The Washington critic., 1886-11-20
A MATRIMONIAL SOHEMER.

ists is sure TO be cheerful apartment,
well provided with illustrated papers
and the current magazines, your need
of distractment before trying inter
view Is never similarly recognized by
your lawyer, who leaves you to attend
his leisure either in an outer Office,
where every sign of agitation on your
part is noted and enjoyed by the
clerks, or at best In wretchcd little
ante.room of unmitigated dullness and
dingy discomfort
81 suppose" thought Miss Sybil
Eason, who had come 10 a lawyer s
Office for the first time In her life, and
was struck by the above contrast, "I
suppose 1t Is because lawyers do not
often have ladies to visit them, and
never children. Do you think Mr..
Virgins will soon be disengaged ?"
she inquired of the clerk nearest to
her.
81 cam I say, Miss, but | shouldn't t
think he would be long" he answered,
civily, for Sybil was not only lady,
but young and pretty. He wondered
what she had come about, and why
she was so nervous.
AS n matter of fact, Sybil was more
impatient than nervous; and presently,
when she was ushered into the solicit.
tors room, she had all her wits about
her, and looked straight and com.
posedly into his face.
She knew him by sight well enough.
the small, untidily dressed figure the
clean shaven face, the bright eyes and
protruding under lip had been familiar
n har cippp har al, tl1hnA1, 1,,,. IL,
wanted to read beyond these--to find
out whether he was kind and whether
he was clever.
Augustus Virgins, however, was not
q man to be read like book. lie fondly
believed, indeed, that he was the most
inscrutable of men, and, with view to
sustaining this character, had an odd
habit of changing his manner continu-
ally. AT this moment he was the busy
professional man.
"What can do for you, madam" he
inquired, looking at her penetratingly
over his spectacles.
Sybil was an intelligent girl, and,
taking her cue from him, Strengthened
herself, and spoke out with reflection
of his business. like air.
81 am the daughter Of DR.. Eason of
Morley Square, Baywater," she stated,
land wish to ask you in the first place
whether you would, under any circum-
stances, undertake q case for him with.
out being sure of payment, in the event
of its being decided against him "
"Um-that would depend on the ma
ture of the case" replied Mr.. Wig
gins, cautiously. II might, of course,
be able to predict the issue with GER
tainty."
"Let me tell YOU" said sybil, "and
then you can Judge"
Like most ladies, she forgot that
lawyers preliminary opinion even has
an exchange value; but Mr.. Virgins
was privately influenced by her fresh
beauty, and encouraged her by q grave
bow TO proceed.
"lt won't take many words" she
said, "for I've written it all down
clearly, so as not to make mess of it
in the telling"
AT this, Mr.. Virgins manner under
went sudden Transformations open
surprise and admiration illumincd his
countenance.
MY dear young lady, what admira-
bic forethought How | wish your
example might be followed by every
client | have Admirable ~
His pretty visitor produced note
book, aud proceeded to set FORTH with
details into which we need not enter,
how her fathers claim to a legacy of
$50, 900 was being disputed on account
of n mere technicality, by Mr.. Hugh
Lorrain of Queens Gate, to whom the
money must come If the will were
proved invalid.
my father is too poor TO fight it
out, )" said the girl. "lle is afraid of
heavy law expenses, and would rather
give everything up at once. That is
why have come to you. There are so
many of us, and we want the money
dreadfully. Why should we surrender
it without struggle to this mean man
who has not the shadow of real right
to it?''
The girl spoke Indignantly; her
eyes flashed, and she looked so lovely
that Augustus Virgins quite forgot his
own pecuniary interest.
My dear Miss Eason" he exclaimed
with quite unprofessional gallantry,
Il place myself unreservedly at the
service Of your youth and beauty Let
your father come and give me instruc-
lions, and | will do all can for him" :"
Must you see him?" asked Sybil, in
dismay. won't what I've told you
do? lie is sure to decline to accept
your generous offer. Oh, Mr.. Wig.
ginsl couldn't you make IL double or
quits? Let him pay you double-I
mean If he wins, and nothing at all if
he loses"
The solicitors eyes twinllled at this
refreshing ingenuity on the part of a
client.
"Well, well, he said, arrangements
of some such nature have been come
to before now, but in this case your
father may set his mind at rest; the
costs would certainly be ordered out of
the estate. Anyhow, my dear, most
intelligent young lady, / am paid in
advance by the honor and pleasure of
your visit here"
Sybil finished pulling up the wrists of
her gloves, and then looked up at him
with Il smile.
"You are as nice now, Mr.. Wig.
gins" she. said, las you used to be in
Morley Square, when you always took
the side of us children against our
enemy, the gardener"
What" exclaimed the lawyer, re-.
garding her with fresh interest; "were
you one of those dear little girls who
would skip on the gravel and send the
little stones all over the gra.s?"
Yes" replied Sybll; "Hud you al.
ways told the man to let us enjoy our
selves, and sometimes yon turned the
rope and counted for us.
so ! did, so did," said Virgins,
nodding his head. "Dear mel you've
grown up very quickly"
And I'm the eldest girl" remarked
Sybii, laughing, land that, in large
family, is an ageing circumstance