Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-06

,ro lie kept h"N"'t'i = "i"' N'''N
tis hosiery showed absence OF femi-
., supervision. Nought save calf
.,s volumes adorned his Office. which
b., INTO his bee chamber. ana his COM
.,,..on as 81 in sympathy with his sur
,r,inrs. had long since assumed a
,..rou-parchment look. Nothing frivo-
Ions heautfcl his rooms. The picture
~ the oil-fcshioncd lady. which hung in
, stM more old-fashioned frame over
~, mautol. did not suggest a mother.
s.eor. or q sweetheart. Such a surses-
t,n In such a place would have been
r-time'y. Those who gazod upon tho
r.,ure never thought for n moment that
she could have been n flesh and blood
woman with passion. love, and affection.
She Was. 20 the minds e. tho public
l.vouL an question Of n doubt. the de-
frGant. or the plaintiff In some famous
rrrauon-a female whose name had
been pcrpc,uatcd through the rulings OF
...rs 1irhcr court. and whose memory
would ever live I'm worIa-eaten legal
tones. She was. in fact. tho woman who
r.yo John Dobts's birth.
And 80 With an the other articles IN
the room-the antique clock, the horse
hair farituro tho dingy carpet and the
ancient ink-stand. These things showed
mon the face % them that, in q home
az hes o. CHEEKY ffoslde they would
have been as much out Of place as their
o.-rr under ike conditions. Any one
could see that they were especially de-
.rrI ard manufactured for a law-oi,ice.
Ino apartments were not uncomfOrt-
ably warm il summer and not disagree
a,r cold in winter a different state OF
aTars might have provoked sympathy
nr John Dobhs, Esq, attorney at law.
ana sympathy. being suggestive Of TO-
nance would necessarily have fallen fat
Sion showered on a premature fossil
-he inhabtant Of the muscy rooms
ct..e described for years appealed 10 no
.-. attracted no one and relclicd no
.re Is was too utterly commonplace
ir those days to command passing
f'.rg.-t00 uupretentOus Uerhaps too
.e.n 10 ask attention, Lawyers casu-
-v mentioned him as a formidable man
Dbl clarccry. with an ever growing client
are and that capricious but powerrW
faction known as the general public sim
..y regarded him as a sort of human
.rrr.e. saturated with common law pre-
,snfs. And yet. II by extraordinary ef-
fort one had conscienuously endeavored
O. become interested i'm John Dohbs, ESQ.,
.. rIlht have commanded second
.a1.e. even in those days OF peaceful In
rln.fcance. ComplcXioned like a calf
hound volume he surely was. 'tis true,
ana slightly stoop-shouldered for that
- ter but withal, most eminently re-
snsetable and Of great weight before a
l-y NCt handsome indeed. but GER
arv not homcly, was the thin, methodi-
.rl lawyer. And likewise not elegant in
ara.f .rrrr me- rrn Hn nrHf n
rr.lrrse. Lastly, not magnetic was the
man. set never harsh or cruel in his
I.oca.
s..l was John Dobhs. Esq, attorney az
,ar before the change came DER the
.rrt of his drcam-a man wrapped up,
cr rather enshrouded, 81 LEGAL lore. Sucn
were h.s cpartnents-a suite Of rooms
ar-0rei with judicial dicta and fortified
With appellate court decisions. TO compel
tra significant hero 10 attract atten-
uH. it SHOULD De stated that he was
wealthy -unc0nsciously wealthy, for his
- Lad rolled IN unobservei, and wealth
as not HIS object He had no object.
a. man with an object might possibly al
tract attention.
The change wrought over the spirit or
John Dolb's dream was caused by Il wo-
r.l. and. be 1t said a very sweet wo-
man. she was 20 years OF age. Her
name was Brownie. Fate and the Chan
-- Court had made John DObbs her
Guardian. Feminine weakness had i'm
ce.ei her 20 come TO his Office one Gay
10 .hecz on her account for a spring bon
MT. wornanly vanity had prompted a Sc
c0rd visit ir order 10 attract John Dobbs's
attention. The second visit was as sue
c.ssfu. as the first Dobbs was attracted.
When be asked her If ne might pay a
social call he was astonlshed az himself;
Obi. was not Woman are ast0nished al
10 evidences Of appreciation on the part
c. men.
The nrst social call paid by the lawyer
was not success. Other young men
r1. fossls-dropped in and opportunities
.o- further acquaintance between guard
Jan and ward were impossible. The
1olnE men talked Of dancing John
In.ts ga not dance. ergo he did not
enter into the conversation. Then they
discussed Notwithstanding. A horse
would have been sure death 70 the lawyer,
and he avoided the subject Skating
called forth On animated debate, IN which
John D,abs represented neither the ar
t-mluye or the negative s.ce. He never
esate1-ln fact. regarded the sport as
Indicative o. suicidal tendencies. When
lawn tennis was discussed his silence was
frrffsl lie did not know what II was.
I- a word. John Dobhs, Esq, with an
.rr--. " eight thousand per annum'
r.e embarrassed by the arguments Of the
r.lrz gentlemen. The conversation
more strictly speaking. the small tax
or those earning SO month humDiee
ru. la BEGAN to feel that he was q
.rrle and would have departed. But
b. didn't know how 20 60 gracefully, so
DID. st4ve1. After the rest % The party
r.f l.ft and Brownie felt that she was
getting sleepy. John D0bOs found an op-
rr.rrIfv 20 bil her adleu.
T.e premature fossil paid his ward
frothfr visit the next month. IL was
winter and The hour OF his temperance
Was -. ~. There were no intrude's'
nrl N.sa Brownie. whose heart was as
warm ae tho glowing Goals in the crate.
grew confidential under guise Of discuss
..e Guardians accounts. John DObDs I'M
proved uuon acquaintance. He even
cached four Jokes. three Of which cid not
strike the ward as being ot an humorous /
|vacious Brownie asked about the law
yers mother-Wtcro she was ana so
FORTH
Dead" said the legal voice In tones
lere1tive OF inc0pcreal hereoitamenis-
"Ggt your father" persisted ino.screet
Brownie fn q sympathetc voice
"Also deceased Quoth the voice, with |
a ring suggestive Of administrators exc
cutols. and lcgatees.
you have sisters and brothers. !
ho.gh|
OF am the only child"
80 cousins and friends?
'None" On a tine indicative OF relief |
% the idea o. having no family lawsuits |
20 GuprehendJ.
Then I'm going 10 be a whole family |
% YOU" said Brownie. and she drew up |
closer to him. u was a way she had. |
Then she blushed al an idea.
John Dobbs had a vague consciousness |
o. being pleased-more pleased than when !
hs saw his arguments telling on jury |