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Words for the Wise

T >> T.S. Arthur >> Words for the Wise




"Who are you, sir?" he asked, drawing himself proudly up.

"I hardly think you need ask that question," the young man replied.
"I am not an entire stranger to you, nor unknown in your
neighbourhood."

"But who are you, sir? That is what I ask to know. Who is your
father?"

"An honest man, sir." The young man spoke with firmness and dignity.

"Humph! there are plenty of them about. I could marry my daughter to
an honest man any day I liked. Old Cato, my coachman, is an honest
man; but that is no reason why I should let his son Sam marry Edith.
No, my young friend, you cannot connect yourself with my family; be
content with the daughter of some honest man like your father."

But the lover was not to be driven off by even such a rude repulse.
He tried to argue his case, but Mr. Tomlinson cut the matter short
by starting from his seat in great discomposure of mind, and
pointing with a trembling hand to a grim picture on the wall, while
he thus addressed the young man:--

"That, sir, is the portrait of Sir Edgar Tomlinson, who, by
interposing his body between the spear of a Roundhead and his royal
master, saved his life at the imminent risk of his own, for which
gallant deed he was knighted, and afterwards presented, by royal
hands, with a noble bride. When you have done as great a deed, young
man, you will be worthy to claim the hand of my daughter--not
before!"

Saying this, the excited father turned away and strode from the
room, leaving Denton in dismay at the quick and hopeless termination
of his conference.

On the next day, the young attorney, who was known to possess fine
talents, acuteness, and extensive legal knowledge, was waited upon
by Mr. Allison.

"I wish your services, Mr. Denton," said he, "in a suit of great
importance that I am about commencing. Here is your retaining
fee,"--and he laid upon the table of the lawyer a check for two
hundred dollars. "If you gain me my cause, your entire fee will be
five thousand dollars."

Allison then went on to state, that Mr. Tomlinson's claim to the
five hundred acres next adjoining his (Allison's) plantation, and
upon which his mansion stood, was a very doubtful one. That it, in
fact, belonged to the Allison estate, and he was going to have the
question of rightful ownership fully tested. He furnished the young
attorney with documents, data, and every thing required for
commencing the suit. Denton asked a week for an examination of the
whole matter. At the end of this time, Allison again waited on him.

"Well, sir, what do you think of my case?" he said.

"I think it a doubtful one," was replied. "Still, it is possible you
might gain it, as there are one or two strong points in your
favour."

"I have not the least doubt of it. At any rate, I am going to give
the matter a fair trial. Five hundred acres of such land are worth
an effort to gain."

"But you must not forget that, as you will open the question of
ownership on the whole tract of one thousand acres, you run the risk
of losing the half of which you are now in possession."

"I'm willing to run the risk of losing five hundred acres of
uncultivated land in the effort to acquire possession of as large a
quantity in a high state of improvement," returned the
uncompromising gentleman 'born and bred.' "So you will forthwith
make a beginning in the matter."

The young attorney was grave and silent for some time. Then opening
a drawer, he took out the check which had been given to him as a
retaining fee, and handing it to Allison, said--"I believe, sir, I
must decline this case."

"Why so?" quickly asked the young man, a deep flush passing over his
brow.

"I do it from principle," was replied. "I find, on examining the
whole matter, that your grandfather and the father of Mr. Tomlinson,
while in possession of their respective estates, in view of the
difficulty there was in settling the precise title of the tract of
land, agreed to an equal division of it, which was done in honour
and good faith, and I do not think their heirs, on either side, have
any right to disturb the arrangement then made."

"I did not ask you to judge the case, but to present it for
judgment," said Allison, greatly offended. "You may, perhaps, be
sorry for this."

Another member of the bar, less scrupulous about the principles
involved in a case, readily undertook the matter; and as the fee, if
he proved successful, was to be a large one, opened it immediately.

When Mr. Tomlinson received notice of the fact that this
long-settled dispute was again to be revived, he was thrown into a
fever of alarm and indignation. The best counsel that could be
employed was obtained, and his right to the whole thousand acres
vigorously maintained. After a year of delays, occasioned by
demurrers, allegations, and all sorts of legal hinderances, made and
provided for the vexation of clients, the question came fairly
before the court, where it was most ably argued on both sides for
some days. When the decision at length came, it was adverse to Mr.
Tomlinson.

