrplexed debtors to rush in
and aeek my advice, but they did not rnah well,
and hope deferred had nearly made my heart
sick.
On tho morning of December 2lst, 1872 1 sat
disconsolately in my Office, with my overcoat
buttoned up to my chin, said oyercoat answering
in lieu OF fro, and took prospective glance
ut my affairs My finances stood two TO five
that Is, tvo cont nickle to n two cent copper
smiled at my anticipated happinoas, and took an
inventory OF my wardrobe. Like their owner my
coat and pants had evidently seen better days
for although rusty and thread bare, they showed
traces or thor original color and texture !
commenced to rnminate Oh my condition aud
achieve plans for the future But all that could
bring to aid were the words OF Horace Greeley
so West" no so West was to my fancy .
literal burial Of my splendid possibilities" |
knew possessed (what Young man is there that
does not think tho same y genius that would
astonish the world il it conll ouiy find an outlet
ur an inlet.
just ~ 1 arrived at this point in my reHec-
tions, the door of my office swung softly on It's
hinges, and man closely muilled in winter ap-
parel stood by my side.
"Are you lawyer, sir :" ho said, with ques-
.tionng glance of his steel gray eyes.
That is my business" returned, coolly,
five feet six.
Hc smiled at my manner, slipped five.do!lar
bill in my hand and said, blandly:
~ have come for advice"
This was coming to the point. l thawed in
stantly, and asked my client to be seated
lie was a mddle-aged man, tall and sinewy,
with black hair sparsely mixed with gray. His
dress and manner proclaimed him man Of
wealth. noticed this as he slowly seated him
self.
"Suppose," said he, "you had an only daugh-
ter, and she was obstinately determined on mar
rying man that you despised-.a man whom
you knew to be a yillan but had no means of
proving ii 2"
SIS your daughter OF age ?" asked.
Il did not say she was my daughter, young
man, you jump at conclusions /; no able lawyer
accepts anything without proof"
felt that had suddenly changed places with
him-that he WAS tho attorney aud l WAS the
client but, taking no notice Of his words, 1 re-
peated tho question with a variation.
Is she OF age?'
'Yes," WAS the reply, 'she is of age, and as
obstinate as a mule"
Dsinherit," suggested.
"Oh,' said he, with shiug of his shoulder,
" have tried everything. have told her she
should not have a penny OF my money, have
kept her on bread and water; hired n governess
to watch her-in fact havo loft 10 stone un-
turned
Thore remains, only two methods incarcer.
alto her in an insane asylum, or put detectives on
'ls tfaGk ana COlVlct MN or some lbfoblb
action," said.
Your last suggestion III tho best But evon
il should conyic5 him of murder she would i'm
agine lliat il was conspiracy Oh my part, and
marry him at tho gall)ws."
lio rnuisiued in deep iliought FOR several min
utea, and then said
'' Yonug man, ( don't think yonr business ia
very lucrative. How would You like to change
II for something more proiitaOlef'
Change or starvation whs evidently necessity
ma an pc had pp n ia tn M
In fact. any escape from my present condition
seemed like God send TO no. l impaired my
Willingness to make any reasonable change. We
soon agreed upon terms which seemed to me
more than liberal, and together concocted soms
plan to bring the young lady to submission.
had some compunctlon of conscience, for
-tEn aaainst -nnc- and Tia! ono OF the Won.,e.
sex, seemed hardly fair, but the novelty and the
romance anil the solid cash connected with it
reeonciled mo to the situation.
just as the sun from tho west was gliding the
Capitol dome with the last beams of departing
day, the train from Baltimore came putting in.
II was Christmas eve and the busy crowds were
hurryng to their homes.
Two days before David Moss, attorney and
solicitor, seedy and thread-hare, had left Wash
inston for Baltimore. This evening tho train
brought back David Moss, elegantly attired
"Genteman." 1t ID astonishing how ones
dress increases their se'f-respect. No doubt
Polonious thought of this when he said to his
son "Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
for tho apparel Oft proclaims the man"
What change it had made in my feelinSs !.
A few days ago 80 Respondent, now buoyed up
by hope and my increased good looks. felt ~
happy as a king. My mirror had told me tho
same ilattering tale which it tells many belle.
