The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-02-20
A GALWAY ATTORNEY.

George Somerville was a poor, strng-
Cling attorney Of western town, and
yet his poverty was not caused by any
lack OF legal ability. On the contrary,
few attorneys could badger stubborn
witness or caiolc M ignorant jury ns well
az he. But he had one great fault, and
n multitude Of other little Irregularities
followed in its train-George was fond
Of the bottle. This degrading vice,
naturally enough, kept him out Of
clients, and kept Mrs. s. ont Of pocket
money, and other little necessaries 10
essential to the mother Of few urchins
with which Providence blessed her.
One evening Mrs. $. came into the
Office with very long and wry express
sion Of countenance.
"Mr. Somervilc, are you aware that
we are on the verge Of ruinp'
Goodness madam, you nst0nish mel
"Astonish You l declare you take it
very easy, sir. You should be ashamed
TO acknowledge that your wife knows
the state of your affairs better than
yourself"
80, madam, We arc on the verge Of
ruin?"
EXACTLY, sir"
"Well, madam, what thenp"
az declare, sir, you'd annoy n saint,
with your provoking coolness How can
you talk thus Of matter of life and
death. Have YOU no way of extricating
us from tho peril in which we are placed ?
If You have not, then / tell You that you
will not have roof over your head this
day month. The opportunities Of your
creditors are growing no threatening that
can no longer stave of the fatal mo-
ment. All credit is exhausted. re-
peat, sir, something must be done"
81 quite agree with you, madam; but
the question-what is to be donc?'
81 will leave You leisure TO solve that
problem, sir" said Mrs. s., slamming
the door after her, leaving her worthy
lord and master Il perfect picture OF help
less absurdity.
George was terror to everybody hi
met. He could tyrannize over hi,
own superiors in the Law Courts. Al
who had dealings with him felt uneas,
in his presence, as if they feared the
whitening sarcasm of his tongue. Bnt
there was one person on this planet who
wasn't one jot afraid of the lawyer, and
that person was his wife.
We left him sitting alone in his Office,
as We shall call it, for business of any
consequence he had none. Something
must be DONE said he to himself, with
Itrong emphasis on the "must," but the
antalizing question would again pre-
ent itself-"What in tho name of all
that 8 wonderful can be donep"
"Har
After that exclamation came n long,
and, to Judge from his countenance,
painful chain Of thought. At last he
started up excitedly.
"Yes. will do it."
Without one moments hesitation he
opened private bureau, and took out n
beautiful smoking-cap with gold band
"A very remarkable cap indeed-and,
placing it on his head, surveyed himself
tp the glass. A cold smile dawncd on
his face. Perhaps it was caused by the
remembrance of the first time he donned
that cap. II was m unmeaning, Cassius-
like smile, smile that might as well
have been scOwl. All George, il the
countenance is an index TO the thoughts,
some qualm of conscience had nearly
shaken your purpose then. He wasn't
the man, however, to do anything by
halves. Going to the same bureau, he
took forth small six-chambered re-
volver and pair of whiskers. Putting
all three in his breast pocket, he started
out unknown to his wife, muttering to
himself, "How lucky thought of it in
time. In another hour it would he too
late. No murder in any case, whatever
comes Of it." Crossing few fields he
got out upon the highway, and in less
than an hour was five or six miles from
town. Here he paused breathless, but
mad scarcely time to don the CAP and
whiskers when the sound of wheels be.
9ihd Told him that the time was cone.
~ was now pretty far advanced in the
evening. Objects could not be dis.
tlnguished father than few yards.
Taking hasty backward glance TO be
assured 1t was the party expected
George allowed the carriage to over.
take him at steep hill.
"Halt driver; if you move an inch
you are q dead man." and the six
chamber cleaned before his eyes.
The driver took in the situation at
glance. Hesaw the futility of resisting.
He saw the steep hill before him. He
saw the deadly weapon in Georges hand,
md he remained passive and timid
'pectator Of the scene which followed.