Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-30

( ails yous You look as glum as II you hau
lost every friend in the world"
LOSING had turned and risen as the young
girl spoke. and the light streaming upon
| sis face showed it to be indeed mirror OF
nrNvvthing gloomy and disheartening
~. ,7n't a law case that is troubling me-
I'D i>,were only that" he replied with
sigb that w9s almost groan
e nTha, - II zen? Has any misfortune
befallen yoil" least IL
seems 10 be now Doubtless it is all Tor
the best"
what are you talking about? Why
don't you tell me what is troubling yonF
~ came for that purpose. that ] might
tell YOU After this evening we must not
meet again
Not-meet-again?" Nellie Sharpe re
heated the words slowly, as if she could
not grasp their full meaning. The color
sureed to her checks and then reeeded'
leaving her very pale.
.eWhat do Won mean, Walterf What has
hanpeneds You cannot be in earnest
Walter rather incoherently 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 allG' asked Nellie when
he had finished She smiled a little as she
asked the question, and a close observer
would have noticed that sigh OF relief
passed her lips
"Alls Is it not too much' Knowing
that your father holds this view can do
otherwise than give yon upf"
II thought You had more pluck" said
the young girl. with just a suggestion OF
scorn In her voice
ut is not matter Of courage, but OF
conscience. of honor Can l 90 to the man
who gives me such advice as ! have re-
ceived. who tells me never to marry n wom-
an who is beyond my station financially
and ask him TO give me his daughter, who
is dearer to him than all else ! am poor;
have none but the most predetermined
prospects: while yUu-well, ] need not say
more: you can readily see my position"
"But can't see it ia the light in which
you place it. Thought you had sufficient
faith in me not TO believe that | would do
as that dreadful woman did Of whom my
father told you. Your prospects are GER
tainly better than you represent them.
Furthermore my father would yield TO
my wishes"
u do not lack faith in you; heaven
knows how strong that faith is; il is be-
cause ! would feel that had acted treach
erously toward one who has been my best
friend If held you 10 your-your promise
that have decided 20 do that which will
take al happiness out Of my life.
probably il never occurred to you that
the happiness of any one else miss suffer:
Il seems that am not considered at all
you viii soon forget, You viii be hap
pier than could ever make you.n
"Oh! certainly: We women forget so eas-
/ lis; it is only the men that remember;
only he hearts OF men that are broken.
However since you wish il SO, it is not for
me 70 object
at is not what wish: it is what must
do"
"But suppose should refuse TO accept
your decision suppose should assert my
rights Suppose should insist at least on
your trying for a term OF years to bring
your financial condition up to what you
I consider the proper standards
"It would be wrong TO keep you bound
/ 10y "a promise 10 one who would have to
struggle perhaps for years. and might fail
I at last"
Il see it is vain to reason with one who
/ l. unreasonable il shall be as you wish.n
! Just then Judge Sharpe entered the
/ room. and the painful meeting was abrupt
/ ~ ended.
/ A few months later Judge Sharpe
clerk came into Walter Lossiug's office
1 one day and told him that the judge
wanted TO see him
/ II seemed TO Walter that the Judge
looked unusually stern when he responded
to the latter's summons few minutes
I In, hos. I F.I1
Won" said the judge as he motioned to
Walter to follow him into his private Of
fee
"Sit down. Iwfll come to the point at
once. am instructed by client Of mine
to bring suit against you. We have the
clearest kind Of ease. and should certain
/ ~ win in the courts: hut we desire to give
You an opportunity to compromise the
matter. You may wish to escape the no
toriety."
"a suits Why, who could want to sue
me- owe nothing; there is no cause, no
ground; you must be joking"
Never WAS more serious. There IS a
cause, and good one, as you will learn
presently. My clients case is flawless,
she"-
'She' Al! see. Some Matchmaking
scheme; some advent
There, there don't get excited. it is
nothing of the kind The plaintiff in this
case is eminently respectable, as you your
self will admit E"
"Who is shes What is the cause Of &C
ton, Why don't You tell me at once in
stead OF beating about the bnshs"
"The cause of action is breach of prom
Use. said the old judge impressively.
Breach of promise Why, never''-
Perhaps You can guess the plaintiff.
name now" suggested the jude,
You see, continued he. as Walter still
sat like one stricken dumb, "the Young
lady thinks that you have been influenced
by something that WIS said TO you in q
general way by one who intended to max,
no specific application of his remarks: thai
she believes that if the matter is presented
to YOU in the proper light no extrem,
measures viii be necessary to make yot
see that You were altogether wrong in ar
irving At a certain decision based on tn,
case Of Lewis vs. Lewis"
Walter grasped the judges hand: h
/ said nothing: he couldn't have said any