My ambrosal locks were curled i'll style, my
blonde monstache was waved to perfection, my
blue eyes sparkled, and my manly form was I'M
mersod in All elegant suit of broadclotll. Be-
sides all this, had cultivated becoming paiior,
for l was to enact the role of an invalid. A car
Tiage was waiting was assisted iuto 1t by the
obsequious footman, and sank languidly on the
cushions. 1 was driven to All elegant mansion,
mot by my host and almost arrived to lux,lfi-
nus chamber. was too fatisued to so down
stairs that evening, but the amount OF supper
which contrived to swallow, and tho vine 1t
took to wash it down, would have astonis'ied a
restaurateur.
In the morning my head was 80 bad that
took my coifeo in bed
At dinner time managed, with some assis-
tauce, to get to the dining-roon, and for the
first time met Kate Marston, the young lady
whose dearest hopes had come to overthrow.
After The first glance began to think that per-
haps old Mr.. Marston had made grave mistake
bringing me there. l never had an IDEAL my
busy life in college and my money to live at all
afserwari had allowed no margin for dreams
But am sure Kate Marston embodied all the el
ements which Eonlu nave composed my lucai II
4 had possessed one.
Sl,e was small, II perfect brunette, with glor.
ious eyes, which might sparkle with love OF
hate; red lips and checks, lustrpns black hair
white, shapely teeth, and, in fact, everything
which is charming in woman. She treated rnt
yeay kindly, very gently, because !, her fathers
friend, was an Invalid. II had peen apparent
~ strong and hearty, -lla would have suspected
her fathers motives, and met every advance
with rebuff lie Ind brought several eligible
yonng men to his house, but Kate had sen
them about their busine.s III ANYTHING but
complimentary style. All the ladies who ha'
been hired as companion rhe !iad won over q
her cause. They Abetted her in her dGsobedi
ence, and were discharged in Disgrace. 1t wa
uiannel that while drawing on her sympathy
and seeking kindly offices from her, l shout
.,a,cil over her, keep with her M mnch as
s,oud and excte il possible, the jealousy of he
lover and tempt him to some desperate acto
felt Immediately that it would be pieasan
task, although had | been, III appeared,
young man OF Landed eatate, would have 81
tered INTO it with great zeal. For few day
everything progressed smoothly. Kate was Al
ri,illuus in her attentions to my comfort.
would lie on the sofa, and she would read to n
in her dulcent tones. l enjoyed this hoarti.
for sho was renly q good reader, and Tenhysd
or Byron from her lips WIS tho sweetest mus
TO me.
When my head aehed, and often had seve1
spells with my head, how tenderly she batied
with those deft fingers of hers. | would hay
been content to live and hask in the Huhshne
her presence forever, but observation showt
me that there necessity for action. Som
times Kate would shut her self M in her roo
for an hour or two. Meanwhile Lon whom TN
always hung heasily-wten she was absent place
my char by the window to WOW pa
sers-by. Invariably saw aimsn pacing up Al
down, in front OF the house. He was OF piedii'
-ize, light complexion. blue-gray eyes, lousss!
WhislIers, a mixture between ilaxen and brow
Most people would have called linn rather goo
looking. but a close observer of character won
have noted tie strangely shaped forehead al
tho gradual sinking IN of the features az y
bridge OF the nose. l was not long in hnd
out this was Rates lover, and took stran
delight in watching him. caught him looki
at me with malignant scowl. With haBe's !
appearance he always disappeared. wSs e'
tain that they were keeping up correspor
auce, but never saw him receive any letters,
now began to concoct plans to prevent this.
begged her as great favor TO help me in WI
ing some letters which WIS necessity for me
write but which, on account Of my weakness
WAS unable to do. kept her for long hoi
writing letters about all sorts OF things, to i
aginary people, which, of course, were neN
mailed. have some of them yet carefully |
away in my writing desk. Then we took lo
rides, and she, believing me to be stranger
the city, pointed out objects of Interest," aud
swered the numerous questions which CHI
to ask. l think at those times she must h,
rilought mo very stupid, and possessed OF v
little information, but she always answered
with the same unwearying kindness.
With all her frmness, and as her father tern
IT., oi,ytipacy, there was always in her that &
tlsness which charaoterizes tho truo lady,