Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-27

When Abel Burgess, attorney, of Aber-
deem, revived his career, which he fire.
. quently did by way of recreation, he in
creased in self-esteem-an unnecessary
gain. From being a farmers lad, a rough,
blasphemous, hard-drinking trainhand, a
stupid but ambitious student, ne had forced
his way, through diligence and pertinacity,
to an honored place in the ranks OF the bar
of the State. One thing only did Abel love
more than himself, and that was his pro-
fession. He loved it as his parent; he
loved it as his child; he loved it with the
gladness of one who has assiduously wooed
and won.
Incidentally he had married poor girl
from the neighboring metropolis, of whom
he knew little except that she was very
beautiful and had supported herself and
her widowed mother as a copyist Irci-
dentally there had been births and deaths,
joys and sorrows, within his environment,
but none of these had turned his feet from
the path nor his eyes from the goal of his
calling
Had he ever consid cred the matter he
would have concluded that he was devoted
to his young wife; for whatever belonged
to him acquired a certain sanctity from the
possession. She had q fine home, servants,
equipages and pin money. What more
could she crave? Had he known that Cos
81 ps said he disregarded her, hewould have
replied that she certainly seemed to thrive
under the neglect.
Themis is a jealous mistress, but she
never had cause of quarrel with Abel He
v-OrEod xuhan ha slant. md ba eIa
very little. He had collected vast law
library with more latitude than discrimina-
tion; and when he was not busted with his
cases he was reading, annotsting, and di-
gesting the precious volumes. But such
moments of play were scant and irregular,
for he had large practice and attended to
1t. Whatever his defects as q man, and he
was no god, Abel Burgess was an acute,
painstaking and thorough lawyer, who,
when once retained, was as loyal, tenaci Gus
and indomitable as bulldog in mis- clients
interests Bulldogs are not handsome, nor
gentle. nor lovable, but those who need
their services must accept their character
istics.
One afternoon Abel Burgess sat at his
desk in his library. Before him were the
latest volumes of reports from Patagonia
and Greenland, and commonplace book in
which he was gleefully entering citations.
There was sharp rap, and instantaneously
a little, old man rushed into the room,
slamming the door behind him
esquire BurgessP' he gasped; esquire
Burgess, take this case for ME and here's
81, 600 slap down as a retainer. Oh, dear!
$1,000"
An exceedingly nervous little, old man
he was, with tremulous fingers and features
that twitched so that the spectacles astride
his nose vibrsted like flashlights
''Sit down, roared the counselor, as if
addressing one at the bounds of the conn
try, ''sit down, you - fool, and stop
driveling about money. First let me find
out whether you have case. Sit down,
saw"
The little, old man glanced toward the
door as if desperately anxious to escape,
but his limbs were so shaken BY fear and
excitement that they compelled him to
obey.
''You know me, he faltered, 'my name
is Oscar @. Battin."
Yes Abel Burgess knew him as the rich
est meanest man in Aberdeen, one who had
saved and scrimped and starved all his life,
occasionally enriehing public charity, but
grinding his gentle wife into the grave, and
harrying his only son unto desperation.
Oh, yes, he knew him, as one familiar with
litigation in Aberdeen county must needs
know Oscar 9. Battin. Yet rs bulldog
may disdain to worry cur, SO the lawyer,