Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-22

BY H. H. Hudson

The state bar examination was In progress
The watchful eyes OF the members OF the OK
! amning committee were upon each candidate
The applicants were ambitious in the best sense
Many would be heard from in the years 10
come.
, John Harding, Esq, was one OF the eAauin
ers Harding was a broad man. One candidate
before him enlisted his sympathy. This man was
Victor Hope There story back OF tne
young man. Hope was a bank teller, ana ma"
maintained a widowed mother while pursuing
his studies. He had studied in an evening SCHOOL,
Another fact was also known to the examiner
Hope was In love with an attractive and deseIV-
ing stenographer who worked in busy law or
nce While some of Hopes friends were some
what skeptical, Myrtle Willow had never lost
faith in him. The world did not understand
The examiner did A hero sat before him.
| The Hon. John Harding observed the youth
a slave to ambition. Was it good thing TOT
young man TO be ambitious2 STILL from such ma
lerial this the world had ever derived Jus
greatest benefits
squirrels were playing about the lawn when
surrounded the capitol building. The autumn
leaves were already falling. He remembered
his experience IN the years gone by. Time was
| precious asset. He again pictured the group
CT boys he had known; the eager scanning or
questions; the waiting for the posted bulletin
| in the hotel. which would seal their fate. Some
Of them were dead. The court records alone
oore testimony to their zeal. The examiner
/
girl who had linked her future to the young
/ man before him. Here tragedy. Three
years or patient study and anxiety, a counting
! Of dimes-then failure? No, a thousand times
no. He might save him and still be true to
his trust.
| The Hon. John Harding sauntered down the
I aisle. Victor Hope sat with his legs twisted
about his chair. The tension OF mind ana
| body was apparent. Moisture stood on tue
! brow Of the courageous student. The examiner
| inspected his paper. Question IL was unan'
sWCred. Ten minutes alone remained
And why don't you attempt 10 answer lST'
| asked HardingN
! The eyes of the troubled student met ols.
| Because" was the reply, II don't know
whether to say yes or no."
The examiner paced up and down the aisle.
/ IL was a critical moment. Might there not De
some suggestion which could be given-some
hint which could be brought to bear without
breach OF trust on his part? thought OF
would scan the list of those who passed in
the evening papers His brow contracted. Inis
! very question might lose Hope his degree. lie
pictured the failure and encouragement, with
months Of further toll and anxiety.
lie glanced at his watch. Five minutes alone
remained. He again stepped to the desk.
why don't you attempt to answer question
1872 be again asked.
Il dont know whether to say yes or no.,
WAS the reply Of the desperate candidate.
You don't knowT' replied the Hon. John
Harding Didn't your girl know what to say
when you asked her TO marry your
When Harding looked the papers the next
day he found that the question had been an
swered in the affirmative. 1t further appeared
that the correct answering of this question alone
saved the standing of Victor Hope Six months
later Hope was appointed assistant to the United
States district attorney, but his wife doesn't
know to this day that she set the exa-Lple
which made her husband an honored and sue.
ceSSful member of the bar.