The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-01

maid. her condition was accepted. and
the title thenceforth was Wymer. Woy
& Wymer. All the members Of the
1irm were long, lank and lean, and
grew, as did their parchments. more
shrunk and shriveled every term. Life
to them was in a small way made up
of happiness and sorrow, sympathy,
disappointments, love. trials of affec-
ton, charity and such-like trifes: but
in much larger way it was made up
of law They talked nothing but law;
they breathed nothing but law. They
played the game of existence Gas
though it were really game) with
cards of law, and they played it so
skillfully that they never missed the
odd trick. Yet even they looked frosti-
" pleasant, and thawed a little under
the genial influence of the time; dimly
recognizing that kindliness at such a
season might possibly be an enactment
of some old law of humanity which it
would be well for them not to resist.
And if there was a shadow of doubt
on the subject-if any misguided per-
son still entertained the most infinitesi-
nal particle of disbelief as to the fact
he had but to look at the face OF
Laura Harrild. and the thing was set
tied. There was nothing extraordinarily
handsome about Laura-sne was simp-
ly dear, loving woman, gemmed with
the graces Of happy, innocent youth.
Nell-loOking and well-formed, with Il
pure mind and a loving heart, pleas
ant gladneSS rested on her face. and
shed its influence on all around her.
Such women are the roses of the world:
happy the man who has one blooming
in the garden of his life
ITO think" said DIR. Bax, as he sat
handling on mis- knee a privileged.
curly-headed youngster, ''to think of
those two children going to Get mar
rid in three months! Why, Mr.. Har-
ried what on earth will you do without
her?"
The person addressed. sober-look-
ING man of fifty. gazed thoughtfully at
Laura and William, who were sitting
among a group of young people laugh
ing and chatting gayly.
Dear, dear!" continued the doctor;
"three monthsl And tomorrow we
shall be looking back to it. and saying
it was only yesterday that they were
married. Life, indeed, is nothing but
breath of wind"
Il beg your pardon" interposed
Mr.. Wymer, who was close by, with
the other two members of the firm;
did not quite catch it, Doctor. You
were saying"
That life was nothing but a breath
af
mo such thing. sir; no such thing"
exclaimed Mr.. Wymer, warmly. Life
a breath of wind, indeed, Pooh-pooh,
doctor! you know nothing about it! If
everybody took such light view of
it | beg your pardon; YOU smiled"
ut sounded like joke" said DIR.
BaX; taking such light view of it, you
said
Il never joke, said Mr.. Wymer, sol
EMMY; land if l did l hope | should
know myself better than to select sub
ject so serious. Irepeat, if everybody
took such a light view of life, what
would become of all its most important
relations? What would be the use of
making marriage. settlements in favor
of breath of wind? What would be
the use of making ones will in favor
of breath of wind? What would be
the use Of actions at law, writs of
ejectment. pleas, interpleas, rules n;si,
criminal prosecutions. chancery suits
and insolvencies? What, in short,
would become of law"
That is no breath OF wind. | grant
you," said the little doctor, good
humoredly; sit is a grim reality. But
spoke metaphorically."
- beg your pardon. You spoke"
Metaphorically."
u thought l was mistaken in the
word" returned Mr.. Wymer. My
dear doctor, you surely can not be in
earnest. Metaphorically! Of what
practical use is it to speak metaphoric-
ally? Speak legally. and You are all
right. Speak legally. act legally, live
legally, die legally, and you can go to
the other world with your title-deedS
in your hand, and take possession.
What find fault with in people nova
days" continued the lawyer. illustrat-
ing his points with his forcfinger, lis.
that they diverge from the proper |
course of life. They are dreamy, SEN
metaphorical, impractical and !
unbusiness-like. Now there is no
dreaminess or sentimentalitv in law. /
You must be business-like and practi- !
cal. or you will get the worst of it.
You must be wide awake, my friend. !
when you deal with law" And Mr.. |
Wymer emitted dry. chuckling laugh, |
as though he were in the habit of deal |
ing with many people who were I'M /
business-like and impractical. and not /
wide awake, and who were !
therefore always getting the worst of |
t.
But the uncertainty of the law"
Doctor BaX yentured to remark.
That's the charm of it." replied |
Mr.. Wymer. rubbing his hands pleas
,ntly with the geniality of his theme.
Il beg your pardon interrupted
DR.. Bax, purposely initiating the old
awyer; you said that is the"
Charm of it."
Its uncertainty"
Exactly. You never know where
o have it. 1t will get the best of you
when you least expect it. You may
tudy it for a hundred years, and it
nay trip you, after all. 1t is wonder
ully and beautifully complex"
There are cases which have lasted
ixty or seventy years, are there not?"
sked DR.. Bax.
More. sir, more" replied Mr.. Wy
ner, gleefully. What could better IL
ustrate the laws amazing ingenuity,
Is ineXhaustible fertility, than such
asses? Think of the study. the speeches.
he learning, the arguments, that have
cen used in one simple suit. Think
# the BRIEFS
The fees" the doctor put in, with
knowing look.