The Van Buren press., 1893-06-03

| "What? l =.
"Keep those cards up your sleeve?
Please tell me. The girls have been
winning all my spending money iateiy
and want revenge, Show me the
trick, Tom, and III marry you mex.
June" / responded Indignantly and
told her that was member of the
Anti-Poker society. She said 'Bosh,
and when got up to leave she refused
to permit me to Gull from her sweet
| lips the customary parting salute. The
misguided young woman actually
Thought that was trying to conceal
my iniquities from her. But there was
.worse toFfollows = fewsnighte tascF
when / called she greeted me with
marked coolness. This I attributed to
mere feminine caprice and so chatted
away in happy manner about various
matters to which she listened with
sarcastic smile upon her adorable face.
But was accustomed to doing most of
the talking and she the listening, so
that her persistent silence did not seem
at all remarkable Among other topics
i broached was d description of , tenn
pcrance meeting had attended few
nights before. l am a teetotaler in
every sense of the word and l stated
proudly that I had been elected secre-
tary of the new organization. Then
her pretty mouth assumed an express
sion of scorn.
"Oh, you hypocrite." she cried.
"My darling.r l cried, in amazemcnt.
Don't call me your darling" she re-
torted, with flashing eyes. 1--WE had a
talk with papa and he says everything
must be off"
Everything off9"
"Yes, our engagement. He saw you
last night. He said that yous-sob-
"were standing on the street corner
sob-"with your hat in your hand
Sob holding the lamp post with the
other'-sob-''and singing about sob
-"'We won't go home till morning "
sob.
started in amazement. MY dear
Lucinda. there is some horrid mistake.
Last night attended a meeting at our
Sunday school and :
Here she wiped away the tears and
assumed her indignant attitude once
more. "Don't make me hate you,s she
said. why don't you confess and
well, ] know boys will be boys, and, it
you said yon would never do it again,
why, perhaps l might overlook this
one fault and-and forgive you-'
lsprang to my feet in anger. Il have
been slandered and"
is that your reply?' she asked.
frigidly.
ait is" "a
"Then there is nothing more to be
With hatshe took. the ring from her
pretty finger and handeditsto me.
"Good evening. SIR"
/ bowed myself out in despair. So all
was over? Those visions of a neat lit
tie home were lost forever. The next
morning when my roommate presented
himself fancied that he looked tired
and sleepy. He explained this by say
ing that he had been up all night with
bad headache. He noticed my meian-
choly appearance, and, when told him
all about it, he again offered his sympa-
thy and remarked in jocular manner:
Never mind, my boy. There are just
as good fish in the seaas have ever been
caught" told him there was only one
Lucinda, bnt he shrugged his shoulders.
He then went out to attend a case in
court, and seated myself in discon-
solate manner in my easy chair in the
inner office. had slept little to speak
itself in spite of my heartache. l dozed
off, After time | was aroused by
voices in the outer office and heard
woman ask for me.
"He is not in.r was the reply of my
roommate, and was about to step out
when few words that followed arrested
my attention and ! remained where |
was, listening: ''If you have come on
legal business, madam, Twill answer
your purpose just as well. am author
lied to act for him. / am his partner
as you see by my name on the door"
His words filed me with amazement.
s'Be Seated, madam, and state your
case" The visitor did so and he listened
with the greatest complacency, offering
a suggestion here and there and occa-
sionally asking question. When she
had finished, he remarked: II think you
have good ease" In this l knew he
was wrong. The case was bad one
and no conscientious lawyer would have
touched it.
"Then would you advise me to take
the matter to the courts?" she asked.
'~-''I- would. 1t would be foolish to
When she was about to leave she
asked What are your charges?"
1s twenty-five dollars retainer fee and
fifty more If we win"
She took ont her purse and gave HIM
the money. s''You are really to be con-
graduated, madam, that you found
me in instead of my partner" he con-
tinued. "He is one Of those scrupulous
lawyers who always lose their cases.
NowI always win because l am full of re-
sources. Ha. hal | am just smart enough
to dodge all technicalities. That part
ner Of mine is such conscientious
idiot that ! think shall have to break
with him. i hate to do it, for the poor
fellow would not make living II l."
Here i broke in upon them. The
scene that followed beggared descrip-
tion, as writers say, and SO will not
describe 1t. Now understood why my
practice had decreased. 1t also flashed
across my mind that all my trouble