Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-03-09

really let me help your she exclaimed.
"What is the caseT
"rll let you try" said the father quiz
Eically. Here is the case, or rather a
statement of it. 1t is all l know about
it so far, but l shall consult my new
client tomorrow. Read the story to-
morrow and be prepared for q consulta-
ton tomorrow night"
But the next morning at breakfast |
the girl said, ~ have read that story, |
father, and want to see MIR. Saunders"
"When did you read it," demanded
Mr.. Fairlegh.
Last night. of course. You don'tsup.
pose l could sleep when had my first
case to study"
'See here, madam" said the father
sternly, IF you are going to ruin your
health sitting up all night you'll get no
more cases from my office"
Nonsense, papa" said Julia, laugh
ing. do you suppose the loss of one
nights sleep is going to injure healthy
young woman like me?"
"Well, don't do it again" grumbled
her father.
"Never mind that. When are you
going to see Mr.. Saunders"
"Today, suppose"
"Ask him 70 dine here tonight, won't
you? He's a gentleman, / suppose%
"Oh, yes," said Mr.. Fairlegh, little
doubtfully, che is gentleman, but /
don't know about
"Now, papa, how am ! going to ad-
wise in case like this without knowing
the man9'
It was settled that Saunders was to be
invited to dinner. He accepted, and SO
one more complication entered into the
life of that much perplexed young man.
He did not fall in love at first sight, for
he was too thoroughly engrossed with
his own bewilderments to think of it,
and, moreover, he was not an impassion-
able man. But the gracious kindness
and courtesy and strong magnetism OF
the girl influenced him, though he was
not fully conscious of the fact at the
time.
This gracious kindness was not mani
tested at first, however. Instead there
was a decided start of surprise when
Miss Fairlegh first saw the guest she
had hidden to dinner, and her father no
ticed that she was studying him intently
for a long time before the subject of his
involvemen.s was broached.
Saunders had arrived at the appointed
hour and received the greetings of his
host with conventional politeness, though
he was evidently almost worn out with
nervous excitement, while the pallor Of
his face and the dark rings around his
eyes told of sleeplessness and anxiety.
He was en- society parade, however
and acquitted himself with the ease of 6
man who was no stranger in polite cir
cles.
1--WE will talk business after dinner,
said Mr.. Fairlegh, and accordingly thu
two gentlemen were presently enter
tained at table by the motherless girl
who had found time to go into societ!
and study law at the same time that sh'
presided owe. her fathers household.
All through the dinner Mr.. Fairlegl
could see that his daughters keen scru
tiny of their guest continued, but sur
posing that she was studying the ellen
: rather than the man he was in nowis
surprised.
After the dessert he passed his guest
cigar and said: my daughter is indul
gent enough to sit with me while
smoke, so she will certainly not objec
to our onjoy.ng cigars while we discus
, your case. More than that, she is noy
silent partner in my law firm, and
you like will join in our consultation.
: Saunders looked astonished, but sal
promptly: II can certainly be onl
pleased to be advised by two good cour
selors instead of one. Has Miss Fail
, leigh, then, read my story?'
! Il have" she said as promptly, "an(
9 what is moro to the purpose, think
: understand il better than you do. Ii
me ask you c question, though, before
q say what think. Have you worn thu
l ring long, Nj. Saunders
!. Mr.. Fairlcgh stared, and Saundel
s looked at his left hand in great astonisl
!, ment at the question. "Yes," he salt
!. 81 have wore it since was boy.
/ has never been off my finger since N
d mother gave it to me before she die
I In fact could not get it off now, for,
l you see, it is considerably smaller ths
y my finger"
't "Well, what on earth began M
= Fairlegh, but Julia stopped him.
L "Never mind now, papa. You kno
very well that l did not ask such que
{ tion as that cut of idle curiosity. YC
e will see presently what Imeant."
7, Still more surprised the two mt
2 looked at her as she went on talkin
ls She was flushed with excitement, b
D. her perfect steadiness of tone show'
= that she had arranged her thoughts
u order as methodically as her father cou
y have done.
le "In the first place. she said, "are "
70 positive that you never saw Mrs. Gre
q ory oftener than you say in your story
Il II am," replied Saunders, "unless
y saw her during the month of which
e. remember nothing. That of course
cannot say"
!, Secondly" she continued, "are y
8 convinced that during that month 70
- memory Of daily facts was suspende
= = In other words, did you remember moi
10 ing whatever, or did you only forget th
1 . s
Of part cf your life which preceded the fl
le shock"
e. ssThat is very puzzling to me-" SO
O. Saunders. aItseemsimpossible thatap'
v son coald go on from day to day rene
Ill bering nothing whatever, and Of coul
do not now remember whether / h
ut any memory at that time. But from t
O. testimony Of those who were about
d. during that month ! am forced to
IT, lieye that I had none, or rather that