The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-22
THE JUDGES STORY.

The Judge knocked the ashes from his
cigar, and rose with an emphatic "hemp
All the others drew long breath, and
brought their chairs down from their
tilted positions. Graham had been
telling story to while away the long
hours of the Christmas night, and Gra-
ham was magnificent story-Leller.
"Your turn, Judge" said Graham
with slight laugh, the flush slowly dy,
ing out OF his face.
"Beat Graham's ii you can," said Fen
ner, rubbing his hands together with
great glee. ....-.
"You don't know the Judge, Fenner, ;"
said Williams. "He used to equal Mr..
Midshipman Easy in the number of his
adventures, and his grace In relating
them.
The young lawyer, whose soubriquet
Of "Judge" had been bestowed upon
him in the early days Of his college life,
from his superannuated gravity and his
sententious way of deciding questions
that bored him, drew back cnair with
flourish, and then pushed it toward
the fire and sat down.
"Pll tell you what 1T is, boys, you
needn't think I'm going to be beat by
Graham. have story to tell which is
lust as good as his, but then it may
lose something in the telling. Since we
parted five years ago, l have inter-
viewed Blackstone, Chitty, and others
of that ilk,' and good deal OF the ro-
nance has faded out in that way, you
perceive. But then, as we agreed to
meet in five years and compare ex-
perience, it was merely to have some
Thing to tell, so 1 did my best to have
an adventure. Heml
"Perhaps you all remember what my
college days were. You do? Humph!
Then 1t will save me the trouble of tell
ing you, though l had studied up fine
bit OF pathos about them. However, it
don't matter much; let it 60 now. One
fact, though, l must speak OF, and that
is the financial condition of your pres
ent orator i'll those college days. never
said anything about it then, because l
was deal too proud; but to tell you the
truth, boys, it required some screwing
and some pretty close calculations to
make my allowance cover my modest
wants. l remember l used to be not a
little envious of Fenner and Graham
when l saw them scattering money
around with such lavish hand, and |.
with my fine natural abilities, good
looks, and extraordinary stock Of COM
mon sense" and the Judge Strengthened
himself back, and laughed in his rare,
genial way, without finishing the sen.
tence.
"However, to pass over that, and
come to the time when we left college.
with young honors thick upon us.
Weren't we proud of our diplomas
thought Boys, want you to tell me
truly whether you ever took your sheep
skin out OF its case after the first six
monthsW
"Haven't seen mine since two weeks
after commencement" murmured Gra-
ham.
Don't know where mine is," said
Fenner, and the others intimated that
their experience entirely coincide with
his.
"That's just it, boys" pursued the
Judge. "l tried to get a situation by
exhibiting that imposing document, but
after good many trials and as many
ignominious failures ! put the pious
fraud away, and lett of being a college
graduate. went in on my merits then,
resolved to win or perish in the attempt.
1t seemed as if would have to accept
the latter alternative. L had neither
money nor friends, and there were plen-
lty of youngmen with wealth and posi-
ton ready TO fill every vacancy. was
pretty hard up for money, you know,
and it was about this time fell in with
Steve Ranald, who was in about
the same condition with re-
spect to funds. 1 believe none
OF YOU ever saw him, did you? 1 wish
you had known him. lie was half
French, and that accounts for some Pc
cuIiar traits in his Character. A mag
nifcent-looking fellow, with certain
kind OF fascination about him that you
could not resist. could not, l know.
He led me into all kinds Of scrapes that
never would have thought of going ln-
to. and it was impossible to blame him.
He mad such merry, light-nearted way
with him when he chose, that took me
quite by storm.
"Well, as l said, our condition was
about the same financially, SO we Joined
together and rented a room i'll IA very
cheap but respectable neighborhood
We kept BACHELORS hall there very COM
fortabiy for while, while I hunted en-
ployment, and he compounded wonder
Iul French dishes out Of nothing.
IL suppose in my search for employ
Iment, l had started out with some vague
idea OF becoming minister to some iOr-
eign power, or Postmaster General, or
something of that kind. My aspira-
ltions, alter declining for several weeks.
like decreasing seiies Of geometrical
progre essions-lhe bette n0r CT my boy
hOou-at laSG pointed Lo an ordinary
clerkship in some mercantile establish
ment as happiness beyond comparison.
Even here l was doomed TO disappoInt-
ment, and then l gave up the struggle I.
| had spent my last dollai that morning.
All day / had walked from street to
street, from square to square. My
limbs were acning with the unaccus-
toned exercise, nay brain was in a
whirl.
Il knew one man whom my father had
befriended years ago. in the days Of his
prosperity, when the man was in great
distress. Since then fortunes wheel
had turned, and my father had died in
poverty, while Mr.. Lacede was one OF
the money kings of the city. Can you
understand why would not go to him
until every other resource mad failed
Even then l went slowly and reluc-
family. stood before the door in the
gaslight, watching the crowds as they
came and went, thinking some very Bit
ter things, it may be. Bat At last Went