The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-04-20
MISCELLANY.
IN LOVE AND ENGAGED.

Edgar Wickham was rising young lawyer.
Indeed, in one quarter he could hardly rise
higher and that was in the admiration and
esteem of Janet Dodd The good opinion was
recprocated. In short, the two were In love,
aud not only that, but engaged.
| Somehow Janet's morning walks often led
her down the street ON which Edgar's office, a
cosy little one story building. more like
country cottage than a lawyers den, looked
out smilingiy Aad tell you it's great adj
vantage our rural legal brothers have, that of
being relieved from the alternative of wearing
out their legs climbing six flights of stairs or
risking their boues in bleak-neck elevators
On this particular morning, Janet was just
in time to catch glimpse of Edgars back as
he hurried out with his satchel of papers, and
started at a half run for the court house. He
had hardly turned the corner before the office
boy deserted his post for game of marbles
with brother chip across the way.
mschievous thought came into Janet's
head. 1t was Valentines day and in shop
window she was passing was picture of
lawyer in full blast. It's title was +" The
windmill" a name which the spraying atti-
tude of the legs and arms rendered not iuap-
proprate.
| k9"It would DO a good joke to leave it on
Eagassg ssels said laast Size hsf the val
entine, and putting it into fancy envelope
she directed it in feigned hand to Edgar
Wiekhan,, Esq" Coming out she waited till
the boys across the Street fell into dispute
| ,Nf hon eli mad
into the office unobserved. m ~
''He'll think it's one of those nice sent-
mental ones, she chuckled, from an uu-
known admrer, and how foolish he'll look
when he opens it,"
She laid the valentine In a conspicuous
place, with the paper weight on one cornep
and was about fastening away, when her eye
fell on what appeared to be an unfinished let
/ ter.
Now Janet was the last one to pry into any
ones secrets, even her sweetheart's. But
there was something in the first words her
eyes fell upon that made it impossible to with
draw them and irresistiby impelled her to
read the whole.
The writing was Edgar's, and ran thus
"DEAREsT HELEN DO not be disturbed
by any rumors you have heard of my fiirta-
tions with another, for rest assured, they were
| nothing more. 1t is you only l love, and II
our engagement, which look upon as sa-
cred, be not carried out, the fault shallnot be
mine. My own darling"
The writer had doubtless been interrupted
BY some sudden call of business.
Janet felt the hot blood rise to her face
Was she then, the deceived dupe of the man
whose affections she bad accounted all her
own, and who had the heartlessncss to charac-
terize as a mere Irritation the love-making In
which she had believed with all the faith of
her trustful nature.
Taking up the valentine she hurried out,
and never stopped until she reached her own
chamber. First she gave way to flood OF
tears. Then pride came to her relief; and
taking up her pen, in few brief lines she in
formed Mr.. Wickham that ON u closer exam
ination of the state of her feelings, she found
that they were not such as to render the fur
Their continuance of the relations between
herself aud him advisable. 1t would be best
to look upon them 10 the light Of a simple
Irritation, which had gone quite far enough.
Edgar. on receiving this communication
FASTENED to seek an interview with Janet, but
was densd admittance.
/ One day, not long after, an exciting case
came up for trial. A great crowd went to
hear it, including anuinberof ladies' among
whom were Janet and her friend, Lily Archer,
who had persuaded Janet to bear her COM
pany. It was breach of promise case. IN
which tickle bachelor had Tilted handsome
young widow, without money, for an ugly old
maid with plenty Of II.
| Janet and her friend secured good places,
but when the fair PLAINTIFF entered, deeply
yelled, and leaning on the arm Of her counsel,
and when Janet saw the counsel was no other
than Edgar Wickbam, she wished she was a
thousand miles away.
Il Wickham opened his case with clear state
ment and no 6ourishes, and proceeded to put
Tin bis evidence, one Of the first items OF which
was letter the defendant had written to the
plaintiff Janet almoststarted from her feet
on hearing the first sentences. They were
word for word identical for tho she bad
read that day in Edgar's office She could
I, hardly repress cry Of joy, for though it was
all a mystery to her yet she felt that her
4 lovers faith was vindicated.
I The jury gave heavy verdict for the plain.
tiff, and when Edgar turned to lead his client