Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-11

the incident related in the MS. was
actually true. But could learn moth
ing that threw the least light upon it,
and, therefore, if it be his actual ex.
perience or merely fiction composed
for his own amusement, must leave
fog others to decide. For my own part
1 must confess that his great anxiety
about the MS. when on his death-bed
inclines me to the former opinion.
THE MANUSCRIPT.
Some years after commenced prac-
the precise date 1 shall for obvious
reasons avoid mentioning, I had a
friend, at whose house was pretty
constant visitor. He had a niece, who
was the magnet that drew me there.
She was beautiful, but / shall not de-
scribe her. She was more than beau
tiful-she was fascinating, she was
captivating. Her presence was to me
like the intoxication of opium. Twas
only happy when under its influence,
and yet, after every indulgence in the
fatal pleasure, sank into deeper de-
spondency. In my own justification 1
must say that / never, in word or look,
betrayed my feelings.
That l had the courage to do so has
been for years my only consolation.
One morning / sat alone in my office.
My clerk was absent. A gentle knock
was just audible at the outer door. I
shouted Come in! come inr' in de-
licious reverie upon the subject of the
fair lady of my heart, and the presence
of an ordinary mortal was hateful. The
door opened, and Madeline entered.
do not know exactly what 1 did; but it
seemed to be long time before I had
the power to rise and welcome her,
while she stood there with timid
blush upon her face and that glorious
smile upon her lips which made me
feel that it would be too great a hap
piness to die for her.
81 don't wonder that you are sur
prised to see me here" she began, with
a provoking little laugh; "but is your
establishment really too great to allow
you to say how do you do?"
The spell was broken; / started up;
1 took her hand. l fear I pressed it
more warmly and held it longer than
was absolutely necessary.
Perhaps your surprise will be in
creased" she continued, ''when I tell
you that am come on business"
muttered something about not be-
ing ambitious enough to hope that she
would visit me from any other motive.
She took no notice of what said, but
l saw that her hand trembled as she
placed before me bundle of papers.
"You will see by these" she said, in
a low, hurried voice, ''that some prop
erty was left to me by my grandfather,
but so strictly settled that even can
touch nothing but the interest. Now,
my dear uncle is, at this moment, in
want of a large sum of money, and /
wish you to examine the affair well
and to see whether, by any twisting of
the law, [ can place a part of my capt.
tai at his disposal. Internationally /
have done him a great wrong; he
should have had this legacy" she
added, in low tone, land poor as this
is, it is all / can do, and I
must do it if possible"
pretended to study the papers be-
fore me, but the lines danced and
mingled, and if, by a great effort,
forced my. eyes to distinguish a word,
it conveyed not the slightest meaning
to MY whirling brain.
Every drop of blood in my body
seemed induced with a separate con-
sciousness, and to be tingling and rush
ing to the side next to her, whose pres
ence within short distance of me was
the only thing of which had distinct
perception. 1 hung my head to hide
from her the emotion of which was
ashamed.
1t may well be believed that was in
no condition to give professional
opinion, but got over the difficulty by
telling her that I must have time to
study the case, and promised to let her
know the result
You are a tiresome creature" she
said, with little hayward, coquettish
air; II really expected that, for once
in your life, and for friend, too, you
might have got rid of the laws delays
and given me your opinion in half an
hour, so far, at least, as to tell me
there is probability of doing
what wish. But see you are just
like the rest of the lawyers-'time,
time, time suppose now you'll wait
until am dead, and then it will go to
my heirs in the course of the law"
Probably it will not require more
than half an hour to ascertain so much
when can direct my thoughts to it for
that space of time." 1 replied, and
put of my mouth; ''but would you be
SO unreasonable as to require an artist
TO draw a straight line when he was
under fit of delirium tremens?"
"You are an incomprehensible
person" she replied, rather coldly, $50
shall leave you to your legal and law
tul studies. But if you are going to
have an attack of delirium tremens,
perhaps l had better send in the doc
tor. Shall II"
SWELL, l don't anticipate an attack
this morning." l answered, with
force laugh, $50 will not trouble you.
The fact is, have been violently agi-
lated short time since. and my mind
has not quite recovered its equilib-
RUM"
We talked few minutes longer, she
luizzing me in her light, playful way,
and /, delighted to be so teased, stand