Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-04-02

E1gaIsD
II shall erpect to sec you appearing In
the role OF counselor"
Three Of the infantry captains were
present with their wives. Pretty Jean
nette McCrea. who was visiting the
Burnhams, was escorted in by DR.. Inger-
soil, popularly reputed to be an intract-
able bachelor, yet privately believed to
be melting beneath the tenderness of
that young lady's sweet blue eyes; and
Georgia Marshall found herself sitting
yis-a-vis with Mrs. Brodie, q somewhat
portly matron, who seemed capable of
imbibing information through every pore
and storing it for future use, and yet at
the same time imparting new and start
ling opinions on all current topics with
intensified volubility. Her eyes took in
every detail of the tasteful appoint
ments of the table. Her nostrils inhaled
the fragrance of the roses and carnations
lavished on every hand. Her lips parted
to receive the succulent little clam-rare
and unaccustomed luxury west of the
Missouri, yet easily expressed from st.
Louisiana to give utterance at the same
instant to liveliest comments upon the
unusual feature of that evenings parade.
1t was not until after soup and the tiny
thimbleful of sherry that audible con-
yersation seemed to extend beyond her,
and then Miss Marshall, who had been
endeavoring to entertain Capt. Brodie
and distract his mind from contempla-
ton of his better half's uldaunted con
sversational powers, found herself ad-
dressed by the gentleman on her right:
''And SO you are from Cincinnati, Miss
Marshall, and paying your first visit to
the west? Now, what do you think Of
the army?"
Pardon me, Col. Lawler, but isn't
that trifie like the query we are said to
PROFOUND to Englishmen who have Just
landed? How do you like American
"But l inferred that you had been
here long enough to form an opinion"
''To form one vaguely, perhaps, but
probably not long enough to subject it
to the test of experience"
''And do you never express opinions
until assured of their justice? Really,
Miss Marshall, must compliment you
on such wisdom and discretion. You
should have been a lawyer"
Eyes, colonel?-and that, understand,
is your profession. Now am indeed
complimented.
Col. Ieawler's eyes had been wander
ing about the table as he spoke, but now
he turned suddenly and suspiciously
upon the girl at his side. He was a man
of singular mental mold. He had been
a clerk in the Office of his uncle, prom
inent lawyer in the distant east; had
had merely common school education,
and was laboriously reading law when
his patron found himself suddenly called
upon to assume responsible duties at the
national capital, and hastened thither,
taking his clerk with him. Lawler at
that time was nearly thirty-five, and had
not yet been called to the bar. 1t was
the third year of the great war His
patron soon found that the requirements
Of his Office were such that a man Of far
higher attainments would be needed as
secretary, and, being thrifty and un-
willing to pay the salary of clerk out
of his own pocket, he decided on the not
unusual expedient of shunting him off
on paternal government. Lawler had
no idea whatever Of entering the army
as one of the fighting force, but the
proposition Of his uncle was almost daz-
zling. He wasn't much of lawyer, to
be sure, but quite good enough for the
purpose, said the old gentleman to HIM
self.
And SO it resulted that the green New
Englander was transferred to a clerk
ship in the bureau of military justice,
and speedily blossomed out as major
and judge advocate of volunteers, with
station in the city of Washington. The
first thing the excellent fellow did, after
getting his uniform and sword, was to
post off to the Granite State and marry
the middle aged maiden who for ten
years had been patiently waiting the
day when he could accumulate enough
money to buy little home, and with
his bride he returned to honest toll at
the department. No man ever worked
harder to master the details of unaccus-
toned duties, and no man, probably,
ever encountered greater difficulties.
But such was his perseverance that he
became a walking glossary of informa-
ton on army legal affairs. 1t was not
that he ever mastered the niceties of
martial jurisprudence, but he knew the
inside history of every case that came
up for trial in the bulky records of the
bureau. He could quote the charges
and specifications preferred against any
and every officer. the findings of the
court, the names of the principal wit
nesses, of the judge advocate and the
members, and little by little the sen
iors in the Office had grown SO to lean
upon his memory and his opinion that
he became an almost indispensable
feature.