The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-06-08

nOme-un only chllQ-OI nearly tne
same age.
/ asked him if he would tell me
his name. With smile, he answer
ed that his name did not nratter-he
was not sure that he had name. l
then'asked him if he knew me, Ho
nodded, and said'hethodght might
be Ma; harrington, of Waldbridge.-
WheSl I told him that he was correct
he sad 1thatI must excuse him. lie
4 ls vet and must hurry home. And
trlt she ttBNed away, i was
sae deep Ipees tps him.and
hsnh he had disap Redred 4sstarted to
eioin my wife,with a dawning-im-
sSSsion that fbes aans, lpight be
M tlysfpF ged.s But my darling
lhaa
ageted out 5V' itet head above
Asater- -sndf went on'iny way rejoic-
ing, Resolved that the preservep
OF my child sIiulld not be forgotten,
will not tell you of the emotion
of my wife when she held her child
once more in.heE arms. We reached
Shireton beforenight and foundQuar-
tcrs at a comfortable tavern.
On the following day Laban Sar-
furt called upon me and was about
to spread his evidence for my inspcc.
tion, when | interrupted him, ]
told, him | could not accept his conf
dence until had made up my mind
to take his cascin hand. Something
seemed to whisper that there was
danger ahead. did not feel comfor-
table in that mans presence. | felt
as though he was trying to buy me-
The court would sit in four days. /
told himI l would give him a final an
swer in two days from that.
That evening | made a confidant
of my wife, and asked her what |
should do. "If | take the case" |
said, 81 am sure of five thousand dol
lars" She bade me do what was
right. "God has been very kind to
us" she said. Iet us look to Him
for our guidance"
After this | called on the clergy
man of the place, whose son had been
my classmate in college, and whom
| had once before visited. He receiv-
ed me heartily, and by-and-by | ask
ed him about William Acton. The
result of all he told may be summed
up in his closing sentence. Said he;
T"I am sure William Acton was
Philip Acton's child-in fact, | know
it-and think the father and moth
er were married. Betsy died very
soon after her child was born, and we
know Philip always treated the boy
as a Legitimate child; and that he
loved -hinr-as such Lean confidently
affirm"
On. the following morning after
breakfast, as | sat by The window in
the bar-room, saw, coming up the
street, the man who had saved my
child, He was walking slowly like
one in trouble. ! pointed him out to
my host, and asked him who he was.
"That is William Acton. Perhaps
you have heard of the trouble he is
likely to have with Laban Sarfurt."
] said | had heard.
81 hope he may come out all right"
but the host added, "but / am fear
ful. He has got a hard'and heartless
customer TO deal with -
| shut my mouth and held my
peace until Laban Sarfurt called for
his answer. | said to him:
"Mr. Sarfurt, l have been consid-
ering all this time whether | could
undertake your case with a clear
conscicnce-whether | should be
helping the side of justice and right
in helping you. l had concluded
that could not do 50 before l had
seen William Acton, to know him
by name, | now know him for a
man who nobly risked his own life
to save the life of my child, For
that deed will reward him if | can.
| have as yet accepted not one Of
your private disclosures, | have gain
ed from you nothing which you could
wish to keep from the public, lean
not take your case, but ! tell you
frankly, that, if you prosecute, Twill
defend William Acton"
| did not mind Sarfurt's wrath
He raved, and sworc, and stamped,
and then he went off and engaged
two lawyers from IIerkimcr to take
his case, | called upon Acton and
told him would defend him if he
accepted my service as | had accept
ed his, lie took my hand and
thanked me,
Imado q great many pleas in my
life, but think | never made bet
ter one than l made to that jury on
that occasion. They were out not
over five minutes, BY their verdict
William Acton was the lawful pos
SCISSOR of the estate his father had
left.
From that day / never hesitated
to refuse 4 case to which | could not
give my heart. Such u stand on the
part of Il lawyer becomes known, and
the public feels it; and what the pub
lie feels iuries are bound to feel.
Concerning William Acton | will