The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-07-22
A PLAN THAT FAILED.

- - <N&AAf - $3.50 - 1AL1&4IDs
At the age Of twenty-five man has,
without doubt, many things TO learn.
Therefore. for the warning of ali con-
fiding young men, mean to tell plain,
unvarnished tale. Let him who roads
construct his own moral.
At the beginning Of the year 1870 !
was nominally lawyer in the town of
Rockport.
l 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
l had gone through the law depart
ment OF the same institution, and had
passed year In the Office Of q New York
city counsellor.
! was then admitted to the bar, and
began to practice In the town before
mentioned. For several months prac
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.
My law library, the food of my aspir-
ing intellect, had been fairly large when
Ileft the university, but it had gradually
succumbed to 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
ascended the steps. knew him well by
sight; he was Mr.. Albert SANFORD, one
Of the most respected citizens of the
town, and well provided with the goods
which moth and rust do corrupt.
He was moreover the father of q 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, sis Mr.. Abingdon,
supposeT
Eyes, sir" answered; sat your serv-
ice. Sit down, SIR"
l waited in silence for him to con.
tinue, which he presently did.
"There is" said he, "a man in this
town who owes me $500. | don't think
| shall ever be able to get it, though he
is abundantly able to pay IL. Now, il
you can get the money you are welcome
to one-fourth. viii you take the casei'
"Certainly," | answered, my heart
leaping at the bare possibility of grasp
ing 500.
As this has little to do with my story,
let 1t 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 l, 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
ly in love with Miss Sanford.
1t did not take me long to discover
that Mr.. Sanford looked upon my de
votion to his daughter without disfavor.
But had one antagonist mother:
and Mrs. Sanford was a foe not to be
despised.
In this predicament l went to Henry
Burton, my tried friend, and her music
teacher.
"Well, jack" said he, after long 81.
lence, II see only one thing to be done
"Name it, my boy" replied, "and
I'll do it."
1.-THE old man likes you, you sayY'
"Oh, beyond doubt; can count on
him; but he has no authority"
"Then," said Harry, with a look of
deep cunning, I'VE must furnish him
with it."
"How?" inquired.
"Show him that Mrs. s. is ruling him;
mako him do something TO acquire con
troll. When he has once established
that he can arrange your marriage to
suit himself"
That very night began with my cum.
ming work. 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 | was
there again. He came to me and said:
''Pve been thinking about what you
said. opposed my wife in one or two |
small matters; but, my dear boy, she |
nearly took my head Off | shouldn't |
dare do it again"
"Ah," said l, "but you must, and that /
so decidedly that she will be convinced |
that you arc in earnest. Do that once |
and you will never have any trouble
again"
"But how am to do it?'
"Well, let me think it over, and to-
night will tell YOU"
When left Mir. Sandford's that night
went to see Harry, and in an hour ]
vas on my way home with the details |
If Harry splendid plan buzzing through |
ny head. Early the next evening was /
done with MIR. Sanford on the front |
yiaZza.
Nov, my boy" said he, "what is the
,lanf'
"Well. SIR" / replied. al know of no
letter way for you to assert your au-
hority than by giving a stag dinner
arty."
The old gentleman was astounded.
"My dear boy, that's impossible" said
10. "If l were to invite lot of men
iere to dine, Mrs. SANFORD would drive
hem out Of the house."
"Then," suggested, do it when she.
5 away. You know she is going to
pend three days next week with her
lister in Littlotown. This is your time.
damage the house to suit yourself while