Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-07-28
A PLAN THAT Failed.

WltllOuO uouoSS sAih9o w 'S"' A'
Therefore. for the warning of all con-
fding young men, mean to tell a
plain, vanished tale. Let him who
who reads construct his own moral.
At the beginning Of the year 1870 l
was nom;nally lawyer in the town Of
Rockport.
| had successfully engineered my
way through the academic department
of Ya.e by dint of hard cramming dur
ing examination weeks, ana by the as
sistance 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 New York
city counsellor.
was then admitted to the bar, and
began to practice in the town before
mentioned. For several months |
practiced 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
l left the university, but it had gradu.
ally 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 Sand
ford, one of the most respected citizens
of the town, and well provided with
the goods which moth and rust do cor
rupt.
He was moreover the father of Il be-
witching daughter named FANNIE. whose
serapElc eyes and rosebud mouth had
been the principal objects Of my wor-
ship every Sunday at church. lie en-
tered the room and | arose to receive
him.
This, he said, is Abingdon, l sup
pose p
Yes, sir I answered at your ser.
vice. Sit down, sir.
waited in silence for him to contin.
lie, which he presently did.
There is, said he, II man in this
town who owes me ;'4O0. | don't think
| shall ever be able to get 1t, though
he is abundantly able to pay it. Now,
if you can get the money you are wei
come to one fourth. Will you take the
case p
Certainly, | answered, my heart
leaping at the bare possibility of grasp
ing 500.
As this has little to do with my sto
nv, let it be at once known that | Sc
cured payment of the debt and in du
time became the happy posse sor of the
aforesaid one-fourth.
During the progress of the case I be-
came quite friendly with my client, and
he promised to give me what further
legal business he might have. More
than this, he invited me to visit his
house, which |, with nay secret admira-
ton for the beautiful FanLle, lost no
time IN dong.
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.. SSandford looked upon my de-
votion to his daughter without disfavor.
But | had one antagon:st-her moth
er and Mrs. Sandfofd was foe not to
be desplsed. -
In this predicament | went TO Henry
Burton, my tried friend, and her music
teacher. ''
well, jack said he. after long 81.
lence, I see only one thing to be done.
Name it, my'boy,' l replied, and III
do it, "
The old man likes you, you say"
oh, beyond doubt I Can count on
him, but he has no authority
Then, said Harry, with Il look Of
deep cunning we must furnish him
with it, ','- - y. ''' '<''
How inquired.
Show him that Mrs. S. is ruling him ;
make him do something to acquire con
trol!n When he has once established
that he can arrange your marriage to
suit'liimself.'
That very night I began with my
cunning work. T. told Mr.. Sandiord
that his wife was IL noble woman, but
she was too fond of having her OWL
way.
Ii Il knew from the way he looked dur
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