An appeal was entered, and preparations made for a more vigorous
contest in a higher court. Here the matter remained for over a year,
when the decision of the first tribunal was confirmed.

Two years of litigation had made sad work with old Mr. Tomlinson; he
looked at least ten years older. The same signs of decay appeared in
every thing around him; his fields remained uncultivated, the fences
were broken down, and cattle strayed where once were acres of grain
or other rich products. Slaves and stock had been sold to meet the
heavy expenses to which this suit had subjected him, and every thing
seemed fast tending towards ruin. Once or twice during the period,
Denton again approached him on the subject of Edith, but the proud
old aristocrat threw him off even more impatiently than at first.

Edith, too, had changed during this time of trouble; she was rarely
seen abroad, and received but few visitors at home. No one saw her
smile, unless when her father was present; and then her manner was
cheerful, though subdued. It was clear that she was struggling
against her own feelings, in the effort to sustain his. Her father
had extorted from her a promise never to marry without his consent;
this settled the matter for the time between her and Denton,
although both remained faithful to each other; they had not met for
over a year.

Meantime the cause was carried up still higher, where it remained
for two years longer, and then another adverse decision was made.
Mr. Tomlinson was in despair; what with court charges, counsel fees,
and loss from the diminished productions of his farm, he had sunk in
the last four years over fifteen thousand dollars, a portion of
which had been raised by mortgage on that part of his estate to
which he had an undisputed title, almost equal to the full value of
the land.

To the Supreme Court the matter came at last, but the old man had
but little hope. In three courts, after a long and patient hearing,
the decision had been against him; if it should again be adverse, he
would be totally ruined. As it was, so greatly had his means become
reduced, that it was with difficulty he could raise sufficient money
to pay off the heavy expenses of the last court. The fees of his two
attorneys were yet unsettled, and he feared, greatly, that he should
not be able to induce more than one of them to attend at the Supreme
Court. On the other side, money was expended freely, and the most
energetic counsel that money could command enlisted. The fact was,
the principal reason why Mr. Tomlinson had failed in each of the
three trials that had already taken place lay in the superior tact,
activity, and ability of the adverse counsel.

The anxiously looked-for period at length came, and Mr. Tomlinson
made preparations for leaving home to meet the final issue, after
nearly five years of most cruel litigation.

"Dear father!" said Edith, as they were about to separate. She spoke
with forced calmness, while a faint smile of encouragement played
about her lips; her voice was low and tender. "Dear father, do not
let this matter press too heavily upon you; I have a hope that all
will come out right. I do not know why, but I feel as if this
dreadful blow will not be permitted to fall. Be calm, be brave, dear
father! even the worst can be borne."

The maiden's voice began to quiver, even while she uttered hopeful
words. Mr. Tomlinson, whose own heart was full, bent down and kissed
her hurriedly. When she looked up, he was gone. How fast the tears
flowed, as she stood alone on the spot where they had just parted!

A few hours after the father had left, a gentleman called and asked
to see Edith. On entering the room where he had been shown by the
servant, she found a young man whose countenance she had never seen
before. He. made known his business after a few embarrassing
preliminaries, which proved to be an overture of peace from Allison,
if she would accept the offer of marriage he had made her five years
previously. After hearing the young man patiently through, Edith
replied, in a firm voice--"Tell Mr. Allison that there is no evil in
this world or the next that I would consider greater than a marriage
with him."

He attempted to urge some considerations upon her, but she raised
her hand, and said, in a tone of decision, "You have my answer, sir;
take it to your principal."

The young man bowed, and withdrew in silence. He felt awed beneath
the steady eye, calm face, and resolute voice of the maiden, crushed
almost to the earth as she was.

When Mr. Tomlinson arrived at the capital, he found neither of his
counsel there, although the case was expected to be reached on the
succeeding day. On the next morning he received a note from one of
them, which stated that illness would prevent his attending. The
other attorney was prepared to go on with the case, but he was by
far the weakest of the two.

On the opposite side there was the strongest possible array, both as
to number and talents. Mr. Tomlinson felt that his case was
hopeless. On the first day the prosecution argued their case with
great ability. On the second day, the claims of Mr. Tomlinson were
presented, with even less point and tact than before; it was clear
that the advocate either considered the case a bad one, or had lost
all interest in it. The other side followed with increased
confidence, and, it was plain, made a strong impression upon the
court. A feeble rejoinder was given to this, but it produced little
or no effect.

