The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-29
HIS PLIGHTED TROTH


Of mine was one Robert Lethbridge, and
his society and example were anything
but conducive to application. He had
$500 year Of his own and was waiting
for a commission in the army.
Nearly every shilling of my fortune,
past, present and to come, had been
sunk in paying the premium and stamp
on my articles with Harstons, Mills &
Stammers, and so you may suppose that
the companionship Of gay young scape-
grace like Bob was not the wisest that
a lawyers clerk on nothing a year could
have chosen. 1t led me into all sorts o1
scrapes and extravagances, and when
after 1S months Of racketing about town
Bob Lethbridge was gazetted full ensign
in her majesty's -th regiment and or.
dered of to India l found myself in
difficulties under which l moaned and
groaned for many a year.
Oh, but he was a right down good
hearted boy, was Bob, and if had only
even limited at my troubles to him they
would very soon have vanished, but
was too proud for that, and Bob hai
troubles Of his own at starting, which
prevented his thinking about me. There
was a girl down in Cornwall, where hi
family lived-a olergyman's daughter
with whom he had fallen in love, ani
he would have married her straight of
and taken her to India, but her father
a proud man and devoted worshiper O
Mammon-out of the pulpit-had othe'
views for her and gave my poor oil
friend the GOLD shoulder.
never could see any beauty in Bea
trice Penrose, the damsel in question
and later on I knew her for what sh
was-a white biooded little simpleton
without single good quality to max
herself or any one else happy. In Bob
eyes, however, she was perfection, ant
in one Of their stolen interviews by tn
Severn sea they vowed eternal love ant
constancy, and Bob carried with him t
Lucknow her solemn promise never
never, never to marry any one else.
Three years passed. One day ha
just finished preparing brief in grea
trustee case we had for trial and wa
the last in the office-for it was late
when in came Mr.. Stammers with
couple Of deeds in his hand.
"Oh, Mr.. Needle" he said, "I ar
sorry to detain you. but the statione
has been much behindhand with tn
engrossing of this settlement, and, as
must go off tonight by the mail train
would you be so good as to assist m
while verify it with the conveyancer'
draft?''
Now, this was mere clerks worH
and I offered to do it myself, but b
was always oonsiderate Of others trou
BILE and insisted upon helping. So b
took the draft and read it, while fo
lowed him on the parchment to see tha
it was properly copied. 1t was a mai
riage settlement, whereby Lord Sun
merton, nobleman Of ~ years Of age
and possessing anything but a reputabl
character, settled ESQ, 1000 upon hi
bride elect, and this lady was no othe
than Beatrice Penrosel
Poor old Bob," thought I, as
walked home. "What an awful blow
How am to break to you this ruptul
Of all your hopes?"
And my difficulty was not lessene
when, a day or two afterward, recei'
ed letter from him stating that b
regiment was ordered home and biddin
me wish him joy upon his prospect {
again beholding his darling, constal
| Beatricel
Well, six months passed, and I hear
| - - poh ipdood hod 7 vY11r
time to think about him, for poor o.
| Bones illness ended in his death, and
was appointed, Professionally, managir
clerk in his stead. The assizes wore {
and we had several heavy cases for tri
in different parts Of the country. o.
Of these-the great case of CoppiI
versus Higgs-was entered for trial
Exeter, and thither went by the FL
ing Dutchman, with my briefs and wi
nesses, and retained Mr.. Hugo Your
as my counsel.
For want of something better to do.
as / dared not leave the place altogeth
Il trotted into the crown court, whe
the prisoners were tried. There sat t.
judge in his scarlet robes, with the hi
sheriff Of the county by his side, al
before him three prisoners standing
the dock upon their trial for burglar
! began to chat with some young bs
risters whom I knew and was payi
no attention to the proceedings, whe
all of sudden, heard the name
Lord Summerton mentioned by t
counsel who was conducting the pro-
cution. l Immediately pricked up I
ears and began to listen to the case
It appeared that week before {
burglary Lord Summerton had return
with his bride fu,m their continent