Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-26
A PLAN THAT FAILED.

"A - 44>A&v - $500 = >AAASA<s~s
At tho age Of twenty-five man has.
without doubt. many things to learn.
Therefore, for the warning Of all con-
fdins. young men, mean 70 tell plain.
unvarnished tale. Let him who reads
construct his own moral.
At the beginning Of the year 1870
was nominally lawyer in the town OF
Rockport.
had successfully engineered my way
through the academic department OF
Yale by dint OF hard examining during
examination weeks, and by the assist
ance Of well stored shirt cuffs.
had gone through the law depart
ment Of the same institution, and had
passed year in the Office Of a New York
city counsellor.
was then admitted to the bar, and
began to practice in the town before
mentioned. For several months prsc-
ticed principally patience. AT length
my reward came in the shape of my first
client.
One warm day in June was sitting
in my office. in front Of which an ugly
tin sign hung to tell the passerby that
John Luther Abingdon. attorney at
law, was its occupant
Nv law library. the food Of my aspir-
ing intellect. had been fairly large when
left the university, but it had gradually
succunbed 20 the urgent needs of my
physical nature, and its volumes were in
the possession Of the solitary Hebrew
who gave temporary assistance to the
rising youth Of Rockport.
An elderly gentleman stopped in front
of my Office, looked at the sign and
assembled the steps. knew him well by
sight: he was Mr.. Albert Sanford, one
of tho most respected citizens Of the
town, and well provide with the goods
which moth and rust do corrupt.
He was moreover the father Of be-
witching daughter named Fannie, whose
seraphic eyes and rosebud mouth had
been the principal objects Of my wor-
ship every Sunday at church. He en-
tered the room and arose to receive
him.
This" he said. "is Mr.. Abingdon, !
supposed"
Eyes. sir" answered; eat your serv-
ice. Sit down, sir"
waited in silence for him to con-
tinue, which he presently did.
There is" said he. "a man in ~;
town who owes me 600. / don't thu,
shall ever be able to get it, though he
is sbundantly sble to pay it. Now, if
you can get the money you are welcome
to one-fourth. Will you take the caseY
Certainly" l answered, my heart
lesping at the bare possibility Of grasp
ing 500.
As this has little to do with my story,
Let il be at once known that secured
payment of the debt and in due time be-
came the happy possessor Of the afore-
said one-fourth.
During the progress Of the case / be-
came quite friendly with my client, and
he promised to give me what further le-
gal business he might have. More than
this, he invited me to visit his house,
which I, with my secret admiration for
the beautiful Fannie, lost no time in do
ing.
To hasten toward my crisis. let me
tell you that in three weeks was mad
" in love with Miss Sandford
Il did not take me long to discover
that Mr.. Sandford looked upon my de-
votion to his daughter without disfavor.
But Ihad one autagonist-he mother;
and Mrs. Sanford was . foe not to be
despised.
In this predicament I went to Henry
Burton, my tried friend, and her music
teacher.
"Well, Jack" said he, after long a.
lence, IL see only one thing to be done. "
"Name it, my boy" replied, land
I'll do it."
1.-THE old man likes you, you sayr
"Ob, beyond doubt; can count on
him; but he has no authority"
'sThen," said Harry, with . look of
deep cunning. I'VE must furnish him
with it,"
How" inquired.
"Show him that Mrs. 8. is ruling him;
make him do something to acquire con-
troll. When he has once established
that he can arrange your marriage to
suit himself"
That very night I began with my cum
ming work. I told Mr.. Sanford that
his wife was noble woman, but she was
too fond Of having her own way.
knew from the way he looked during
the evening that he was rejecting upon
my words The next evening l was
there again. He came to me and said:
"rve been thinking about what ron
said. opposed my wife in one or two
small matters; but. my dear boy. shs
nearly took my head OF. shouldn't
dare do IT again"
"Ah.- ssid I. ''bst you must, and that
% decidedly that she will be convinced
that you are in earnest. Do that once
and you viii never have any trouble
again"
But how am l to do it,
"Well. LEI me think it over. and To-
morrow night win tell you.-
When left Mr.. Sandford's that night
went 10 SO Harry, and IN An hour I
was on my way home with the details
Of Harry's splendid plan burning through
my hssd- Early the n~xt evening I was
alone with Mr. ssndford on the front
piszss.
Wow. my boy said ne. what IL the
/ pian7~
We'll. SIR replied. Il know Of no
setter way for ycu 10 sssert ycur an
Aority than by giving stag dinner
Nrty.s
The old gentleman was assoursied.
MY dear boy. that's impossible, : said
he. If were 10 invite . Iot Of men