Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-11-29
THE YOUNG lawyers HIT.

It was the gloomiest of gloomy days.
There was not a redeeming feature
about it. If it had only raiped, there
might have been music In the drops: if
it had showed, we could have "Hyed
over" the beautiful poem; but it did
neither, and now, late IN the afternoon,
the air was thick, damp vapor, and the
street ankle-deep with slush and mud
that an unpaved western town supplies
so beautifully and readily.
Then again, the life of a young attOr-
ney is not always one whirl of excite
ment and pleasurable results. Not a
living soul except a boot black-iust as
If we should ever need boot-blacks
again-had entered the door that day.
In vain had [ tried to give my mind
over to the arbitrary statutes, and then
III despair sought the more inviting
stimulants of Regina VS.. Reynolds; even
the gossip of a great leading case failed
to inspire me, and YEARLY I turned
from my thoughts to nv gloom.
It was just then. before had assembled
TO the realms of suicidal purpose-for I
walk that way slowly-that the door
knob hesitatingly, cautiously turned,
and [ was hard at work again, pen IN
uhASLs VIII OuG eye Ou l1IG PdDOIs dEu
the other on the door.
won't make a diagnosis OF just how
fast my heart was beating, If peradven-
ture the door would open, and somebody
that was somebody should come in. L
could endure the suspense no longer and
looked squareIy up. The door had
opened, and, though the evening shad-
ows were gathering thick and fast, I
could see that my visitor was In dress
and manners a lady-the most signif-
cant word III the greatest OF languages.
Her veil concealed her face, but. old or
young, ugly or pretty, her thoughts
probably were: " Here's a young man
very young; he hasn't had much ex-
perience-don't think he ever did such
work before. It would help him, but
that don't help me. I had better look
-
But I interrupted my own foreboa-
-ings by springing to my feet with a
"Good evening, madam Step in; I'm
through with the matter in hand-a lit
tie pressed now, with term time upon
US. but have an hour to spare to-day
such dull day! Sit down! and my first
triumph was won, for she was seated.
Then [ swept my books from me with
an air Of relief, as If any problem she
might agitate would be child's play
compared to what I had just passed
through.
| had not yet SO much as caught the
color Of her eyes, and couldn't but won
der why she kept her veil drawn so
closely, unless she was meditating a sud-
den flight to the Office of the bald-headed
wretch across the way, who had few
gray hairs and more experience, you
know-but bad attack of rheumatism,
too, thank heaYenl which I devoutly
trusted was keeping him home on such a
day as this.
90 want you to write a will" she
suddenly began IN lf-halting voice.
Certainly, madam!" | answered,
nobly resolving to strengthen the faith
,zgithin her; and pulled half quire of
legal cap toward me, and thought of the
solemn opening and the .weighty for
malit1es of its publication.
cts to be my husbands will, she
added, "He dare not come out on such
a day as this" And she shiYered so
prettily that I was reconciled with the
weather for the first time that day.
"Hadn't I better come to your
house p | ventured to suggest.
ooh, no! not now!" she answered
with little Sigh. 1T might excite him
too much. But he may be better to-