The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-11-14
SELECT STORY.
CONDUCTING HIS OWN CASE.
ny BERTHA BARRON.

iSOt tIV iO'pNiN SV' WI NV
agree to marry mau whom | have
never seen, and one whom / know l
shall detest."
A small restless foot beat tattoo |
on the carpet, delicate flush suffused |
the pretty cheek, there was flash in
the spirited. blue eyes, as Cora Win
chester sprung from the sofa, and toss
ed the letter she had been reading up
on the table; letter from her uncle's
attorney, which had just reached her.
Her uncle had recently died he
was rich, and he had left fortune to
Cora Winchester, the daughter OF his
only brother, who was dead, IT she
would comply with certain require
ments which were set forth in his will
the requirements being, that she should
marry the son of his dearest friend.
The friend, when dying, had left as
a trust to Hugh Winchester his only
son. In managing the fortune left for
him by his father, in counseling and
overseeing his education, that trust
had been sacredly fulfilled; and Har-
old Travers, having finished an educa.
ton which fitted him for the legal pro-
fession, had been admitted to the oar,
and had also opened an office In an
Eastern city; while the handsomely
lettered sign of "Harold Travers,
Counselor.at-Taw," presented an ex-
tremely attractive appearance.
The fortune left by his father, was
sufficient to warrant him life of lux.
urious ease but idleness was not an
element of his nature.
Six months had passed since he had
domiciled in his cozy Office, and he had
not yet done business enough to pay
his expenses.
His office was unlike most places OF
che kind, which oftener than otherwise
have an uninviting aspect; gloomi-
ness pervading the atmosphere, shad-
owing the dingy walls, and clinging to
the musty old law-books.
Everything in Harold Travers' Of
flee was fresh and new. The rich,
cheerful paper on the walls, the soft,
velvety carpet on the floor, with its
pattern of delicate fern leaves, inter.
spersed with bright berries and vines,
gave tasteful cheeriness to the apart
ment; supplemented as they were by
comfortable office chairs, several of
which were so luxurious and graceful
proportions and upholstering, that they
might have adorned lady's parlor.
There were fine pictures on the
walls, and as much out of place as pos
sible, in a lawyers Office, seemed a
tiny linnet, that swung ia gilded
cage by the window the livelong day.
Eminently homelike and refined in
his tastos, Harold Travers had made
of his little office a very attractive
place almost like parlor, it seemed,
and the large carved bookcase, filled
with volumes of legal lore, looked
fresh and tempting, not having borne
the brunt of hard usage; that were to
come, the young lawyer would laugh
ingly remark when his friends com.
mented upon the unlegal appearance
of the place, and patiently waited, day
after day, for the coming client.
A summer morning, with sunshine
and healtbful breezes stealing through
the open easement, and making Dick
fairly jubilant, as he swung in his
cage, jubilant with the ecstasy of liv-
ing.
| Harold Travers could not read law
continually, and leaning back in ar
easy chair, he was buried, fguratively
speaking, in scientific article in the
Century, when the door swung slowly
open aud lady entered--a lady young
and fair, and shy, and modest as vic
let.
Rich, brown hair rippled about hel
broad, low brow; earnest blue eyes
and lips that were suggestive of un
tasted sweetness, helped tc make ;
singularly attractive face.
She wore suit of gray that fitteC
admirably her slender form, and ;
white hat, encircled with long, grace
full ostrich plume and cluster of moss
rose buds, rested lightly upon her lus
trous brown braids. ....
"Lawyer Travers p she questioned
as the expressive, blue eyes seemed t.
take in the details of the cozy room,
and left her slightly in doubt regard
ing her quest.
SAT your service" and with cour
teous bow, the young lawyer sprung t.
his feet, and drew up his easiest chai
for his fair visitor.
She sank in the depths Of the pro
fered chair, and glanced nervousl
about the room, but finally explaine
that she came on business while Ha
old Travers mentally hoped that hi
client might always prove as attrac
i've.
But the lady seemed quite unable
explain her business, for she ha(
somehow, expected to meet gray,
dignifed, elderly man, who woul
counsel and advise in q fatherly fasl
ion; and Harold Travers was not y,
twenty five, and, too, he was handsom
and courteous, with eyes that locke
as though they might read the though
she could not express.
At last she managed to broach Il
subject, which regarded her uncle
will, and its very eccentric provision
and when she mentioned the name
Hugh Winchester, look of surpIis
which was unnoticed by the fair ellen
fitted across the handsome face of Il
young lawyer.
"To think that | should be require
III to marry some one whom | have new
Of seen ~ she exclaimed, after an inge
OF uous accent of her grievance. IN
nd Netherton did not even mention b
as, name. will give up the money; al
10 I'll write the lawyer at once. Dor
OF you think | had better do so, NJ
ant Travers p as, after declaring her
e tention, she asked his opinion; and t
By blue eyes flashed the Indignation s.
felt, at being disposed of in such
manner.
"Perhaps," and Harold Travers HI
itated, for it was delicate subject
~ "perhaps if you should see the gent
.cs man in question, you might feel diff
"a. "a. emily"
,p- "No, am sure nothing could
6o duce me to marry him i and t
OF Young lady began TO pace the floor {