The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-11-14

TllUu MutIl ut llldut Wiil ~ ''N'~
was nothing the old gentleman had so
much desired as the union OF the two
who were nearer aud dearer to him
than all others.
AT last, the young lady decided to
wait little time before making final
decision, and after the lawyer had
promised to give close attention to the
affair, she went away, while he threw
himself back in his chair, and fell to
thinking.
Pretty, accomplished, poor, but
spirited. She was lovely girl, aud
worth winning, but could he do it7
She was already prejudiced against the
man she was desired to marry how
should he combat those prejudices?
She might think that he was taking
unfair advantage, and that the fortune
was the chief inducement. 1t was
strange coincidence that had sent her
for counsel to his Office, of all others.
Then he sat down and wrote to the
attorney of the late Hugh Winchester
without mentioning his own impress
sions of the possible heiress, and await
ed an answer aDd call from his fair
client
She came with pensive look in her
deep, blue eyes that appealed power
fully to the sympathetic nature OF liar-
old Travers, who longed to convince
her that the man of her uncle's choice
was less repulsive than she had pic
tured him nor was he much averse to
having the particular clause of Hugh
Winchesters eccentric will regarding
himself fulfilled to the letter.
After a time came letter from
Netherton, the attorney, congratula
ting Harold Travers upon having so
fair a client, and, shrewd lawyer that
he was, advising little diplomacy.
He would explain to Miss Winches-
ter that the case would take time; and
in the interim, if he were young
man, and single, like Harold Travers,
ana fancled the young lady. he would
Just make love to her himself; and
should he be fortunate enough to Sc
cure her affections, he might venture,
finally, to show her the picture OF the
man who had been selected for her
husband by her uncle; and, having
got the case 80 far, he thought that at
terward Harold might adjust matters
amicably without further legal advice.
That was the substance of his sug-
gestions, and the young lawyer thought
it excellent counsel; while Cora Win
chester, with unaffected ignorance of
the technicalities of law, and with i'm
plicit confidence in her handsome
counselor, waited for the time to pass,
which he told her would be necessary
for successful adjustment of her case.
In the meantime, Harold Travers
got in the way of dropping into Mrs.
Lees little parlor, where Cora Win
chester boarded, for social hour; and
as they became better acquainted, their
conversation dritted to topics quite
foreign to law and Hugh Winchester's
will.
In fact, before the business was set
tied, Harold Travers had fallen so
deeply in love with his young client,
that one night, as he was sitting be-
side her in Mrs. Lees parlor, he told
her of his affection, and asked her to
be his wife. But Cora with downcast
eyes, and rosy cheeks, spoke of the
dreadful will that shadowed her life
and happiness, for regard for her old
uncle's wishes eXerted an influence over
her, Notwithstanding her repeated dec
laration that she would not submit to
them; and while she shyly acknowl-
edged to Harold that his love was re-
turned she told him that, out of re,
spect to her uncle's memory, she should
remain single; and to all his eloquent
pleading, her resolution was firm.
Then he went away, after telling her
that he had succeeded in obtaining a
picture of the man who was chosen by
her uncle, and that he would bring it
to her the following evening; and
Cora's dreams that night were of a
suitor old and wrinkled and repulsiye
and she awoke with sigh of relief, tc
know that it was but dream.
= But when the long day was over
and, just in the twilight cleaning
Harold Travers called, she thought Of
the promised picture; and when hi
put in her hand an elegantly chased
gold locket she toyed with it long an(
:, nervously before she opened it: but a
last she touched the spring, it flew
= open, revealing the handsome pictured
face of Harold Travers, aud she look
ed up inquiringly, as she said, "this 1
yours, but where is his?" and for an
y swer, Harold clasped her to his breast
= as he told her how he had been con
& Quoting his own case; and he pleade'
:, SO eloquently for forgiveness for tn
! harmless little artifce that had enabled
u him to WOO the woman of his choice
that then and there he received full
Is and free pardon, that in the deepenin,