The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-14
index, it IL doubtful IL he vas a. deeply
enQroesed u he seemed to be,

, index, IT 10 0nubtful II ne vas - deeply
enRrossed - he seemed to be.
A light step fell upon the oarpeted door
behind him. A young girl had entered the
and the glad smile that lighted up her face
when she saw the young man made her all
the prettier. Walter Losing had evidently
not confined his attention to Judge Shapes
library on his previous visits: e he had the
| judges daughter would not have been 20
pleased to see him.
"Poring over dry legal volumes as usual,
/ zee. What perplexing case rests heavily
ON your mind now, Walter? Why, what
ails your You look as glum a. if you had
lost every friend in the world"
Lossing had turned and risen a. the
young girl spoke, and the light. streaming
upon his face, showed it to be indeed q
mirror Of everything gloomy and disheart-
eninR.
ut isn't law case that is troubling me;
would it were only that" he replied with
sigh that was almost Rroan.
.What is il, thenl Has any misfortune
befallen you?"
eyes, misfortune indeed; or at least it
seems to be now. Doubtless it is all for
the best"
"What are you talking aboutl Why
don't you tell me what is troubling your,
II came for that purpose; that might
tell you. After this evening We must not
meet again. -. wv.
grasp their full meaning. The color surged
to her cheeks and then receded, leaving her
very zW Rs,s' do YOU mean, Walter, What has
happened? You can not be In earnest"
aBnt I am in earnest; have brought my
man could possibly undergo. I must be in
earnest about this; it is my duty; would
be dishonorable if I did otherwise. But
am talking wildly, at random; hardly
know what am saying or what to say, or
how to say it. / heard some advice today;
it came from your father; am in honor
bound to follow 1t. This is what he told
me-"
Walter rather inooherently recounted
what Judge Sharpe had told him of the
case of Lewis vs.. Lewis and the comments
he had made on that case.
And is that all?'' asked Nellie, when he
had finished. She smiled little a. she
asked the question, and close observer
would have noticed that sigh of relief
passed her lips.
"All? Is it not too much? Knowing that
your father holds this view, can do other
wise than give you up?"
II thought you had more pluck" said the
young girl, with just suggestion of scorn
in her voice.
ut is not matter of courage, but of con-
science, of honor. Can I 20 to the man who
gives me such advice as have received,
Who tells me never to marry a woman who
ia beyo,- d my station financially, and ask
him to give to me his daughter who is dear
Ell to him than all else2 am poor; have
none but the most problematical prospects;
while you-well, need not say more; you
can readily see my position"
"But can't see it in the light in which
you place it. I thought you had sufficient
faith in me not to believe that I would do
as that dreadful woman did of whom my
father told you. Your prospects are Ger
Furthermore, my father would yield to my
Wishes"
II do not lack faith in you; heaven knows
how strong that faith is; it is beo ,use
would feel that I had acted treacherousl II
toward one who has been my best friend #
have decided to do that which will take all
the happiness out of my life."
Probably it never occurred to you that
the happiness of any one else might suffer;
it seems that am not considered at all.''
You will soon forget; you will be hap
"Oh! certainly, We women forget so easily:
it is only the men that remember; only the
hearts of men that are broken. However.
since you wish it SO, it is not for me to OBJ
iect.'
ut ia not what I wish: il ia what must
do"
but suppose should refuse to accept
your decision; suppose I should assert my
rights. Suppose I should insist at least on
your trying for term of years to bring
y you; financial aR condition Sp to what you
1T would be wrong to keep you bound by
I promise to one who would have to strug-
gle perhaps for years, and might fail at
II see it is vain to reason with one who is
unreasonable; it shall be as you wish"
BJust then Judge Sharpe entered the room,
and the painful meeting was abruptly
ended.
A few months later Judge sharpe's clerk
came into Walter Lossing's Office one day
and told him that the judge wanted to see
him.
It seemed to Walter that the Judge looked
unusually stern when he responded to the
latter's summons a few minutes later.
Come in here, want to talk to you," said
the judge as he motioned to Walter to fol-
low him into his private Office.
''Sit down. will come to the point at
once. am instructed by a client Of mine to
bring suit against you. We have the clear
est kind of a case and should certainly win
in the courts; but we desire to give you an
opportunity to compromise the matter. You
| may wish to escape the notoriety."
me2 I owe nothing; there is no cause. no
ground-you must be joking"
''Never was more serious. There 10
cause. and o good one, as you will learn
presently. Ny clients case is fiawless;
She"
''She! All! see, some blackmailing
scheme: some advent"
"There. there, don't get excited; it is
! nothing of the kind. The plaintiff in this
case is eminentily respectable, as you your
self will admit"
"Who is she? What is the cause of ac-
| ton? Why don't you tell me at once in
stead of beating about the bush?"
'The cause Of action ia breach Of prom
ise," said the old judge impressively.
breach of promise! Why, l never"
| "Peshaps you can guess the plaintiff 8
name now" suggested the judge.
| "You see," continued he, as Walter still
sat like one stricken dumb, ''the young lady
thinks that you have been influenced by
something that was said to you in general
way by one who intended to make no spe-
cific application of his remarks; that she be-
lieves that if the matter is presented to you
| in the proper light no extreme measures
will be necessary to make you see that you
| were altogether wrong in arriving at Ger
tain decision based on the case of Lewis Va
| Iewis.n
Walter erasped the judges hand; he said
| nothing; he couldn't have said anything just