The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-31

NOUS good IN nine cases out OF ten. Mar
riage is too serious matter to enter into
it lightly, and happiness too valuable to
stake it on chance Heiresses are con.
tent with love in cottage only in novels;
in real life you seldom find love that is
strong enough to conquer all the weak
nesses of human nature"
Having evidently reached the end of his
impromptu lecture the old lawyer leaned
back in his chair and waited for the other
10 state the purpose of his errand.
LOSING sat in silence for minnie or
more. The old mans words seemed to
have impressed him deeply.
At length he asked the question he had
come to PROFOUND; received a reply that
made the matter clear to him, thanked his
adviser, and was about to leave when the
judge remarked:
'By the way, my boy, if you want any
lnrher points on that case, just come to
my house this evening and Twill show you
what authorities to consult.
THANK you, shall do so, replied Los
sing. He took the kind offer rather as a
matter Of course, for Judge Sharpe had
long ago told him to make use of his library
whenever he wished, and he had frequently
availed himself of the permission.
LOSING, after leaving the judges office,
went directly to his own, which was in
another part of the same building. Instead
of busying himself with the papers that lay
strewn upon his desk, he paced to and fro
excitedIy for several minutes. Then he
sat down and for at least half IN hour
stared very hard at nothing, or perhaps at
the wall. Could he have seen his own face
Just then he would have been surprised at
the change that had come over it. There
was hopeless, despairing expression there,
which would have seemed quite inexplica-
Bile to any of those who knew him best.
"There's no other way; I'll have to do
it" he suddenly exclaimed, at the same
time rising abruptly. Then he put on his
hat and coat, went out and walked rapidly
away.
The evening of that day found him at
the house of Judge Sharpe, sitting in the
library, apparently engrossed in a legal
volume. But as he had been staring at the
same page for the past ten minutes, and
that page happened to contain merely por-
ton of the index, it is doubtful that he was
as deeply engrossed as he seemed to be.
\ light step fell upon the carpeted floor
behind him. A young girl had entered the
room. A very pretty young girl she was
and the glad smile that lighted up her face
when she saw the young man made her all
the prettier. Walter LOSING had evident
ly not confined himself to Judge Sharpe S
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 you? You look as glum as if you had
lost your last friend
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 disheart-
ening.
at isn't a law case that is troubling me;
would it were only that, he replied, with
groan.
ssWhat is it, then? Has any misfortune
befallen you?"
''Yes, misfortune indeed; or at least ii
seems to be now. Doubtless it is all for
the best"
"What are you talking about? Why
don't you tell me what it is that troubles
you ?"
''I came for that purpose; that might
tell YOU. After this evening we must moi
meet again.
sNot-meet-again p Nellie Sharpe
repeated the words slowly, as if she could
not grasp their full meaning. The colol
surged to her cheeks and then receded
leaving her very pale.
"What do you mean, Walter? What
has happened? You cannot be in earnest.
"But | am in earnest; | have brought my
self to this after the hardest mental strug-
gle man could possibly undergo. woul(
be dishonorable if | did otherwise. But
am talking wildly at random; hardly know
what | am saying or what to say or how t'
say it. This is what he told me.
Walter rather incoherently recounteC
what Judge Sharpe had told him of thu
case of Lewis versus Lewis, and the com
ments he had made on that case.
"And is that all ?" asked Nellie, when HI
finished. She smiled little as she askec
the question, and close observer woult
have noticed that sigh of relief passed
her lips.
"An? Is it not too much ? KNOWN;
that your father holds this view, can | d.
otherwise than give you up ?"
II thought you had more pluck" saiC
the young girl, with just a suggestion o
scorn in her voice.
sit is not matter of courage, but o
conscience, of honor. Can go to tn
man who gives me such advice as | hav
received, who tells me never to marry
woman who is beyond my station inancia
ly, and ask him to give to me his daughte