Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-03-12
A Lawyers Story

eight or ten Years ago. 1 was strug'
olirp hard then to make my way in the
world. snd gain q good position in my
profession.
/ had Gaze intrusteG to me Whlth
promi,cd 20 lie full Of difficulties. did
moi doubt of ultimate success, but me,
matter was so hedged in by technical
eur barrassments and nice poiDts OF law
that nv whole tine and attention were
occupied with ii.
Some details OF This business nccessl-
taied my taking a journey to the North
and lstt ore cold December afternoon
I aliahted at lie station OF moderate
tzsd town in Yorkshire. Glow ford
was rot nv destination. but as the
train sefvce ceased there, | bad DO
choice but 10 seek soue other mode OF
CONVEYANCE TO Blackstone, the village
for which was bound. But 10 meet
with one. l fcurd, WAS much more
difficult than | had anticipated.
Blocksione, was informed, was n
small ard ISOLATED village, the waV 10
which was across bleak barren moor.
I was told that was too laie TO go
then. for fall of snow was imminent
and 10 be caught on the moOrs in a
snow.storm wss a risk too dangerous to
be lightly incurred. The next morning
| could have both man and vehicle
to take ne WLithersoever L might
wisb.
| listered 10 these objections witt
impaiience. / had much work on
hand. and was anxious TO return TO
London, az d l quickly decided that l
could not ford the delay. AT length
after good deal OF solicitation and
persustion on my part. and CONSIDER
able expenditure Of argument and pro-
teslaiion on his, mine host of the
George Inn" reluctantly agreed TO
let me haves horse. The good man
eased his concience BY repeating warm
in ps end tntreaties 10 defer 10y jour
new; but was strong If limb and stout
of heart, az d, being furnished with ex-
plicit directions as 10 the route, sci
out. mine bost and Hostess standing at
the lou door and Witnessing my depart
ule With many dismal shakiugs of the
head and doleful representations.
NV horse was a steady-golDg sort OF
an animal, and l logged along comior'
tably enough. The lights of Clowford
soon disappeared, and before long l
found myself on the moors. The wind
wa. piercing keen and cold, and 1 but
toned my coat more tightly and turned
up the collar as protection against it.
Twilight had fallen before left the
town, Int The stars were twlnkling
brightly, tie way was clear, and | con-
graduated myself en- my recent display
OF resolution.
Musing on my errand aud its pfoba-
bic results, and all the possibilities aud
conlinge scies attached thereto, lei
my horse pursue his course without
much guidance from me.
We had gone, 1 suppose, about q
third of the wav, when 1 awoke to the
tact that tie darkness was momenlarilY
deepeuiuQ. l looked about for the
cause. and found that the friendly stars
had become INVISIBLE By reason OF q
pail of lowering blackness which had
overapresd the sky. The Wind too
was increasing and blew IN fierce, sud-
den pusts, and presently there came
swnlng against my check few teaIh
er, flakes of snow.
BY iove, the old fellow WAS right :
| mnttered, urging my horse 10 gall
lop.
the snow came down faster and
faster. resting on the brm OF my hat,
cljneing 10 my coat and covering my
beard. Such personal discomfort vas
bad enough, tut was more concerned
at observing that the ground was as
suming a bewildering uniformity o
whitsness. If The remembrance OF th'
COSY parIor and blaz'ng fire l bad lef
bobipd at the George made me repen
of my ten erlty fer one moment, L dis
mis-, e. the reflection the next and KEEP
nv eyes employed in searching for LAM
marks. | had to look out for a sian
most, which, as vet, had not percelv
ed: but The swift silent downfall Of The
snow prevented me from seeing far Il
| advanced kept up nY spirits by hum
ming the refrain OF some jovial German
drinking song that l had heard when {
student at Heidelberg, keeping mean
while a sharp lookout for the Sign.post
which was so long 10 making its ap
pearance.
Suddenly my horse stumbled and fel
pitchine me head.foremost into q snov
drift. Beyond passing giddnsss,
was none the worse tor the tumble, bu
the horse. | found, was mortally hurt
What was l to do now? Ny posIlisn
was decidly an unpleasant one-alon
IN the middls OF wide unsheltert
heath, with no habI:atIon that | wa'
aware of nearer than the town | had
left or the village to which Journey
ed.
Well, il would never do 10 stan'
still. ] must be moving one way 0
anotl er, ilough my hopes OF reschb!
my destination that night grew fain
il DEED. Tie sitaiumeDt OF shehe
from the bitter ihclenency OF tb
Gather was just then my chief desire
| | heartily wisned that L had a pis.o
with me, so that / might have put the
poor suffering brute out OF its misery
| L.. L L.. Il Mill,