Year: 1878

OF ali men, suppose those who have es-
tablished characters for probity and integ-
rity in the practice of the law are most often
burdened with the knowledge OF other peo-
ple's secret affairs. More men, and women
too, for that matter, carry within their bos-
oms dead secret" than most of US are apt
to imagine, and it is seldom the case that
such do not, at some period during their
lives, fad themselves driven to a confession
that they may take the cool and calculating
advice OF one who stGdles their misfortune
without being at the same time menaced by
il.


/ have sometimes thought that Protestant
lawyers are often put in possession of secret
facts which none but ghostly 'confessors ever
hear among Catholic people. While in a
large majority of cases the man or woman
who seeks aconsultstion over particularly
secret matter, does so with a view to receiv-
ing advice on which to act, yet it occasion
ally happens that ones burden is greater
than he can BEAR and who so close mouthed
as the lawyer? lawyers can be trusted with
secrets. The lawyer Office is sort of "holy
of holies''-a sacred place, where a client
who is on the ragged edge may unload
bis bardeDed mind without fear of betrayal.
The profession prides itself on its honor in
this respect, and it is unquestionably en-
titled to all the honor which an unwavering
falthfulness warrants.


Bat sat down to record a few instances
illustrating IN some degree the character of
the secrets which may from time to time be
divulged within the precincts of a lawyers
Office; and in doing So let me assure my
readers that the unfortunate men and
women whose stories they shall hear are all
dead long ago, and that the world will know
no more of these particular men and women
after the stories are told than before.


1t has been a long time ago-so long that
the matter had almost escaped me. and was
only recalled on looking over an old faded
and dusty memorandum, containing cita-
ton to case decided in New York, now
three-quarters of century ago, involving
q question of condonation-that a gen.
tleman came to me and exhibited an
ugly cash in the palm of his right hand, and
a shallow stab IN his left thigh. He was a
man in good circumstances, stood well in the
community in which he lived, and so far as
the world knew, his was a loving and happy
family. But what a sad, sad story, empha-
sized by that cash and stab, was 1T that my
client poured into my ears on that beautiful
May morning so many years ago. For long
time the man and his wife had lived in Sc
cret warfare. To the outside world they
were all smiles and love; but alone, all was
enmity, hatred and i'll will. A long and
fierce quarrel had eliminated on that May
morning in the wife thrusting kni into
ha hu rf of hQr hno d1o ioh
he, seizing the blade in his naked hand, she
had violently drawn it out, thus gashing the
palm. when he had knocked her down with
his fist, and then went right off to see a law
yer. And yet for days and weeks and even
months after this all the world looked upon
this man and woman, no doubt. as models of
propuety, forbesranee and affection. Ali
the world? No; think there was
one old lawyer, whose office was
not many doors removed from mine,
who knew. better. Very soon
after my client had given his secret to me
i saw his wife coming out of the door of the
old lawyers Office, and suppose he heard
her side. At any rate, when, after year
had passed succeeding the stabbiDg and
knock down, and the parties could stand u
no longer but separated amid much ching
and ahing on the part OF the people, we two
put our heads together; a divorce was patch
ed up, and this hitherto respectable man
and woman soon dropped out of sight, going
no one knew or cared where.


One day an old man came to me whom
had known for almost lifetime. ~ don't
know why it is," he said, but have been
in great trouble of mind for week past"


whats the trouble, Mr.. H?' / asked.
"Well, I'll tell you" said he. You see
moved from North Carolina to Indiana away
back in the first part of the thirties. I was
a young man then and no one here has ever
imagined that | had been married back
there. But / had. marr1ed when was
vet in my teens, and before / was twenty
one my wife died and left me the father of
a baby boy. left the child with its aunt,
my wife's sister, soon after and came
to Indiana intending to go back, but was
yonng, and very soon met my present wife
aud was married TO her, and have never been
back. nor have 1 ever heard of my boy but
once since left My wife does not know of
ii, my present children do not know of it,
nor do any of my neighbors. You are the
first man, and the only human being to
whom have mentioned the thing during
past forty-seven years"


The mans story excited my curiosity, and
] inquired OF him how it came about that he
was troubled about it more dunng the last
week than ever before. He answered


Il dreamed about him one night about
week ago. thought be came TO me and