The Sunday herald., 1886-11-14

VIII he and not meet and speak once more7
Thou maker OF our friendship; patient aodl
Send me one message from that silent shore
Yet nothing see I, nothing can hear,
Save echoes falntly calling-ah! last year!
All the Year Round.
A MATRIMONIAL SCHEME.
II is curious circumstance that while tn,
waiting room at your dentists is sure to b.
a cheerful apartment, we'll provided Will
illustrated papers and the current magazines
your need OF distraction and entertainment
before trying interview Is never similarly
recognized by your solicitor, who leaves you
to attend his leisure either in an outer office
where every sign Of agitation on your part IL
noted and enjoyed by the clerks, or at best
In wretched little ante.room Of unmitig ated
dulluess and dinQy discomfort.
"I suppose" thought Miss Sybil Eason-
who had come to lawyers office for the
first time in her life, and was struck by the
above contrast-"I suppose II is because
lawyers don't often have ladies to visit
Mr.. Virgins will soon be disengaged 20 she
inquired of the clerk nearest hsr.
81 can't say, miss, but shouldn'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 matter Of fact, Sybil was more i'm.
patient than nervous; and presently, when
she was ushered into the solicitors room,
she had all her wits about her, and looked
straight and composedly into his face. She
knew him by sight well enough; the small
uutidily dressed figure, the clean. shaven
face, the bright eyes, and protruding under
lip had been familiar to her since childhood
but she wanted to read beyond these-to
find out whether he was kind and whether
he was clever.
Augustus Virgins. however, was not a
man TO be read like a book. He fondly be-.
leved, indeed, that be was the most inscru-
table of men, and with view to sustaining
his character had an odd habit of changing
his manner continually. At this moment
ha was the busy professional man.
"What can do for yon, madam 2" he in
quired, 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.
~ am the daughter of DIR. Eason, of Nor
ley Square. Bayswater," she stated, "and
wish to ask you in the first place whether
you would, under any circumstances, under
take q case for him without being sure Of
payment in the event of its being decided
against himY'
"Um-that would depend on the nature
OF the case, "replied Mr.. Virgins, cautiously.
81 might, Of course, be able to predict the
issue with certainty"
"Let me tell you," said sybil, "and then
you can judge"
Like most ladies', she forgot that law
| yer's preliminary opinion even has an ex-
change value; but Mr.. Virgins was pri-
vately influenced by her fresh beauty, and
encouraged her with grave bow to proceed.
"It won't take many Words" che said,
"for I've written 1t all down clearly, 30 as
not to make mess OF It in the telling"
At this, Mr.. Wiggins's manner underwent
sudden transformation; open surprise and
admiration illuminsd his oountenance.
"My dear young lady, what admirable
forethoughti How wish your example
might be followed by every client have !
Admirable, admirablel"
His pretty visitor produced a note book
and proceeded to set forth, with details into
which we need not enter. how her fathers
claim to legacy of 9500,000 was being dis.
puted, on account Of a mere technicality, by
certain Mr.. Hugh Lorrain, of Queen s Gate.
to whom the money must come II the will
were proved invalid.
"My father Ia too poor to fight It out,''
said the girl. "Heis afraid OF heavy law
expenses, and would rather give every thing
up at once. That ia why have come ia
| you. There are ever SO many of us, and we
| want the money dreadfully; why should We
surrender 1t without q struggle to this mean
man, who has not shadow of real right Il
tW
| The girl spoke Indignantly; her eyes
dashed. aud she looked 30 lovely that Au.
gustus Virgins quite forgot to consider his
own pecuniary interests.
my dear Miss Easoni" ha exclaimed
with quite unprofessional eallantry, "a
place myself unresarvedly at the service Of
your youth and beauty. Let your father
come and give me instructions, and will
do all can for him."
"Must you see him p aSked Sybil, in dis.
may. "Won't what have told you do
He is snrs TO decline to accept your generous
offer. Oh, Mr.. Virgins couldn't you make
mean, II he wins, and nothing II he loses. u
The solicitors eyes twinklsd at this re
fresi,ing ingenuity ON the part Of client.
swell, we'll" he said, arrangements O
some such nature have been come to befor,
now, but In this case your father may SCI
his mind at rest; the costs would certainly
be ordered out OF the estate. Anyhow, ms
dear, most intelligent young lady, am paid
In advance by the honor and pleasure O.
yonr visit"
Sybil finished pulling mp ths wrists OF her
gloves, and then looked up Ut him with Q
smile.
"You are as nice now, Mr.. Wiggins," sh.
said, "as you used to bs In Morely Square
1 l.. IL. zuv~ l.
dren. against our enemy, the gardener"
"Whati' exclaimed the lawyer, regarding
her with fresh interest; "wers yOu one O.
those dear little girls who wonld skip on the
gravel aud send the stones all over the
grass 2"
eyes" replied sybiI; "and yon always
told the man TO let US enjoy ourselves, and
sometimes you turned the rope and counted
for u.s."
$50 did, so did" said Virgins, nod
ding his head. 'Dear mel you've grown
up very quickly"
'"Ah, I'm the eldest girl" remarked sybil
laughing, "and that in q large family ia an
ageing circumstance. Good bye. Mr.. Wig
gins. don't know how to thank you"
"NOw, that's sweet little maid, said
the lawyer to himself. when he had watched
her down stairs, "snd would like to save
her fortune from Hugh Lorrain. He's a hard
man, as know Of cld."
The afternoon was drawing 10 q close, aud
presently Mr.. Virgins, still thinking over
the Lorrain case, put on his shabby old hat
and prepared to leave the Office. As he
passed outside the door OF an inner room,
where he wished TO deposit some papers, a
sudden thought struck him.
Hugh Lorrain had soni" hs exclaimed,
and then hestopped, put his cane to his nose,
and made calculation.
"Thst girl WAS little thing when left
Morley Square, and In those days used to
visitat Hugh Lorrsin's and see his boy, Ber-
tie, who was at kton. He must be ak or
seven.and-twenty by now. Who was the
king who who planned match to stave of
the Thirty Years' War Well, why not
Virgins, to nip lawsuit IN the bud 7
James was bungler, and failed but Wig
gins isn't, aud WON'T"
The scheme fascinated. II not only offered
4