River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-18
A LAWYERS COURTsHIP.
BY MELVILLE pURAND, ESQ.

| had only a short time previously
grs 'uated from the law-sehOol, and
opened an Office in the city of P.
Clients did not flock to me all at once.
One or two small suits had fallen into
my hands, but they had been disposed
of and forgotten, and l was again in
clined to wish that [ had accepted a
partnership IN the large shoe business
Of my father, instead Of adopting the
profession of the law.
was sitting in my Office Illuminating
ON the difficulty of getting star. IN the
practice, when the door opened softly,
and young woman entered and sank
down on the fir chair she came to.
"Oh sir, are you an Attorney" she
asked, family.
| barely had time to reply when her
eyes closed, and she tainted dead away.
| was bachelor, and not physician,
and this situation was anything but
agreeable to me.
What was to be done?
/ seized a glass of icc-water which
stood near my hand, and rushing to the
place where she sat, sprinkled it copi-
ously on her face. In a few minutes
consciousness returned.
"Ohl save me from him, do save me
from him. kind sir" she said, "and God
will bless you for it, indeed He will"
Yes, will save you from him." l
said, assuringly. Who is he"
"Why, OLE" she said, in wild way,
which showed that she had not fully
come to her senses.
Ia those days | was very fond of
French brandy, and generally had
flask of it in my office, though | am
glad to say | nave long since abandoned
It's use. | thought a little of it might
revive my mysterious client; and mix
Ing some with water and presenting it
to her lips, she swallowed it without re-
sistance, and seemed to be very much
refreshed by it. While she was coming
to, | had an opportunity Of taking
good look at her.
She was apparently about eighteen
years of age, somewhat under the me-
dunn size, of slender but stylish figure,
and decidedly pretty. Her luxuriant
hair was brushed down over her ears,
and fell in ringets upon her shoulders.
Her eyes were large and lustrous, and
when her rich red lips parted with an
expression of anguish, they revealed a
and wilderness. Her dress was rich, but
much crushed and soiled, and the style
OF it struck me as little strange, but |
was poor judge of such things.
Before | had got through administer
ing the brandy and water, [ came to the
conclusion that l felt a deep interest in
her, and that | would stand by her and
help her to the last.
"Sir, you are very good" she said, as
soon as her strength returned, "and
you will really save me from him, and
get me a divorceY
At that moment the Office door
opened suddenly, without warning
knock, and in strobe a finely dressed
man in a terrible excitement.
What are you doing here, you
hussy?7 he said. And as he spoke he
seized the girls arm and gave it such
a Jerk that she screamed with agony.
This was the worst thing for him, that
he could have done. judged from
his appearance that he was a scoundrel
and that the girl was imposed upon by
him III some way. | knew 1 could
easily thrash him if necessary. l had q
strong arm, hard fist, and grip like
a wise.
l took no time to think, but seized the
intruder by the nape Of the neck with
my left hand, and compressed his
windpipe with the fingers and thumb
of my tight hand, until his eyes closed
and his tongue protruded three
inches from his mouth. l then lifted
him by the throat to my consultation
room, and fiinging him to the further
side of it, closed and locked the
door. Then, having touched my
electric alarm and summoned a police
man, | resumed my seat by the lady,
who sat with her head bowed on my
table, weeping and rocking her body
to and fro, as # terrified and neart-
broken beyond recovery.
"Now, madam" | said, "please pro-
coed. The blackguard viii not trouble
you any more, L promise you"
MY experience has been terrible
one"
"Then tell it without delay"
81 will, sir. My heart is broken, and
my nerves all uEstrung, so that / can
hardly speak, but l will try to tell
YOU enough. at least, to enable you to
befriend me-"
"My name Is Elsie Markham. l
have lived ali my life, until three weeks
ago, in Liverpool, England. My mother
died when was quite young, and | was
the only child. My father was a book
seller, and for many years did q good
business and made money. We had q
comfortable home, and | had every adj
vantage.
"On my mothers side, sir, came of
Il noble family, and my associations
were mostly with my mothers people.
But at last, sir. the great business de
preston and collapse came. My
fathers business gradually grew worse,
and he kept holding on to 1t, in hopes
of a change. until st last he got COM
pletely involved and lost ever shilling"
Here she stopped sobbing, and |
thought it best to let her grief have its
own way for few minutes.
Now, then" l said, when she SEEM
ed to be little ca'mer, Ego on with
your story"
"Well then. sir, when my flther failed
in business, ne determined TO come to
America and begin life over again. An
aunt of his, who has plenty of money,
and who intended to leave it to him at
her death, anyway, lent him a thousand
pounds to come to America with and
go into business.
"Three weeks ago be and ! sailed
from LIVERPOOL. His aunt went Nth
him TO the steamer, and was very much
affected a. the parting. And just as
the bell began to toll for all but passen-
gers to leave the ship, She presented
him with this little cross as a keepsake.
1t is an heirloom, sir, and very old
She laid it on the table. 1t was q
small cross, Iichly studded with differ
snt eolored stones, and had s. small ring
At the upner end, IS if intended to be
suspended from Il necklace. On the
rack were engraved the words: Elsie
Markham, Dec. t, 1742.
g Is this your name?" | asked.
No. sir. 1t is the name OF one OF
MI fathers female ancestors, ever so far
back, when the family spelled their
name with an &"
Indeed And has it been in the
family ever since?'
" Yes. sir. When my fathers aunt
gave 1t u him he was as much surprIs-
ed and proud as If she had given him
her fortune; and if she had not gone
ashore so Suddenly, | am doubtful
whether she could have induced him tC
= I. ]. L.