The Lawyer's Vision

Southland Times, Issue 9718, 6 January 1888, Page 4

The Lawyer's Vision

The Christmas party was over. Tbe guests of the evening, exhausted with their dancing, sank one by one into i he seats arranged round the fire, which was burning lustily in opposition to the Cold December weather outside. Their eyes were staring earnestly at the red embers as if to find past histories and occurrences imprinted on them. The old lawyer, who had been quiet throughout the evening, consented to relate a story as it happened. We closed round the fire, and having made all comfortable, listened to the following :— My ghost story is very brief, Ido not expect you to believe it, but unless lam of unsound luind it is true. It ■was when I was a new-fledged lawyer, who had not had a case, that I sat in my office in a very forlorn state, smoking, reading a stupid book, and think ing over my own pecuniary condition. I was raining, and the streets were almost empty. It was the last day on which a client could have been expected; but for that reason it was the very day on which one came. My boy Peter announced ' a lady.' I hid ray novel in a drawer, seized a pen, said ' show her in,' and in an instant more arose to receive my first client, who- instantly laid her business before me. She desired a divorce from a hustoand who drank, who beat her, made love to other women, and gambled away her property. She was young and pretty and interesting. If she could prove her story, she would have no difficulty in recovering her freedom. I thought. Already, in my imagination, my ice was in my pocket, and fame crowned my brow with her laurel wreath. I assured the lady, who gave her name as Mrs Burleigh, of my firm convictions of our victory, and, to cut a long story short, the preliminary steps were taken, and in due time witnesses were summoned, and all was ready for the first day of the trial. The night before I sat up late afc work on very important papers in connection with the case — eleven, twelve, one, two o'clock struck before I found time-to rest. Then, with my brain t-illl dancing, I converted my sofa into a bed, and was about to undrpgs when fcho bell rang. Peter had gone home, of course, so I answered the summons myself, fearing I scarcely know what. Bad news from home. Warning of fire in the neighbourhood, or, perhaps a belated acquaintance, the door of whose lodging might be locked against him, and who, at this juncture would be a terrible bore. I let doy n the bar, turned the key, and drew tbe bolt — tbe former occupant of the room doubtless had something to be stolen, it was so well defended — and looked out into the Jiall. As I did 60 I became aware ot a "tall, slender figure at the farther end. It advanced, and I saw Mrs Burleigh, pale as the white shawl she had thrown about her. Her dress was a light evening silk ; her hair was worn in a mass of curls drawn to the back of her head. It appeared to me that she had just come irom a ball or party. A strange, imprudent thing to join in such festivities at such a time, and more imprudent still to call on a young lawyer at that hour. What could have happened that she should think it right to do so ? Without a word she glided past me. Standing in the full light of the gas jot she looked me in the face. ' Hang him ! ' she said wildly. 'He did it * He did it ! I tell you he did jt ! Hang my husband ! ' '■ Vfhv.:- has he done V I asked Without ft W?f3 &he put bag!; [iqv

shawl, and showed me her bodice soaked in her life's blood from a wound that seemed to be over her heart.

'Great Heaven!' I cried. 'This must be seen to at once. There is a surgeon in the house. I will call him. Sit down.' I approached to lead her to a couch, but as I tried to place my hands upon her they touched only empty air. I saw a strange white object that vanished as I gazed. She was gone. After the first excitement was over I searched every corner of the halls and stairways. I found the door below fast locked, I roused the janitor, who swore he had admitted no one, and I retired, with the pleasing belief that I had lost my senses, or was about to have congestion of the brain. However, I slept well, awoke well, and before I had dressed had resolved that I had suffered from a most unpleasant dream. I had seated myself at my desk to make a note of some fresh ideas, when a shout in the street below aroused me. It was a newsboy's voice, and what he said was" this :

* Awful murder at a ball ! Lady killed by her jealous husband !' A thrill of horror ran through my frame. I rushed downstairs and bought a paper. A long column was devoted to the murder, and the name of the victim was Burleigh. It was my client, She had attended a ball, and had been stabbed in the supper room by the barbarian from whom she was about to obtain a divorce.

Her last words were ' Hang him ! ' And he was hanged. However, I had nothing to do with the trial, The deed was done before a roomful of people ; witnesses were in abundance, but I hardly think I should have offered my evidence if it had been needed. With a short sigh the lawyer finished, and after numerous exclamations of dissent and amazement the party retired to their rooms. And as they cast themselves upon their respective couches to rest, the creak of the trees seemed to convey to their minds the scenes which tbeir host had described to them.