Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-07-14
A PLAN THAT FAILED.

Rockport.
had successfully engineered my way
through the academic department Of
Yale by dint of hard cramming 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 New York
city counsellor.
| was then admitted to the bar, and
began to practice in the town before
mentioned. For several months pac-
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
left the university, butit 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 Sandford, 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 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. lis Mr.. Abingdon, /
SUPPOSE?
"Yes, sir, answered; tat 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 this
town who owes me 800. don't think
| shall ever be able to get it, though be
is abundantly able to pay it, Now. if
you can get the money you are welcome
to one-fourth. VIII you take the case:
Certainly" l answered, my heart
leaping at the bare possibility Of grasp
ing 800.
AS this has little to do with my story,
let it 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 |, 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 Sandford.
1t did not take me long to discover
that Mr.. Sandford looked upon my de-
votion to his daughter without disfavor
But had one antagonist her mother;
and Mrs. Sandford was a foe not to be
despised
In this predicalnent went to Henry
Burton, my tried friend. and her music
teacher
"Well, Jack, said he. after long 81
lence, q see only one thing to be done =
Name it. my boy" | replied, "and
I'll do it.
The old man likes you, you say!'
"Oh, beyond doubt; can count on
him; but he has no authority"
"Then.' said Harry, with a look of
deep cunning we must furnish him
with it."
"How?" inquired.
"Show him that Mrs. S. is ruling him;
make him do something to acquire CON
I 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.. Sandford that
his wife was noble woman, but she was
too fond Of having her own way.
1 | knew from the way he looked during
4 the evening that he was rejecting upon
my words The next evening was
there again. He came to me and said:
.sI'ye 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 |, ''but you must, and that
so decidedly that she will be convinced
that you are in earnest Do that once
and you win never have any trouble
again.
| "But how am to do it:'
"Well, let me think it over. and to-
morrow night viii tell you"
/ When l left Mr.. Sandford's that night
went to see Harry, and in an hour
was on my way home with the details
Of Harry's splendid plan buzzing through
my head. Early the next evening | was
alone with Mr.. Sandford on the front
piazza.
'.Now. my boy" said he, what is the
plan:'
well, sir replied, Il know Of no
better way for you to assert your au-
thority than by giving a stag dinner
party"
The old gentleman was astoundel.
my dear boy, that's impossible" said
he. IF | were to invite lot Of men
here to dine, Mrs. Sandford would drive
them out Of the house.
''Then, suggested, do it when she
is away You know she is going to
spend three days next week with her
sister in Littletown. This is your time
Manage the house to suit yourself while
she is away, and when she comes back
and finds fault settle the matter BY in
sisting on having things your own way.
The days passed with leaden feet, but
finally Mrs. Sandford took her departure
and left her husband master OF the sit
uation. lie Immediately began his
preparations for the dinner party, while
informed Fannie of what was going
on.
At last, on the third day after Mrs.
Sandford had gone, the dinner party
took place. Only young men were in
vited- and we sat down 1T Q o'clock IN