The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-01-06
DAVID MOSS, ATTORNEY

I had, after severe struggle with pov-
erty, caught at the skirts Of the legal pro-
fession. A sign with guilt letters, "Da-
vid Moss, Attorney at Law" was tackled
on my office door in Louisiana avenue.
Within few dusty books, an empty desk
and a-dilapidated arn chair proclaimed
my legal status. I had waited patiently
for criminals and perplexed debtors to
rush in and seek my advice, but they did
not rush well, and hope deferred had
nearly made my heart sick.
On the morning of December 81, 1872,
/ sat disconsolately in my office, with my
overcoat buttoned up to my chin, said
coat answering in lieu of fire, and took
a prospective glance at my affairs. My
finances stood two to fye-that is, i've
cent nickle to two-cent copper. The
five cents would buy q glass of beer and
the two cents pretzel. smiled at my
anticipated happiness, and took an in
yentory of my wardrobe. Like their
owner, my coat and pants had evidently
seen better days; for, although rusty an
thread-bare, they showed traces OF their
original color and texture. l commenced
to ruminate on my condition and achieve
plans for the future. All that I could bring
to aid were the-words of Horace Greeley,
"Go West" and s.'You are a liar" l
knew was liar, technically speaking,
because my sign proclaimed me to be an
attorney and solicitor at law, and yet l
had not single case to plead before the
bar, although I was nominally member:
To 90 west was to my fancy literal OF
all my splendid possibilities" 1 knew
/ possessed (what young man is there
that does not think the same p genius
that would astonish the world, if it could
only find an outlet or an inlet.
Just as arrived at this point in my
reflection, the door>of my Office swung
softly on its hinges and a man closely
mufled in winter apparel stood by my
side.
care you lawyer?" he said, with a
questioning glance of his steel-gray eyes.
s'That is my business" I returned,
coolly, Strengthening myself to the full
height of my five feetsix.
He smiled at my manner, slipped a
five dollar bill in my hand, and said,
blandly:
"I have come for advice"
This was coming to the point. l
thawed instantly, and asked my client to
be seated. He was middle-aged man,
tall and sinewy, with black hair sparsely
mixed with gray. His dress and manner
proclaimed him to be a man Of wealth.
noticed as he slowly seated himself.
IL l< Hr,oy, ho1 Ip
daughter, end she was obstinately de-
termined on marrying a man that you
despised-a man whom you know to be
villain, but had no means of proving
it w
"Is your daughter of age?" asked.
"I did not say she was my daughter,
young man; you jump at conclusions
no able lawyer accepts anything without
proof"
felt that I had suddenly changed
places with him-that he was the attor-
ney and was the client; but taking no
notice of his words, I repeated the ques-
tion with q variation.
"Is she of age?"
eyes," was the reply, "she is Of age,
and as obstinate as mule"
'Disinherit her." I suggested.
"Oh," said he with shrug of his
shoulder, "I have tried everything. l
have told her she should not have pen
ny of my money I have kept her on
bread and water hired governesses to
watch her-in fact, I have left no stone
unturned."
"There remain only two methods; in
ocu1ttno nr
put detectives on her track, and convict
him of some ignoble action" said.
"Your last suggestion is the best. But
even if should convict him of murder
she would imagine that it was conspi-
racy on my part, and marry him at the
gailows."
He remained in deep thought for sew
eral minutes, and then said:
'eYoung man, don't think your busi-
ness is very lucrative. How would you
like to change it for something more
proftable?"
Change or starvation was evidently a
necessity for me, so OF course had no
objections to offer. In fact, any escape
from my present condition seemed like a
God-send to me. I impaired my will
ingness to make any reasonable change.
We soon agreed upon terms which seem
ed to me more than liberal, and together
we concocted some plan to bring the
young lady to submission.
had some compunction of conscience,
for two against one, and that one of the
weaker sex, seemed hardly fair, but the
novelty and the romance, and the solid
cash connected with it, reconciled me to
the situation.
Just as the sun from the west was gild-
ing the capitol dome with the last beams
of departing day, the train from Balti-
more came putting in. 1t was Christmas
eve, and the busy crowds were hurrying
to their homes.
Two days before, David Moss, attorney
and solicitor, seedy and threadbare, had
left Washington for Baltimore. This
evening the train brought back David
Moss, elegantly attired, gentleman"
It is astonishing how ones dress increases
their self-respect No doubt Polonius
thought of this when he said to his son,
"Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
~