Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-02-24
My First Client
7WAS sitting in my new Office one
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.~S~S~~~O~~~c~~~~~.
7WAS sitting in my new office one
il afternoon several weeks ago,
smoking and feasting my eyes on
those inverted letters on the glass
panel of my Soor and incidentally
listening to the steps along the corrl-
dor and watching the shadows that
passed and repassed, when one OF the
shadows startled me by pacsing there.
There was knock and | called,
Come in feeling instinctively that
my career had begun. | believe l
stared full minute at my visitor be-
fore 1 realized who be was. Then l
sprang up and grasped his hand.
Rogers" | exclaimed You out
here?'
Welcome to the West, Hunter" he
answered, laughing and shaking my
hand heartily. Yes, I've been here
two years
$50 you're going to take in the wool
ly West" he observed when we were
seated, adding. with a glance around.
you are pretty we'll fixed. May |
ask how goes the battle?'
Then we compared notes. / found
that he had lately become Junior mem
Der Of law firm in Guthrie, Of whose
prosperity I already knew. While in
Oklahoma City Oh business he had
heard of my presence and SO looked
me up. | gave him al the college
news, not forgetting the great event
Of commencement eek-my marriag e.
He seemed much interested and asked
a lot Of questions, among them
whether I remembered a Miss Holdings
Catherine Hollings. Of course [ re-
membered Bob Hollings' pretty sister,
and instantly certain rumOrs heard
months ago came forcefully to my
mind. No, Miss Hollings hadn't mar
ried; hadn't cared a pin for that rich
Davis fellow. Oh, yes; she was just
as pretty and popular as ever, only
didn't seem to prefer one man to an
other.
That, then, was what took Rogers
away from college, with his law course
only half completed. l had often Won
dered at it, remembering his excellent
larity with the men The poor fellow
fidgeted under the fire of cross-ques-
tons that | now aimed at him, but at
length he capitulated manfully and
gave me the whole story. | felt like a
detective working up a clue.
cit was no use, l saw" he ended
so l came away. [ couldn't endure
l,a - 10
cry few days
''And you never proposed to herr"
mo; had little pride. | was not
going to ask what | know would be
refused"
That sounded final, SO we let the
subject drop 1 might have added that
l actually did propose to her couple
Of years ago. Did he know of that afy
fair, / wondered.
Half an hour later we walked to-
gether to my home where | introduced
him to Dolly, and we spent a very
pleasant evening Isn't he nice?' she
said to me after he had gone Rogers,
Rogers, reminiscently. Il believe I've
heard of him before
Next day Rogers returned to Guth-
RE early and I did not see him. Bust
ness at my Office was still quiet, so |
did a lot of thinking, and finally wrote
come letters. One went to the old col
,ege town. I felt few qualms about
sending it, but was glad on the whole
when the missive was in the mail. and
therefore beyond my recall. Certain
words of mine We're haunting my mind
isn't it anything to you how these
Door fellows feel? One might think you
hadn't a heart at all!'' And her an
swer:
.'Oh, but I have! 1 have indeed: be
cause it answers when 1 call, but it has
gone long journey-to Japan maybe
or to-say, Oklahoma"
That answer had seemed to me I'M
warrantably f1ippant, butt somehow the
words were taking on a neW meaning
How forlorn and pretty she had looked
that evening, two years ago! 1t was
brutal in me to talk to her as did.
About two weeks later, ON return
ing from the office, Dolly met me al
the door with the mystifying announce
ment: "Bess is coming on Saturday.
"Bessn' | said. who's Bess -
"Bess Hollings, of course. The sec.
ond cousin I've told you so much about
And, David, think of it! Think of it,.
Think of what?
"Why, David, to think that she is