The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-01-23
DAVID MOSS, ATTORNEY.

had, after q severe struggle with
poverty, caught at the skirts lof the
legal profession. A sign with gilt let
ters. I" David Moss, Attorney and So
licitor at Law" was tackled on my
Office door ON louisiana avenue. With
in, few dusty books, an empty desk,
and dilapidated arm chair pioclaimed
my legal status. / had waited patient
ly for criminals and perplexed debtors
to rush in and seek my advice, but they
did not rush well. and hope deferred
nearly made my heart sick.
On the morning OF Dec. 81, 1872, l
SGT disoonsolatsly in my Office with my
overcoat buttoned up to nay chin, said
overcoat answering in lieu of a fire, ID
took q prospective look at my affaiis.
My finances stood two to five-that is,
q five-cent nickle to q two-cent copper.
1 smiled at my anticipated happiness
and took an inventory of my wardrobe.
Like their owner, my coat and pants
had evidently seen better days; for, al
though rusty and threadbare, thew
showed traces of their original color
and texture. Icommenced to ruminate
ON my condition, and achieve plans for
the future, But all that could bring
to my aid were the words of Horace
Gresley. I" Go West" To 90 West was
to my fancy q literal burial of. nv
:" splendid possibilities" 1 knew /
possessed (what young man does not
think the samea genius that would as
tonish the world if it could only find an
outlet or an inlet.
just as arrived at this point in my
reflections, the door of my Office swung
softly on its hinges, and q man closely
mufied in winter apparel stood by my
side.a :. 80 l-aa .,
rSAre you . lawyer. sir?'' he said,
with q questioning glance of his steel
gray eyes.
THAT is my business" returned,
coolly, Strengthening myself up to the
full height Of my five feet six. T
He smiled ut my manner, slipped a
&5 bill in my hand. and said, blandIy:
/ have come for advice"
This was coming to the point; i
thawed instantly and asked my client
to be seated
He was q middle-aged man, tall and
sinewy, with black hair sparsely mixed
with gray. His dress and manner pro-
claimed him q man of wealth. Ino-
ticed this as he slowly seated himself.
ID 'sSuppose," said he, "you had an
only daughter, and she was bstinately
determined ON marrying man that you
despised-a man whom you knew to be
4 villain, but had NO means of proving
itf' 80 4. =
''Is your daughter of age?' asked.
s / did not say she was my daughter,
young man; you jump at conclusions; no
able lawyer accepts anything without
proof" liil19E
I felt that 1 had suddenly changed
places with him-that he was the attor-
ney and I the client; but, taking no
notice Of his words, repeated the ques-
ton with variation. $50
els she of age?"
EYES," was the reply, "and as OBJ
stinate as q mule"
.'Disinherit her," suggested.
90" said he. with shrug of his
shoulders, 81 have tried everything. 1
have told her she could not have q
penny of my money; Ihave kept her on
bread ana water; hired governesses to
watch her, in fact, have left no stone
unturned."
"There remain only two methods:
or put detectives on his track and con-
vict him Of some ignoble action" /
said.
"Your last suggestion is the best.
But even If / should convict him of
murder, she would imagine it was q
conspiracy on my part, and marry him
he remained in deep thought for sew
eral minutes, and then said:
Young man, don't think your
I--~ z. La \
you like to change it for something
more profitableP"
Change or starvation was evidently q
necessity for me, so of course had no
objections to offer. In fact, my escape
from my present condition seemed like
. godsend to me. / impaired my will
lingness to make any reasonable change.
We soon agreed upon terms which
seemed to me more than liberal, and
together concocted some plan to bring
the young lady to submission.
l had some compunctions of con-
science for two against one, and that
one OF the weaker sex, seemed hardly
fair, but the novelty aad the romance,
ana the solid cash connected with it,
reconciied me to the situation.
Just As the sun from the west was
gliding the Capitol dome with the last
beams OF departing day, the train from
Baltimore came putting in. It was
Christmas eve, and the busy crowds
were hurrying to their homes.
Two days before, David Moss, alter
ney and solicitor, seedy and thread
bare, had left Washington for Balti-
more. This evening the train brought
back David Moss, elegantly sttired,
" Gentleman" Il Il astonishing how
ones drsss increases ons's self-respsot,
No doubt Polonius thought Of this when