THE SQUIRE'S ATTACHMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2714, 9 December 1876, Page 3

THE SQUIRE'S ATTACHMENT.

— » (New York Ledger,) "Bax!" Baxter Jones, oallod " Bftx " for short, was Squire Syphax's office olork. " Yos, sir," answerea\Bax, , , ; , " Fill mo out a writ ' of attachment," said the equiro, "I'll eland no more of this nonsense/ «< Yes, sir— what name, sir P" ■■■ ' " You'll find it there, 0 laid the squiro, writ- < ing on a card and tossing it over to Bax, who proked it up and set about his wdrfc. The document was speedily finished and presented to the squire, who affixed his Signature. , ! " Givo it to constable Darby, and tell him to serve it without delay," added the squire. ' "Yos,sir." ' '■ ■'■■■"'■■ ''■''■ ' ' ' ; " 11 And when ho brings ill the prisoner, report to mo." ' M " Yes, sir." # # * Bob "Darby was a constabulary model. He did hi» duty- to tho letter, and expanded few woi*ds about it. When the Servant oame, in answer to his ring of widow Goodheart's door-bell— •." "Is your mistress at home P " Bob inquired. « She is,'' was the response. " Tell nor I must see her," said Bob. , ,»' She's .very busy," replied the maid, "and unless the business Is very particular*——" "It is worry partio'lary' brushing past and and entering without ceremony, f I'm worry sorry to illoonwetuonoe you, mum," ho said, when Mrs Goodhoart had made her appearanoe \ "but I've got to take you ovor to the squire's right away." The widow turned pale and trombled. " Has the dear man— has he had a relapsoP ". sheaakod, in a tremulous tone. f " Couldn't say, mum," answered Bob j " all I know is, its a oa»e of 'ttaohmont," "A case of attachment]" exclaimed tho widow, tho colour mounting to her handsome face. ' -■-.).•..:■•.■ She saw it all. A relapse, porhaps a fatal one, had set iv j and the squire, whom sho had long been waiting for to apeak his mind, but whose modesty had hitherto prevented, had doubtloss seleoted this oritioal moment to declare his feelings. She would have preferred to see a mission so delicate entrusted to othor hands than those of the town oonstable, but the suddenness of the otaorgenoy, it was likely, had left no room for ohoioo. " I shall be ready ib a moment," said tho widow j and, so indeed she was. " Thore's a kerridge at the door mum;" said Bob; and when he had handed the lady in nothing moro was said till thoy roaohed the squire's door. That functionary, like many country magistrates, kept his offioo at his house, and into tho apartmont so appropriated the widow was at onoe ushered. Bob Darby, having duly signed the roturn upon the writ, handed ft over to the squire's olork, who proceeded straightway to notify his honour. As tho latter ontored ho started with surprise. Instoad of tho contemptuous culprit Dick Slot©, at whoso guilty head he was preparod td hurl the law's anathemas, it was the lovely widow Ooodheart, tho angel of his dreams, whom ho saw before him. In tho name of all tho Dromios, what diabolioal orror was this P Oatohing up tho returned warrant, to hia horror he road— • "To any constable, greeting — You are hereby commanded to take the body of Dorothy Goodhoart, and bring the same before mo, &j, t &oi, Oahbb Sxfhax, J.P." Darting a look of wrath at the clerk and the constable, he ordered them to withdraw . "My dear Mri Good heart," began the squire, blushing to the tips of his ears, " how can I atone for this annoyanoe P " " Oh, its no annoyanoe, I assure you," simpered the widow ; " I'm so glad to find you aro not ill." " But—but this unfortunate attaohmont," stammered tho squire, dashing aside the illstarred dopument. "I*- 1 have long returnod it," naively murmured tho < widow, turning as rod as himself, both blushing like beetroot. A gleam of gladness flashed over the squiro's oountenanoe. Gould it be she was ignorant of tho indignity she had suffered P And then to find tho ioo so happily brokon 1 Ho oUspod hor hand, pressod it to his lips, and poured out the tale of his pent-up lovo with an ardour and oloquonoe whioh fairly astonished himself. Tho widow's pretty head droppod on hia shoulder, as, with alternate smilos and tears, she listened rapturously to what she had beon so long, waiting to hear.r The squiro came baok a happy man from esoorting tho widow home that evening. But tho sight of Baz Jones aroused his fury. " How dare you play me suoh a trick," he thundered.

« What triok P » inquired Bax innooenUy. "What trick P Why, nutting Mrs .Cfboft heart')! name ia that attaohment P " : "I put in the name you gave me," answered Bax. "Its false!" " Here's the card," rejoined the clerk. The squire glanoed at it. It was one of Mrs Goodheart's cards, left with some delioaoy, whioh she had sent during his late illness. On ,tho blank side he had unwittinglywritten the nanib to be inserted in the writ. Whether tho clork had copied from the wrong side by mistake, or played off & praotieal joke, wag not quite dear (o the squire's mind, for Bax, in point of gravity, foil far short of his distinguished namesake, the author of "Saints' Host." However, in view of the happy issue, and Bax's earnest professions of innocence, he was finally let off, but with a caution to him and Bob Darby never to mention the affair under pain of the squire's displeasure — but a story too good to keep always will get out.