Morris tribune., 1902-09-06
DUTY'S
PAT Fl
BY Elliott Flower
Copyright, 1902, by the
S. S. Mcclure Company
BY Elliott Flower
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Lie UileuGSS Udrf1Sler SAT III liz
1ittle Office, writing-not a business let
ter, but love letter. "Briefess bar
Tister" was title he had jokingly Civ
zen himself, but there was something OF
2pathos underlying the joke. In these
days an oyercroWded profession gives
aittle opportunity to the young lawyer
without influence to get a start, so he
had ample leisure for his love letter.
and this is what he wrote:
Dearest One-Business is rushing-that
As, it is rushing right past my office.
wish some of it would stop and turn in
@but have too many competitors who are
able to reach out for it, They have influ-
~ential friends who turn business their
way or who secure them positions with
established firms.
Still, dearest, you mustn't be disheart-
"~ened, but 1 know you won't be. Indeed it
seems almost insulting to say this to SO
patient and faithful a sweetheart, but
am saying it for my own benefit rather
than for yours. The struggle is so dis
=~couraging and disheartening at times that
II can only give myself confidence by
speaking confidently to you. But I GER
dainly am gaining. A little business is
coming my way, and I am establishing
more. Then there is the land. In another
six months I 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 wait another two years before
my income from the law alone would en-
able me to care for wife. I have told
you the history Of that barren tract doz-
ems Of times, sweetheart; how my father
secured his claim to it, how he neglected
At, how irrigation and the DEVELOPMENT of
contiguous property gave it sudden val
ue, how he found the title clouded by
prior claim when he came to perfect it,
how he failed to find the other claimant,
how he tried to straighten the matter out
legally and all that. I like to dwell on it
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
meat but poorly dressed woman en-
fered
Lawyer TelfordY' she asked hest
tatingly.
''Telford is my name" he answered.
T'What can do for your
81 don't just know" she answered
sdoubtfully. 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 bust
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 1 can pay you," she said
eff can, will. Maybe can pay you
well. I don't know. That's what l
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 chair, 81 know that you
will, and whether you can pay me or
not you shall have the best advice that !
i can give YOU"
''Thank you, sir" she answered, TAX
ing the chair and producing some pa
Ders from beneath her shawl. ''The
other lawyer wouldn't even listen to
me when I 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
died-he'd been bedridden for long
time-and I didn't want to burn them
without knowing what they were. l
read them through, but l don't know
whether they're worth anything, and
the neighbors don't know, and had to
End somebody who did know. They're
So legal it seems as if they ought to
something"
-Telford took the papers she offered,
and at the first glance his face became
pale, but he read them through careful
". Then he leaned back in his chair,
and something in his face frightened
{hes WeE1an.
a. 49, t.cy4aere isn't anything bad in them' is
therc?" she asked.
"'No," he answered shortly. I'm con-
sidering what's best to be DONE"
lie got up and walked to a window,
where she couldn't see his face.
"Who knows Of these papers" he
asked at last.
lone or two of the neighbours" she
replied "That's ALL"
'.SUpposc should tell you they were
worth $500 or $500" he suggested,
speaking with an effort and in voice
strangely unlike the courteous, cheer
tul tone in which he had first address
ed her.
oh, that would be splendid" she
,fvicd.
"WOud YOU SELF them for thatS"
<WCull II" she repeated jubilantly.
"Why. Harry could have some new
school clOthes and so could Ellen
And maybe Jessie could have some
4nusic essons-she has such a good
v1oice-and | wouldn't have to worry !
about the rent for-for- 1t wouldn't !
last so very long would it? But l !
could be making more all the time, as
nd q