Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-23

Judge Sharpes library on his previous
visits If he had the judges daughter
would not have been so pleased to see him.
"poring over dry legal volumes, as usual,
see. What perplexing case rests heavily
on your mind now, Walter Why, what
ails youS You look as glum as il you had
lost every friend in the world"
| Losing had turned and risen as the young
| girl spoke, and the light streaming upon
| his face showed it to be indeed a mirror of
everything gloomy and disheartening.
ut isn't law ease that is troubling me:
would il were only that" he replied, with
sigh that was almost groan.
"what is it. then? Has any misfortune
befallen yous"
''Yes, a misfortune indeed: or at least it
seems to lie now. Doubtless il is all for
the hest /"
what are you talking about? Why
don't you tell me what is troubling your"
81 came for that purpose. that might
tell you. After this evening we must not
meet again"
"Not-meet-aga Nellie Sharpe re
peated the words slowly, AS if she could
not grasp their full meaning. The color
surged to her cheeks and then reeeded,
| leaving her very pale.
What do Won mean, Walterf What has
happenedy You cannot be in earnest.
Waiter 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 a sigh Of relief
passed her lips
"Allf Is il not too much' Knowing
/ that your father holds this view can do
otherwise than give you upy"
~ thought you had more pluck said
the young girl. with just suggestion Of
scorn in her voice.
at Is not a matter OF courage, but Of
conscience. Of honor Can 20 10 the man
who gives me such advice as have re
ceived who tells me never 70 marry "A wom-
an who is beyond my station financially.
and ask him to give me his daughter who
is dearcr to him than all else' | ann poor:
| have none but the most problematical
prospects: while you--well. need not say
more; you can readily see my position.
"1ut can't zee il 10 the light in which
( you place t. thought you had sufficient
( faith In me not TO believe that would do
as thut 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
II do not lack faith in YOU; heaven
knows how strong that faith is: II is be.
cause would feel that had acted trcaeh
erously toward one who has been my best
friend Il ! held You TO your-your promise
that have decided to do that which will
take all happiness nut Of my life"
Probably il never occurred 10 you that
the happiness % amy one else might suffer;
it seems that ann not considered at all y
"You viii soon forget; you viii be hap
pier than could ever make you"
"Ohl certainly; we women forget 50 cas-
lily: il is only the men that remember;
only The hearts Of men that are broken,
However. since you wish il so. il is not for
me 20 object. "
at is not what wish; it is what must
do"
But suppose | should refuse TO accept
your decision suppose ! should assert my
rightsf Suppose should insist at least on
your trying for term Of years TO bring
your financial condition up to what you
consider the proper standBrdf'
1T would he wrong to keep you bound
by promise TO one who would have 20
struggle perhaps for years, and might fail
at last. j"
81 see it is vain 20 reason with one who
is unreasonable; it shall he as you wish"
Just then Judge Sharne entered the
room, and the painful meeting was abrupt
ly 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.
1t seemed TO Walter that the Judge
looked unusually stern when he responded
TO the latter's summons n few minutes
later Come in here, want TO talk to
you, said the judge as he motioned to
Walter 10 follow him into his private of
fee.
''Sit down. will come to the point mt
once. ann instructed by client of mine
to bring suit against you. We have the
clearest kind Of a case, and should certain
ly win in the courts; but we desire TO give
you an opportunity to compromise the
matter. You may wish to escape the no
toriety."
"a suit9 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 a good one, as you will learn
presently My clients ease IS flawless;
shem-
"Sheg Ali 1 see. Some blackmailing
scheme: some Advent
There, there. don't get excited: It is
nothing Of the kind The plaintiff in this
case is cmiuently respectable, as You your
self will admit :
'Who is shes What is the cause of ac-
tom Why don't YOU tell me at once in
stead Of beating about the bush?"
"Tne cause Of action is breach OF prom
Use, said the old judge impressively.
Breach Of promise! Why, never'-
Perhaps you can guess the plaintiffs
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 specific application of his remarks; that
she believes that if She matter is presented
to you in the proper light no extreme
measures viii be necessary to make you
see that you were altogether wrong in ar
irving at n certain decision based on the