The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-07-14
A LAWYERS SECRET.

LAWYERS SECRET.
Curious cases in my profession Yes,
plenty. I often smile to myself when l find
the noveIists taking up old family incidents
and working them up into stories; and then
I think of what plots ] could have furnished
if they had not been family secrets of a pri-
vate and thoroughly confidential character
Wills now, for instance, What a favOrite
stock subject they form with writers, both
for books and PLAYS. and don't wonder at it
for if there is anything that excites peoples
curiosity, it is the question Of how some rich
mans money is to be distributed
I remember one case that, changing the
names, it will be no particular breach of con-
fdence to mention, and I tell it the more
frankly because it is little against myself.
for must own that did not act quite upon
what is called the square. in fact, / played
part-a negative kind of part-fOr I did
nothing else but hold my tongue. IF I had
spoken it would have been ESQ, 600 o. so out
Of a truly honest mans pocket and into a
rOCue's; So somehow, I let my feelings get
the better of my professional conscience, and
I said not word.
I was old John Hendricks solicitor, and
looked after his property, for I had known
him wheB he was a struggling man and was
young lawyer with none too much practice
Then I lost sight of him for twenty years, at
the end Of which time I was still plodding
along respectfully Just holding my own, and
nothing more, when, going into one of the
city taveTns for my regular daily chop, which
! ate at the same table for so MANY years
thai had become one of the institutions of
the place, found myself opposite to a vel
low-looking, thin, gray-haired man, who kept
on looking up from his plate to stare at me
very rudely, thought.
I did not resent his stare at first. but at last
it became so unpleasant that determined to
look him down, and gazed firmly into his
eyes.
''Whv it isr' he exclaimed, "Dick, old
boy, don't you know me %
"That's Jack Hendricks voice, - I excIai;n-
ed, nearly upsetting my plate and the next
moment we were sitting there, hand cIasped
in hand, with tears in our eyes. looking verv
foolish and weak, I dare say, to the other oc-
cupants Of the room but that did not trouble
us, for we had too much to say to each other.
John Hendricks told me that he had been
in the north of INDIA. close to NepauI. for
over twenty years. He had gone out as a
factor to an indigo grower and he had be-
come grower himself
"And now" he said, "I've come to look
after nv dead sisters sons and-to die"
''wen, old fellow I said. ''the first parts
right enough, but as to the dying, think it's
as we'll to leave that alone. tt will be all set
tied for you. The only thing with reference
TO that, speaking as professional man, is to
make your will, if you have anything to leave,
and then make the most Of your SPAN" John
Hendricks was fifteen years my senior, but
we became once more the closest Of friends
for he seemed 20 resume his old protective
way over me, yet trusting me most fully in
every respect.
1t was all done in most unostentious way
but from tie day of John Hendricks return
the world began to smile on me. I had a
great deal of professional business to do for
him, as he had very extensive connection with
old indigo planters. found them coming to
me right and left by his recommerda /:
so that very soon instead of finding it hard
work to keep one clerk, I had very hard work
for four, and a big balance at my bank
But am getting on too fast.
Before long met the two nephews at their
uncle's quiet little house at Chelsea, [ could
not help thinking how kindly fortune was
behaving to the young men to place them in
the way of such expectations, and before l
left it was plain enough to me which was the
uncles favorite.
This was Philip FRANK faced young fell
low of two or three and twenty, very gentle
manly in his ways, and decidedly good look
ing while he was fun of anecdOte, and, with
out seeming to be toadying, full of attention
to the old man, to whose dogmatic speeches
he listened with the greatest Difference.
For old John had grown terribly dogmatic.
He had the management of hundreds of poor
ryots for so many years that he felt quite a
king in his way. and would bully and snub
every one when his liver was little worse
than usual-every one, that is, excepting me,
for whenever he was out of temper he never
would speak to me, but nod and shake his
head, and smoke his chllum till he felt more
at ease.
Samuel was the very opposite of his broth
er being short, thick set. plain fellow, with
only one good feature-or ought that TO be
two-in his face, and that his eyes, which
were, for man, beautiful, and best of all, in
their steady, honest look, which never SEEM
ed to blanch or have anything to fear.
Time went on, and at Jack Hendricks
wish took Philip as articled clerk.