Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-07-22


ter, but love letter. "Briefess bar
rister" was title he had jokingly CIV
en- himself, but there was something OF
pathos underlying the joke. In these
days an overcrowded profession gives
little opportunity to the young lawyer
without influence to get start, so he
had ample leisure for his love letter.
and this is what he wrote:
Dearest One Business is rushing-that
is, It is rushing right past my Office.
wish some of 1t would stop and turn In.
but have too many competitors who are
able to reach out for It. They have influ-
entail friends who turn business their
way or who secure them positions with
established firms.
Still, dearest you mustn't be disheart-
ened. but l know you won't be. Indeed II
seems almost insulting to say this to SO
patient and faithful a sweetheart. but
am saying 1t for my own benefit rather
than for yours. The struggle is so dis
couraging and disheartenng at times that
can only give myself confidence by
speaking confidently to you But / GER
tainly am gaining. A little business Is
coming my way, and l am establishing
myself slowly with men who can give me
more. Then there is the land. In another
six months / will have title to that and
we can be married. Think of IT! Married
In six months. we who have waited so
long. and without that 1 fear we would
have to walt another two years before
my income from the law alone would en-
able me to care for a wife. ] have told
you the history of that barren tract doz-
ems of times. sweetheart; how my father
secured his claim to 1t, how he neglected
1t, how irrigation and the development OF
contiguous property gave 1t a sudden val-
ue, how he found the title clouded by a
prior claim when he came to perfect 1t.
how he failed TO find the other claimant,
how he tried to straighten the matter out
legally and all that. / like to dwell on Ii
now. sweetheart, for in only six months
more the statute of limitations Will in
validate
The opening of the door interrupted
him, and he put down his pen as a
neat but poorly dressed woman en-
tered
Lawyer Telford" she asked hest.
tatingly.
''TeIford Is my name" be answered
what can do for you"
Il don't just know" she answered
doubtfully. I'm poor woman. with
out friends or money. and the lawyer
on the floor below told me he thought
you'd have time to look after my BUSH
ness"
Sends me all his charity cases. but
never any with money in Them" NUT
tered Telford to himself bitterly, but
he spoke kindly to the woman. 1t was
evident that she had seen better days
and disliked to ask even advice as a
charity. Indeed her next words show
ed this.
Maybe can pay you.' she said.
IF can. will. Maybe can pay you
well. don't know. That's what I
want to find out"
Something in her manner won him.
There was nothing of the mendicant
in her. She was neither aggressive nor
whining. speaking timidly. but frankly
and honestly.
MADAM" said Telford courteously
Offering her a chair. Il know that you
will, and whether you can pay me or
not you shall have the best advice that
can give you"
ing the chair and producing some pa
pers from beneath her shawl. The
other lawyer wouldn't even listen to
me when said | had no money. but
told me to come to you. And I'm glad
did, for know that you'll be honest
| with me- You see. found some pa
pers in an old box after my husband
it,, ha,1 1,.,a, bos1ri.llan For a. lnrr
time-and | didn't want to burn them
without knowing what they were. |
read them through. but I don't know
whether they're worth anything. and
the neighbors don't know. and had to
| find somebody who did know. They're
SO legal it seems us If they ought to
represent something"
Telford took the papers she offered
and at the first glance his face became
pale, but be read them through careful
| ". Then he leaned back in his chair
and something in his face frightened
the woman
There isn't anything bad in them. Ii
thereY she asked
NO." he answered shortly. I'm con
sidering what's best to be DONE"
! He got UP and walked to a window
| where she couldn't see his face.
"Who knows of these papers" bic
asked at last.
Zone or two OF the neighbors." she
replied. That's all" :
Suppose should tell you they were
worth $500 or $780," be suggested
speaking with an effort and in voice
strangely unlike the courteous. cheer
lul tone in which he had first address
ed her.
"Oh. that would be splendidr' She
cried.
Would you sell them for thatT
Would IF' she repeated jubilantly
why, Harry could have some new
school clothes, and so could Ellen
And maybe Jessie could have SONS
music lessons-she has such a GOOD
yoice-and wouldn't hare TO WORRY
about the rent for-for- 1t wouldn't
last SO very long. would itf But
could be making more all the time. al
much as ! am now, and 1t would b.
such help. But you're not joking witt
mel" she suddenly inquired anxiously-
you'll take 500 and be satisfied r
he asked, with cold deliberateness. IL
noring her question.
III you advise it" she replied.
/ He gave barely perceptible start
4 It was professional advice that be wa.
called upon TO give. His honor as {
lawyer was involved as well as hi.
honor as man. and 1t served to make