Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-08

tell her he was going away; and Mr.
Sorley agreed to this, on condition that
he saw the squire also. The first inter-
view was easy and satisfactory enough; ;
Agnes praised his ambition and genius,
prophecied all sorts of hOnors to him,
and promised to wait faithfully for his
return. Her father was different per-
son to manage, and Richards heart
quaked as he entered the squires's own
peculiar parlor. 1t was a sunny room,
Uttered with odds and ends of hunting
and fishing matters; and the squire
was sitting on big, old-fashioned sofa,
playing with a couple of thoroughbred
black English terriers.
He said, frankly enough:
"Good day, Richard Broadbent;;" but
he did not trouble himself to rise, for
the Broadbents had been tenants of
Saurham from the days of King
Stephen. Thatin these cotton-spinning
days they had grown rich did not alter
their position at all in Squire Saur-
hams eyes. Fifty years ago the great
landed proprietor did not consider
money as an equivalent Tor good birth !;
SO the squire treated Richard pretty
much as he would have done a favorite
servant
"Miss Saurham says thou art going
away, Richard. What for lad?"
"To study, sir"
% Yes, yes, When lands and money
are all spent, then learning is most ex-
cellent' | have always heard that;
but, lad, thy father has money-why
/ need thOu 90 Stldy2n
Because. sir, wish to make a great
name, to become famous; then, sir,
perhaps, Squire-then-"
"The dickens Speak out, lad
then what ?"
"Then. sir, perhaps you will permit
me to tell you how dearly love Miss
Saurham."
"No Richard, shall never allow any
thing of the kind. If 'twere not for old
Josiah | would say worse than this to
thee. Come Giddy. come Rattle, we
will go to the bayfield,. [ hope thy
study, Richard, may teach thee to be
more modest and sensible" ...-
Richard watching the sturdy figure
in its green coat, white cOrdurOys, and
buff top-boots across the lawn, and
then, with q very angry feeling in Ills
heart, left the Hall. He disappeared
soon afterward, and after few desul-
tory inquiries from various acquaint-
ances, he seemed to be forgotten. The
Broadbent mills went on as usual
Josiah, and Stephen and Mark passed
to and from them as regularly as if
their life was ordered by machinery;
and once q week the rector went up to
their house, smoked pipe with Josiah
and generally said, as he left:
"All is we'll with Richard, JOSIAH
very well indeed"
In the fourth year of his absence
there was much trouble between the
mill owners and the operatives. The
masters We're everywhere threatened,
and many mills were set on fire, and
the excitement and terror was hardly
allayed even when the prominent of
tenders had been imprisoned. Their
trial was one that effected the interests
of all manufacturing districts, and the
spacious courthouse was crowded
Josiah, of course was present; so were
Mark and Stephen.
Now, if there was anything these men
had an almost idOlatrOus respect for, it
was the paraphernalia ofthe law. Those
advocates in their black gowns, those
grave men in their imposing wigs, those
wise looking calf-bound volumes, the
pOmp and ceremony of the sheriffs,
constables, and criers were to them the
most obvious representative of the maj
esty of English law and power.
Conceive, then, their amazement,
when prominent among these gowned
advocates, giving directions to other
lawyers, and demeaning himself as one
having authority, was Richard Broad
bent Old Josiah flushed and trembled,
and touched Stephen and Mark, who
were also too much affected to do any
thing but gravely nod their heads. But
when the arguments were over, and
Richard Broadbent rose as a special
| pleader in the matter. curiosity changed
to amazement and amazement to en-
thusiasm. Such a speech was never
heard in West Riding before. 1t was
cheered and cheered, till even York
shlremen's lungs were weary.
The good rector had his reward when
he stood beside his protege, and saw the
| squire and the city magnates crowd
round the brilliant young lawyer with
their congratulations. But far greater
was his Joy when old Josiah and Stephen
and Mark pressed forward with radiant
faces and full hearts. They were not
men given to speech, and the happy
father could say nothing but, God bless
thee lad!" while Stephens and Marks
pride and love found its full expression
in 8 Well, Dick. Dick" But no words
could be more satisfactory.
The good-for-nothing had found his
vocation. Two years after his depart
ure from Leeds he had been called
to the bar at Gray's Inn, and since then
by his tact and eloquence had made
himself one of the acknowledged leaders
OF the Oxford circuit.
There was nothing now that his
father or brothers would not have done
for him, but he asked just the one thing
Josiah was 10th to move In. He wished
him to speak to the squire about mis-
daughter. Josiah promised, but he was
thinking of deputing the business to the
rector, when the way opened unexpect-
edly. Coming out of Leeds bank he met
the squire, who had q troubled and
preoccupied look. He passed Josiah
with nod, then suddenly turning and
touching him, said:
Josiah Broadbent, your house and
mine have been long friends, eh?'
Say that, Squire. Broadbents
served Saurhams when King Stephen
was fighting for the crown of England
they are just as ready to serve them,
now"
q believe it, Josiah. I want fou1
thousand pounds. Iwould rather owe
il to YOU than mortgage Saurham.