A LEGAL WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1890, Page 6

A LEGAL WRECK.

By WILLIAM GILLETTE, Author of "Held by the Enemy," "Th Profesaor," "The Private Secretary," (joint author) "Esmeralda."

CHAPTER XLI.

THE LAWYER UNDERTAKES A DIFFICDLT CASE.

It can hardly bo realised with what impatience and anxiety Olive Gray watched for the daiiy appearance, of Mr Merriam. He always came in the afternoon, and for nearly an hour before his ueual time ib might have been observed —if anyone bad been so cruel as to closely scrutinise her actione—that she continually glanced down the drive in the direction oi the gate ; that she was usually silent?, or if spokeu to, answered in an excaedingly absent-minded manner; and that she moved restlessly about from place to place. An outsider, that is to say, a mere bystander, had there been such an individual in the vicinity, noting tins singular solicitude, as well as an evident desire on the part of Mis 3 Gray to b<s left) alone with Mr Merriam the moment he appeared, and being entirely ignorant of the circumstances and events accessory to these facts, would certainly have arrived afc the conclusion that the young lady entertained for this man the most tender of feelings. Fortunately, however, there were no bystandera in the neighbourhood. Mrs Kimball and Edith vf.ere not ignorant of the circumstances accessory to the facts. They had not been entirely surprised when Olive told them ehe was acquainted with Mr Henry Leverott, for the possibility of such a thing suggested itself to them upon receipb of a certain letter the gentleman named had written to Edith not long bofore ; and when Olive gave them a glowing description of the manner in which this gentleman had introduced himself to her at the Bergmonb Railroad Station, and they had listened, besides, to Mr Merriau'a brief but pointed outline of the circumstances attending the yachting disaster, they fullyunderstood why the young lawyer was so warmly welcomed, and obligingly left Olive alone' with him as soon after ho came as they could consistently with the necessary amount of politeness. Some young men, perhaps it is not going' tco far to say tho majority of young men, would have been deceived even more readily than the aforesaid bystanders, had they perceived that they were as anxiously watched for and aa eagerly and excitedly welcomed upon their arrival, by the particular young women their heart 3 had chosen, as waa Richard Merriam, Esq., by Miss Olive Gray. Bu bhe was nob deceived in the least. If ib is true that the majority, in similar circumstances, ■would have been misled, and consequently have arrived at conclusions not in accordance with the facts, then he waa one of the minority. As he was whirled through the gate and up the smooth gravelled drive, he was aware that Olive's eager glance was directed toward him from one of the windows ; and from the recurrence of this phenomenon each day, he became convinced that the charming young lady was in the habib of ■watching for hia appearance with anxiety —even with impatience. When, after hie arrival, she entered the drawing - room with a bright flush upon each cheek, a glowing light in the depths of her dark eyes, a*nd a pathetic little tremor in her low musical voice ; when, furthermore, he' took the exquisite white hand she extended to him and felt that it' was burning hot, and palpitated like a frightened bird with the quick baating of her pulse, he knew perfectly well that she was more than glad to see him—that she was, indeed, feverishly excited by hit* presenceAs has been intimated, however, he was nob for a moment deceived. It was difficulb to throw Merriam off the track in his judgment of motives. In thie case there •was, at one time, a question in his mind. Miss Gray waa hopatienfc for his coming only because he might bring her news of somebody else, "the fevered flush, the tremulous voice, the palpitating hand, had no relation to himself, and he knew ib perfectly well. Hβ fully realised, too, that the glowing light in her beautiful eyes was burning solely for the man be was at that ■very moment instrumental in detaining in the county gaol at Williamsporb. But, strange aa ib may seem, this knowledge did not disturb him in the least. He ■was not, in thie affair, relying upon such uncertaia elements as matters of feeling or sentiment, which might or might not change at any moment. He had undertaken to secure Misa Gray for himself; he was impelled to do so by an irresistible force thab was stronger than anything which had ever urged him in any direction before ; he therefore adopted what he considered the most absolutely certain means for bringing about the result he desired. Prom his inborn characteristics ; from hie whole manner of life and thought, and business— which was his life, there could be, for him, bub one mode of procedure in a matter involving so much, viz., the Legal. To him it was a case. A case of the utmost importance. He would nob undertake anything so experimental—so uncertain—so an endeavour to win the young lady's affections. Others might resorc to such doubtful measures. For himself, he would simply make it impossible for her to many anyone else. When he was ready he would get a hearing, and prove to her the said impossibility. So far as he was concerned he was ready in three days, but in order to have as fair and unbiased a consideration of the poifit3 to be presented as could be obtained, he preferred to postpone it as long aa one Henry Leverett could be kept in the background, so that Misa Gray'a evident warm regard for this individual might have all possible opportunity of_ cooling down. Judging from his feminine business experiences, a few dg.ys should suffice to lower the temperature a namber of degrees, and if he could manage to keep Leverctb in confinemenb for aboub threo weeks, he considered thai tho warrnness entertained by the young lady would have entirely subsided. He went to the Kimball house every day and took her temperature. It astonished him greatly to find the warmth apparently increasing Tather ,than diminishing. In five days it had risen to such a degree that she actually proposed going down to William sport, and he was compelled to use 'his utmost ingenuity to prevent it. Matters were still worse the day following. On the eighth day he was obliged to make the trip himself, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps referred to, and at the same, time to relieve the young lady's mind, for she would certainly have gone if he had not. On his return, he succeeded, by encouraging words, in keeping her quiet for a short period. It was not long, however, before she again manifested an inclination to leave for Williamsporb, and this time ib was evident that unless something was done, she could nob be restrained many days. Merriam decided thab the case must peon at once. Ho sent a telegram to Cap'n Smith, arranging some other preliminaries, and waited for the next day with more nervousness than he had ever felt before the opening of any trial with which he had heretofore been concerned. That afternoon he received a despatch from bhe Sheriff At Williamsporfc which showed him he had acted none too soon.

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