The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-03-21
ROBERT ATKINSON
A Lawyers Clerk.

4ull1 --iil-l2- lfi -Iiiiii-.eiu Eei'iiiiiiizlH
When old squire Vale died he lei1 be
hind him a great reputation for a countr,
lawyer. aoomfortablc income and an onl,
son. to whom he bequeathei his fortune
his business and his clerk. This elers
vas young man who had accidental,
come in his way. Squire Vale, although
har,l headed and BIZ no means eapri
cious person, had taken him original,
because when he required as an evidenc,
Of fitness aor the place 10 see bis hand
writing the young man had happened tC
jot down the lawyers fayoriie quotation
from Pope
squire Vale was old-fashioaed in his
tastes, and 10 him Pope was the creates;
poet earth had ever seen, buthe bad Ione
ago given up hoping TO meet one who
agreed with him. Il was 50 delightful to
lind a young man who could quote Pope
that he questioned no further, but took
Robert Atkinson on that Recommendation
alone.
He had, indeed, ncyer regretted it. His
clerk proved himself Invaluable. Ifthere
xqs a cgochety old fellow Of . client that
had 10 BE humorei, Robert was the very
one for the task. When some poor, con-
fused creature with load Of troubles
came for advice it was Robert who was
called upon, and his good rature and tact
rlyeled oct the story and arranged the
facts for the lawyers ear at last. Robert
was always in request, and his employer
often thought III were not for h;s only
son, he would gladly make young Atkin-
son his partner. squire Nale's only son
was named Robert also, and when the
clerk was engaged was a youth at college,
stralying law with the view Of entering
his fathers Office. Robert Vale was a fine
fellow.
Not up to the old man. the older
townspeople declared, bat a good fellow
nevertheless"
The two Roberts As they came after
time to be called, we're a contrast in
many qualities. Robert Vale had stud
ie,i himself near sighted, was delicately
built and not particularly strong How
ever, he had studied to advantage, was a
man of enthusiasm and ideals, devoted 70
business, and on the whole much to his
fathers liking. Robert Atkinson Was lar
ger and taller than Vale, with gray eyes
whose sight Was as strong as sailors,
and thick brown hair that lay around his
head IN great masses and he had OBJ
tanned = record for running and rowing
that made tie young uen Of the town
both proud and enVious Of him. The
men were alike, however, in devotion 10
each other and to business. and had, a.
well, unsuilied regulations for honesty.
g You may believe il the same as # the
two Roberts had said It" the townspeo-
pie would say, 10 elinch the truth OF =
statement.
The young men had felt mutual at
traction when they irst met, and after
Robert Vale graduated and came home To
hIs fathers office the attachment only
strengthened BY eompanionship. They
were sworn friends.
When Squire Vale found his end ap-
preaching. his thoughts naturally ran
much on his s0n and his sons welfare
The one thing most satisfactory to his
mind was that he should take Robert At
kinson into partnership. 80 he talkesi Of
the matter, first with his son and then
with Atkinson. arranged the terms to his
own satisfaction, aud even had the new
sign painted unler his inspection It
ran:
Vale & Atkinson. late William Vale
There" he said to his son when it was
finished, . it looks neat. After tipe,
Of course, il viii be well to have my
name painted cut, when clients out Of
town are used to the change Better set
il up for tbs present behind the tail book
case
Soon after this the new partnership
went into eject. When Vale was 2jsnd
Atkinson =, new element came into
,heir quiet lives. A family by the name
Of More moved into the toxin. The eld-
est daughter was an extremely han siscme
and charming girl, who speedily attracted
many admirers, among them the two
friends. who often called uaon her. al
WAYS together. 1t was not long before
the Young men detected in each other
an interest in Lucy More. and over their
evening cigars the subject was finally
broaehed by Vale.
Robert, you and I are getting to be
old fellows, and soon We shall be lonely
Old fellows-unicss one Of US makes a
change
a change, What kind Of a change
said Atkinson.
Marrying said Vale. @' ne of rs
ought to marry and make home FOR
himself, and yo,l are the one
Nonsense What can you be thinking
OFF,
Il have been thinking it over for some