The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-29
A YOUNG LAWYERS HIT

1t was the gloomiest of gloom,
days. There was not one redeem
ing feature about it. If it had onl,
rained, .aere might have been musi
in the DROPS; if it had showed, ",
might have '.lived overD the beauti
ful poem but it did neither, ant
now, late in the afternoon, the al
was a thick, damp vapor, and th'
street ankle deep with slush ant
mud that an unpaved western towr
supplies so beautifully and readily
Then again, the life of the young
attorney is not always one of whir
and excitement and pleasurable re
suits. Not a living soul except :
bootblack-just as if he would evel
need bootblacks again-had entered
the door that day. In vain had |
tried to give my mind over to the
arbitrary statutes, and then in de.
Ispair sought the more inviting stim.
ulent of Regina vs. Reynolds ; even
the gossip of a great leading case
failed to inspire me, and wearily
turned from my books to my
thoughts, and from my thoughts to
my gloom.
1t was Just then, before had as.
cended to the realms of suicidal pur-
pose-for l walk that way slowly
that the door knob hesitatingly, eau
tiously turned, and WAS hard at
work again, pen in hand. with one
eye on the paper and the other on
the door.
| won't make diagnosis of just
how fast my heart was beating, if
peradventure the door would open.
and somebody that was somebody
should come in. l could endure
the suspense no longer, looked
sauarely up.-The door had opened,
and, though the evening shadows
were gathering thick and fast, l
could see that my visitor was in
dress and mannef lady-the most
significant word in the greatest of
languages. Fer veil conc, aled her
face, but, old or young, ugly or pref
ty, her thoughts probably were |:
Here's a young nan-veIy young,
he hasn't much experience-don't I
think he ever did much work before.
l would help him, but it don't help
me. had better look"
But / interrupted my own fore
bodings by springing to my feet with
"Good evening, madam. Step in !;
I'm through with the matter in
hand-a little pressed now, with
term time upon US, but have an
hour to spare-such q dull day !!
Sit down !" and my first triumph
was won, for she was seated.
Then l swept my books from me
with an air of relief, as if any prob
lem she might agitate would be
child's play compared TO what had
Just passed through.
l had not yet so much as
caught the color of her eyes, and
couldn't but wonder why she kept
her veil down so closely unless she
was meditating a sudden flight to
the office of the bald-headed wretch
across the wav, who had few gray
hairs and more experience, you
know-but a bad attack of rheuma-
tism, too, thank heaven ! which 1
devoutly trusted was keeping HIM
home on such a day as this.
II want YOU to write WILL" she
suddenly began, in a half halting
voice.
Certainly. madam" / answered,
noblv resolving to strengthen the
faith within her, and / pulled a half
quire of legal cap toward rne, and
thought of the solemn opening and
the weighty sormalities of its publi-
cation.
ats to be my husbands WILL"
she added. He dare not come out
on such day as this" and she shiv-
cred so prettily that l was reconciled
with the weather for the first time
that day.
Hadn't l better come to your
house ?" | ventured TO suggest.
"Oh, no 4! not now," she answered.
with little sigh. ''lt might excite
him too much. But he may be bet
ter tonight, and will send the car
riage for you then. 1t will not make
any difference will it, about the will
being binding ?" and something
told me she was peering anxiously
at me.
aOf course, madam, if he then full
ly and voluntarily adopts it as his,
it is Just the same as if ] took all
down from his own lips
"Well, we want-he wants-to
leave all his property to me, with
full powers as executrix-and / am
to take charge of his only child and
make for her such allowance as l
shall think wise."
what is your daughters name ?"
"She is not my daughter" she an
swered with the slightest token of
gathering animation in her voice.
"Ah, yes just SO, said l nervous
ly fumbling with the paper. "Shes
your step-daughter ?"
"Yes, SIR"
whats her name ?"
mabel Cecil" she haltingly
spoke.
"a deuced pretty name," / re-
marked to myself. Il wonder what
she wants to stumble so over pro-
nouncing it? And then l tried to
forget all about it, as took up my
pen and began "I-I--
Ah! pardon me, madam. but what's
your husbands name?"
What fools men are when a little
excited. especially young lawyers,
sitting up with an early case.
Robert E. Cecil"
Il, Robert e. Cecil, of the county
of Herkimer, and State of, do
make and publish this my last will
and testament:
81 give, bequeath and devise to
my dearly beloved WIFE
aOh pardon, madam, but what's
~>>~~ $3.50 9re