The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-11

|
done something to prove himself worthy of
! 1t.
/ "What can do, slr2''
III will tell you, Richard.''
And then the old man took the young
ones arm and talked 80 solsmnly and 30
earnestly that Richard caught his enthusi-
asnl, and whatever Mr.. Sorley's plans were,
he entered heartily into them.
''You shall have every help that money
can give you, Richard, only mind, [ will
have no love making, and your proceedings
shall be kept secret from all your friends.
don't want Stephen and Mark running up
TO see you and mcddling in my plans"
One thing Richard, however, insisted on;
he must sec Agnes once moro, and tell her
he was going away; and Dir. Sorley agreed
to thls on condition that he saw the squire
also. The first interview was easy and
satisfactory enough; Agnes praised his am
Dition and genius, prophesied all sorts of
honors to him, and promised to wait faith
fully for his return. Her father was diff
ferent person to manage, and Richards
heart quaked as he entered the squlres own
peculiar parlor. 1t was sunny room, lit
tered with odds and ends of hunting and
fishing matters; and the squire was sitting
On big, old-fashioned sofa, playing with
couple of thorough bred black English
terriers.
Hc said, frankly enough:
"Good- day, Richard Broadbcnt:" but he
did not trouble himself to rise, for the
Broadbents had been tenats Of Saurham
from the days of King Stephen. That in
these cotton-spinning days they had grown
rich did not alter their position at all in
Squire Saurham's eyes. Fifty years ago
the great landed proprietor did not consider
money as an cqulvalent.for good birth; 80
the squire treated Richard pretty much as
he would have done favorite servant.
'Nliss Saurham says that thou art going
away, Richard. What for, lad2
'.ro study, SIR"
"Yes, yes. when lands and money all
are spont, then learning is most excellent
l have always heard that; but, lad, thy ia
ther has money-why need thou 60 study?'
"Because, sir, wish to make great
name, to become famous; then, sir, per-
haps, Squire-then-"
''rhe dickensl Speak out, lad-then
WHAT"
''rhen, sir, perhaps you will permit me
to tell you how dearly l love Miss Saur-
ham,
"No, Richard, shall never allow any.
thing of the kind. If 'twer not for old
Josiah | would say worse than this to thee.
Come, Giddy, come Rattle, we will 20 to
the bayfield,. hope thy study, Richard,
may teach thee to be moro modest and
sensible"
Richard watched the sturdy figure in its
green coat, white corduroys, and buff top
boots across the lawn, and then, with very
angry feeling in his heart, left the Hall.
de disappeared soon afterward, and after
few dcsultorY inquiries from various ac-
qualntances, 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
week the rector went up to their house,
smoked pipe with Josiah, and generally
said as he left:
can is well with Richard, Joslah-very
well indeed"
In the fourth year of his absence there
was much trouble between the mill owners
and the operatives. The masters were
everywhere threatened, and many mills
were set on fire, and tho excitement and
terror was hardly allayed even when the
prominent offenders had been imprisoned.
Their trial was one that affected the inter-
ests OF all manufacturing districts, and the
spacious courthouse was crowded. JOSIAH
OF course, was present; 80 were Mark and
Stephen.
Now, if there was anything these men
had an almost ldolatrous respect for, it was
the paraphernalla of the law. Those advo.
Gates In their black gowns, those grave men
in their imposing wigs, those wise-looking
cali. bound volumes, the pomp and cere-
monY of the sheriffs, constables, and criers,
were to them the most obvious representa-
tive of the majesty of English law and
power.
Conceive, then, their amazement, when
prominent among these gowned advocates,
giving directions to other lawyers, and de-
moaning himself as one having authority,
was Richard Broadbent. Old Josiah flushed
and trcmblcd, and touched Stephen and
Mark, who were also too much Affected to
do anything 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 amaze.
ment and amazcmcnt TO enthusiasm, Such
speech had never been heard in West
Riding before. 1t was cheered and cleered
till even Yorkshiremen'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 con-
gratulations. 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, Good bless thee, ladI" while Stephens
and Marks pride and love found its full
expression in, "Well, Dickl Dickl" But
no words could have been more satisfac-
tory.
The good-for-nothing had found his vo-
cation. Two years after his departure from
Leeds he had been called to the bar at
Gray's Inn, and since then, by his tact and
eloquenco had made himself one Of the ac-
knowlcdged leaders Of the Oxford circuit.
There was now nothing that his father and
brothers would not hare done for him, but
he asked just the one thing Josiah was
loath to move in; he wished him to speak
to the squire about his daughter. Josiah
promised, but he was thinking Of deputing