The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-11-11
THE IDLE LAWYER.

spinning into the gutter, much to th
detriment OF his fine apparel /; an,
served him right for insulting al
unprotected girl, whose hurried ste
and timid manner betrayed her IN
easiness at being alone on the stree
at such an hour.
Having done his duty in tn
premises, and waiting TO see the be
spattered coxcomb pick himself u
ungracefully and stink away abash
ed and cowed, Ned Armour turne,
to see what had become of hi
protege.
She was trembling, as thougl
fright had arrested her steps. He
pale face, on which the light of
Eeighboring lamp chanced to fall
was OF surprising beauty; and Ned
being as gallant as he was brave
begged permission to see her saf
home.
In sweet, gentle voice, with
slightly foreign tinge. she accepted
the ofier, and the two walked off to
gether, for the most part in 81
lence.
"Will you not come in, sir ?" saiC
the girl, stopping at the door of
plain looking house. MY father,
am sure, will wish to thank you TO
the kind service you have rendered
He is an Invalid, and it was an er
rand to procure him some necessa
ries, that took me out tonight"
Ned accepted the invitation, ant
that vas the beginning of his ac
quaintanee with VI. Bertrand anC
bis charming daughter Marie.
Ned Armour was the junior of ;
law firm of which his uncle, Mr.
Banting, was the head. He had bu
little love for the profession, but hac
entered into it to please bis uncle
to whom he owed everything, hi:
rearing included. 1t is safe to say
that after the adventure just related
he spent two evenings in the society
OF Marie and her father, to one pass
ed with Coke and Blackstone.
NJ. Bertrand was an old soldier o
the first Empire who, with the fal
of his chief. had lost all and driv
en- into exile with his infant child
he had wandered from country tC
country. in the hope to mend hi:
fortune. Now, bis daughter and
himself had no other dependence
than the earnings of the former, who
turned to the best account she could
her proficiency in music by giving
private lessons.
Ned would have gladly assisted his
friends from his own purse, had he
known how to do so without giving
offense to the proud old soldier.
"I've been thinking of wife fol
you," said Ned's uncle one morning
as the two sat together in the senior
private office.
cO nave IL Icpilcu Ncu.
"Ahem y returned the uncle.
"l've picked one for you," he con-
tinued.
i've picked one out for myself d
said Ned, THAT is, provided | can
obtain her consent"
The deuce you havew exclaim.
ed the head of the firm, who had
always regarded the question as one
within his own exclusive jurisdic-
ton.
There Is no knowing TO what a
pitch the discussion would have
reached but for the entrance OF two
gentlemen, who came to consult Mr..
Banting.
A Frenchman, a stranger, it seems
had died suddenly while on a visit
to the city some years before, leav-
ing a large sum of money. One of
the two gentlemen present had been
appointed trustee of the fund, and
the other claimed to be next of kin to
the deceased, whose cousin he asser
ted him to be.
THE deceased spoke of having a
brother" said the trustee, " in
search of whom he had been trav-
cling"
ayes, his brother Antoine" said
the other, "who absconded from this
country years ago, and of whose
death l have ample proofs"
The papers were submitted to
Mr.. Banting, who promised to ex-
anime them and give his opinion
next day, at which time, if every
thing was regular, the money was
to be turned over to the claimant.
1t wasn't often that Ned paid
much attention to the business of
the office; but the mention of GER
tain names during the colloquy
caused him to prick up his ears,
while seemingly busy with the NOR
ming paper; and, five minutes later,
he was running at full speed to
the house of his friends, the Ber-
trands.
At the appointed hour next morn
ing. the same two gentleman came
to hear Mr.. Banting's decision.
Ned, as before, had the morning pa
per before him, but kept sharp ear
turned.
These papers appear to be all
right" observed Mr.. Banting. II
have scrutinized them carefully, and
find nothing wanting
"Then it only remains to pay over
the money, I suppose" said the
heir expectant, rubbing his hands.
Nothing more" replied Mr..
Banting.
The trustee produced his accounts
showing the sum on hand, which
had been largely enhanced by ac-
cruing interest, and was beginning
to draw a check for the amount,