Just at this crisis, an individual, not before particularly noticed
by Mr. Tomlinson, arose and addressed the court. His opening remarks
showed him to be familiar with the whole subject, and his tone and
manner exhibited a marked degree of confidence. It was soon apparent
which side of the case he had taken; if by nothing else, by the
frown that settled upon the brow of Allison. He was a young man,
tall and well made, with a strong, clear voice, and a fine command
of language. The position in which he stood concealed so much of his
face from Mr. Tomlinson, that the latter could not make out whether
it was one with which he was familiar or not. The voice he had heard
before.

The volunteer advocate, after having occupied the court for an hour,
during which time he had shown a most minute and accurate knowledge
of the matter in dispute, gave the whole question a new aspect.
During the second hour that his argument was continued, in which
precedent after precedent, not before introduced, were brought
forward, bearing a direct application to the case under review, the
court exhibited the most marked attention. When he concluded, all
present saw hope for the old Virginian.

This new and unexpected champion in the cause aroused the counsel of
Allison to another and more determined effort; but he tore their
arguments into ribands, and set off their authorities with an
overwhelming array of decisions directly in the teeth of those they
introduced bearing upon their side of the question. It was wonderful
to observe his perfect familiarity with the whole matter in dispute,
the law bearing upon it, and the decisions of courts in this country
and England, that could in any way throw light upon it, far
outstripping the learned advocates on both sides, who had been at
work upon the case for five years.

During the time this brilliant champion was fighting his battle for
him in the last defensible position he could ever obtain, Mr.
Tomlinson remained as if fixed to the spot where he was sitting, yet
with his mind entirely active. He saw, he felt that there was hope
for him; that this heaven-sent advocate, whoever he was, would save
him from ruin. At last the case closed, and the court announced that
its decision would be given in the morning.

"Who is he?" Mr. Tomlinson heard some one ask of his persecutor, as
the young man closed his last and most brilliant effort.

With an imprecation uttered between his teeth, he replied, "One that
refused to take my side, although I offered him a fee of five
thousand dollars if successful."

"What is his name?"

"Denton."

"Pity you couldn't have secured him."

Mr. Tomlinson heard no more. He turned his eyes upon the young man
he had three times rudely repulsed, but he could not see his face;
he was bending over and arranging some papers. The announcement of
the court, in regard to the time when a decision was to be made,
drew his attention from him. When he again sought the young
attorney, he was gone.

Nearly a week of most distressing suspense was suffered by Edith.
Every day she heard from her father, but all was doubt and
despondency, until there came a letter announcing the sudden
appearance of a volunteer advocate, who had changed the whole aspect
of affairs, and created the most lively hopes of success. Who he
was, the letter did not say.

During the morning that succeeded the one on which this letter was
received, Edith wandered about the house like a restless spirit. The
decision had been made on the day previous, and in a few hours her
father would be home. What intelligence would he bring? Whenever she
asked herself that question, her heart trembled. Twenty times had
she been to the highest windows in the house to look far away where
the road wound down a distant hill, to see if the carriage were
coming, although she knew two hours must elapse before her father
could possibly arrive.

At last the long and anxiously looked-for object came in sight,
winding along the road far in the distance. Soon it passed from
view, and she waited breathlessly, until it should appear at a
nearer point. Again it met her eyes, and again disappeared. At last
it reached the long avenue of poplars that lined the carriage-way
leading up to the house; the horses were coming at a rapid speed.
Edith could not breathe in the rooms--the atmosphere was oppressive.
She went into the porch, and, leaning against or rather clinging to
one of the pillars, stood almost gasping for breath. The suspense
she suffered was awful; but certainty soon came. The carriage
whirled rapidly into its position before the door, and Mr. Tomlinson
sprang from it as agile as a boy. He had merely time to say--

"All is safe!" when Edith sank into his arms, unable longer to
stand.

"And here is our noble champion," he added, as another stood by his
side.

Edith opened her eyes, that she had closed in the excess of joy; the
face of her lover was near her. She looked up at him for a moment,
and then closed them again; but now the tears came stealing through
her shut lids.

The young lawyer had gained two suits in one. Three months
afterwards Edith was his bride, and the dowry was the five hundred
acres of land from the estate of Allison, awarded to her father by
the Supreme Court.

THE END.

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