The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-18

able any longer to endure his suspense
and anxiety regarding their cousin. re
solved to bring matters to an issue Fort
mate indeed was it for US he had delayed
so long
They came in. therefore, and the grave
old gentleman opened the business. He
said that he was an attorney from Nor
peth, that the mortgage. of which men
ton had already been made to Mistress
Hetherington, had been drawn up by him
at the request of MIR Mathew Humble
that he had witnessed the signature OF
my father. and that the business in
short, was regularly conducted in accord
ance with the custom and the require
ments of the law
| asked him if he had seen the money
paid to my father He replied that he
had not, but that it was unnecessary
informed him thereupon that the money
never had been paid at all. but that nv
father. demented person as was very
well known. yet not so dangerous or SO
mad that he must be locked up was per
suaded by Mathew that he was signing
an imaginary deed of gift conveying lands
which existed only in his own mind, be-
cause he had no land
The lawyer made n reply to this at all,
Now mistress" said Mathew roughly
lis the time to show the proofs you talked
about"
My proofs, sir" addressed the law
yer. are. first. that my father believes
himself prodigiously rich. and would
scorn to borrow money of such as Mathew
Humble. next. that he perfectly we'll re-
members signing this document, which he
thought a deed of gift. thirdly. that we
know positively that he has had no money
at all in his possession. fourthly. that he
denies with indignation having borrowed
money, filthy. that Mathew, like every
body else. knew of his delusions, and
would certainly never have lent the
money: sixthly. that e200 is vast
sum. and could not have been received
and spent without our knowledge Lastly,
that Mathew was known to be base and
wicked wretch who even tried to kidnap
and carry off girl whom he wished to
marry "
Every one of these proofs" said my
mother. lis by itself enough for any rea-
sonable person.
The lawyer replied very earnestly that
he had nothing to do with proving the
debt, that he came to carry. out the in
structions of his client. and to give us a
week S notice-which was an act of mercy,
because no clause of notice had been in
serted in the mortgage. that the house
would be sold unless the money lent
was paid; that it was not his duty nor
his business to advise us. but his own
client; that the law of England provides
a remedy for everything by the help OF
attorneys and that. by the blessing of
heaven. attorneys abound. and may be
btained in any town Finally, he ex
ceeded his duty by his client in counseling
US to put our affairs in the hands of some
skilled and properly qualified adviser
This said. he bowed low and went away
frllowed by Mathew
But Mather returned half an hour later
and found me alone
You told me. he said. six months
ago and more. that should ! attempt any
harm to you and yours. you would write
to the boy waited If your story was
true. you would have written to him at
once. out of fear But your story was
not true. All, women are all liars.
-ught to have known that. Barbara says
so, and she ought to know"
go on. Mathew" said
Il waited If your story had been true.
the boy would have FASTENED home Well.
| thought would give you another chance
I would carry you off. That would make
him vince. if he was living Yet he has
not come"
Did one ever hear the like? To bring
his own terrors TO an end, or to an issue,
ne would have made me his unwilling and
wretched wife.
Now I've found you out. Why didn't
| think of it before? | asked the post
boy. Never letter, he truly swears. has
been delivered to you-never one So it
is all lie from the beginning Very
good then, Marry me, or sold up you
shall be, and into the cold streets shall
you 60"
| babe him begone. and he went, terri
fed. perhaps, at the fury with which
spoke. Of this forbear to say more
u. hen we sought the advice of Mr. Car
Sar se found that he entertained an
u u n ". about law and justice which
;, red to differ from that of the Morpeth
lawyer.
Your proofs. he said. though to me
they are clear and sufficient to show that
Mathew is surprising rogue. would 60
for nothing before a court. And doubt
much whether any attorney would be
found to undertake. without guarantee
OF costs. so great a business as a civi.
action. Justice. my child in this coun
try. as well as all other countries. may
hardly be obtained by any but the rich
and only by them at the cost of vexatious
delays. cheats. impositions, evasions. and
the outlay of great sums upon rascally
attorney Beware of the craft Let the
man do his worst, you still have friends.
my dear"
So spoke this kind and benevolent man
| am sure that his deeds would have
proved as good as his words had they
been called for
We told no one in the town, otherwise
| am sure there would have been great
storm of Indignation against Mathew. and
perhaps we did wrong to keep the thing
secret But my mother was a LondoneI
and did not like to have her affairs made
more than could be helped the subject of
scandal and village gossip
1t was now already the middle of De
cember; we should therefore be turned
out into the street in winter AS for our
slender stock of money that was reduced
to a few guineas Yet was | not greatly
cast down. because. whate yer else might