The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-04-14
MRS. JonNsOns WILL.
AFox Cai.shtin fllso own Trap.

7 :
Mr.. james Fox was the JUNO
partner in the firm Of Plumley 4
Fox, The principal solicitors in.thl
somewhat deadalise old cathedra
town Of Scarborough. he was
smart, we'll set up young man q
two OF three and thirty, with care
/ Eful trimmed black whisketsa silk
en- manner, and an unlimiteds tloN
Of more or less entertaining small
talk. Hence it came to pass thai
he was 40 exceedingly popular
man among the ladies Of slumbo
rough, both old and young, andhad
his views lain in the direction oi
matrimony, he would have had
small difficulty in inducing any
damsel or widow to share his lot.-4
But the handsome solicitor was
ambitious his share in The basi.
ness did notiat present bring him
in more than a moderate income,
and he had long ago determined
that when he married he must con
slider not only beauty but more
solid advantages.
Heiressss, however, we're NOT
plentifalin Scarborough, and 80,
although Mr., Fox's attentions tlut.
tered a bosom, be was careful not
TO commit himself too far, and not
even the local gossips could fairly
say Of him that he had knowingly
raised false hopes. There was, in
deed, one young lady who had nude
a deep impression upon the solici.
tors heart, but she was a daughter
Of country magnate, with whom
poor Mr., Fox was not even on Wis.
iting terms, He had met ber at
the annual hunt ball, she had dan.
ced twice with him, for Mr.. Fox
was an excellent waltzer; but her
mother had doubtless warned her
against him, for when next they
met, some six weeks aftersatd,
Miss Laquerton did not recognize
him. Miss Laquerton, however,
was lovely and rich, and Mr.. Fox
was not a man to be easily discour.
aged. Ho knew that if could only
afford to cut the Office and blossom
into a landed proprietor, he would
have just as gooda a chance with her
as anybody else, so he watched pa.
tiently in the hopes Of one day dis.
covering the road which Ieads to
fortune and success,
The firm of Plumloy & Fox was
a highly respectable aud old fash
ioned concern, which avoided liti.
gation and KEEP. almost entirely to
family business. Plumley was a
fairly good lawyer, but FOx's legal
knowledge was Of the most limited
character, aud he was much too
lazy to take the trouble to increase
it, So it came to be understood be.
tween them that while Plumley
did the office work, Fox kept the
clients in good humor by calling
GA them apropos Of nothing and
amusing them with his jokes and
stories. This business was tech.
uicslly termed excepting the con.
nection together" and it suited
Mr.. Fox very well indeed. 1t was
while he was thus keeping the con.
nectiOn together that Mr., Fox made
the acquaintance Of a certain rich
old widow lady, named Mrs. John.
son, and so well did he play hi.
cards tina! before long Plumlcy &
Fox became Mrs, Johusons family
solicitors and agents and confden
tial advisers. The firm made q
pretty good thing out Of Mrs. John
son, In accordance with the usual
arrangements, Plumlcy transacted
the business, aud Fox became q
constant visitor at her house, anc
worked his way into her good
gracos by his wonderful powers o.
amusing conversation.
There was yet another accom-
plishmeat which stood our solicitor
in very good stead, and this was al
accurate knowledge Of chemistry
aud medicine, which be had pick
ed up as a boy at the office Of hiI
uncle, the chemist. The horrible
smells young Fox had created ii
his experiments, aud the ugly
stains he had made on his hands
determined him to forsoke modi
cine for law, but he never entirely
forgot his curly experience. II,
could talk iluon!ly about ever,
known drug and disease, aud abou
q great many which had not We
been discovered. He diagnosed
Mrs. JOhnson's symptoms at leas
as well as MaCBolus, the scotef