The National tribune., 1888-05-17
A BARRISTER'S STORY.
EVERYTHING Comes te Him Who
Waits.

Walter Digby. barrister-at-law and gentle
man Of the press, sat In his chambers slipping
his coffee and reviewing his life The rdisoa
eFetre of the one occupation was that 1t was his
breakfast hour. and Of the other that II was
the 9th anniversary of his birth. he was IN
a serious. though not melancholy, mood TINS
morning. The train of thought natural on
such an occasion. had led up to the realization
Of the possibility that be might be failure IN
life This contingency led Walter TO survey
his past and contemplate his future. His solil-
OQuy ran somewhat in this wise:
e / was born neither lucky nor rich. My
father. failure in trade, became faint hearted
and left me poor but honest lad TO the tender
mercies Of his brother-a retired ironmonger
of the town of Bristol. with no children, a con-
siderable bankers balance and a strong inter
est in political affairs. The said uncle early
discerned IN me the premonitions OF genius
and formed the highest hopes OF me as a future
leader in the cause Of reform. He sent me to
Oxford and, as the royal road TO Parliamentary
life ordered me TO become barrister ms
Injunction I duly obeyed. ! kept my terms
read my books, and passed my examinations
and was duly called.
But" aud there was a reproachful tone rs
he proceeded i'm his searching self-examlna-
ton, CUi J0H0g ] have not obtained brleI
I have not contested a constituency. No,
have wandered abroad led a Bohemian llie
6gured in secOud-rate South kenslngton So
ciety at balls, at homes aud garden parties
obtained some reputation for lawn tennis and
some fame for flirting. ] am now three years
Of 80 il is four since | was called; my patron
uncle is close on threescOre, and my success IN
law and services to reform consist ID casual
visits to the courts and occasional contrlbu-
tiOns 20 the papers,
As was natural, good resolutions followed
this inward searching Of heart. he would at
once settle down to legal treatlses and the law
courts, abhor clubs and anathematize drawing
rooms, cut the good fellows and avoid the
social sirens, study the land question, and de-
liver lectures at w0rkingmen's clubs. This
course carried out In his mind, Walter pro-
eeeded to perform his daily penance at the
desk. with resolution in his mind and some
hing like peace IN his heart.
be Loyalty observed his self-denylng ordl-
nance. South Kensington drawing rooms knew
him no mere that season; the Loungers
had 10 lament a deserter. He cast of ali his
friends, retaining but two or three kindred
spirits. Henceforth, diligently attending the
courts, reading up cases, writing for the press,
and studying speeches, he lived laborlous days.
But no briefs came. Being without back-stair
influence, The solicitors passed him over with
out a thought. Nor could he work up sufficient
belief in the religion Of humanity" to dis
course 10 g the great uuwashed on the virtues
Of universal suffrage and the vices Of arIstoc-
racy. But still he perseyered, and actually
allowed himself only two weeks holiday in the
long vacation at the lakes, instead of two
months-as Of yore-at foreign watering places
And be returned ready to renew the struggle
with greater ardor.
But his fall was at hand. perfumed little
missiYe awaited him at his chambers.
SOUTH KENsINGToS, Monday.
DEAR Mr.. DIGBV: ] haven't seen you for an age
but hear you return 10 town to-day. give my
last garden party on Wednesday al 3, and com
manc your presence. II you do not come shall
think you have gone over to Rome, or utterly for
6akeu your sincere friend, MARIAN LAAINGTOS.
Mrs. Marian Lamington was the one mem
Der OF the fair sex to whom Walter Digby had
been faithful in his friendship. Having hus
band % years her senior, who lived and had
his being on Change, she had a large amount
Of spare time on her hands, which she par
tally consumed by giving garden parties IN
the Sumner and at homes in the Winter,
6t which she endeavored 10 collect as many
promising young men and interesting young
ladies as possible. Walter had been a habi-
tue at these reunions, and had become one Of
Mrs. LsmingtOn's f2y0Tites. During his refOr-
nation be had felt the loss of nothing so Sc
Eerely as these sympOsiums
The temptation was too strong. Taking up
the little note pensively, he reflected on the
many cheering words and sympathetic SEN
in the heydsy Of youth.
She has been very good to me. Come, I
can't quite exercise her. / viii 60"
"Wednesday saw this determination fulfilled
have q new member 20 introduce" ex-
claimed Mrs. LamIngtOn, as she led Walter into
the large garden, after she had rallied him on
ms recent scclusiOu. Il is her first season,
and have her with me for a few DAYS. She is
the only daugIter0 Of Mr Templeton-a success
ful stock broker. She has been educated in
Germany, and is quite a blue-stocking. / am
sure ven viii like herr
An amused smile passed over Walters face.
This was not tie first time Mrs Lamington had
presented him 10 a marriagcbie young lady,
rich and learned, il whom she expected him
TO fnd his destiny. II was one Of her theories
of life that The first thing an ambitious y0uDg
man should do was 10 marry money. Before
ne could make reply, however, Mrs. Laming-
sOn was introducing him % a fair-haired girl
3f about -, with wonderfully expressive
rather than remarkably beautiful features
Mrs Lamingt0n left them. Before, however
walter could utter more than a few common
places q burly man, with rackets, came q
claim bis companion fer a tennis game about tc
begin.
Waiter walked from the spot discounted
Nay Tempet0u had made an iudeGuable i'm.
preston upon him. There was a thoughtful.
ness IN her face combined with a gayety in hel
manner which so interested him that be felt
quite angry az the interruption. lie reioined
Mrs. LsuingtOu, however, aud patiently watch.
d the tennis players. Presently group O.
ladies Ciscerled him and carried him OF L
another part Of the garden. Freeing himself
al last from their attentions, he returned {,
he tennis court. On his way, however ht
came across the eucLaHtress sitting on a sea
shaded By an avenue Of trees Seating himsel
beside her be began the coveted conversation.
care sou not iatigued, Miss Tempeton, afte
your eXertiOns on The lava / must compli
ueut yCu GA your retreat, Tor it is immoder
4tey warm"
Tennis does not require enough eXertion e
fatigue one even on such an afternoon q
his, replied May. That is perhaps why !
s 50 popular with our sex. But 20 tell yoJ
he truth, Hr. Digby, I left the lawn for
nOOk, and ] thought this would make a gOoC
reading ar53r."
Walter then perceived dainty little volum
y her side, with % Shelley" ia gold letters OF
the back. This was the first time be had com
across a young lady who read the author 0
The Ceuci." lie regarded her therefore wit
more interest.
Who shall define the limits Of discussion
ID poetry between an erudiUe young lady no
y and q well read young man not vet 30
Walter during hIs dsy-dreaming, which ha
been considerable, bad drank deep at tn
Pierian spring Of poetry. May could disc0urs
IA Shcleys finest flights aud Wordsworth
most picturesque word painting with fascinat
ng fUeucy. What wonder, then, THAT when
o'clock came Grs. Lamiugt0u had TO come /
f"H -. H.e Fr.~ rr.H FrHH .