At the Mercy of TiberiusEvans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)
History
At the Mercy of Tiberius
Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)
Rome -- History -- Tiberius, 14-37 -- Fiction
"He had a love affair very early in life, while at college, with the
daughter of his Greek professor. Surreptitiously he took her to drive
one afternoon, and the horse became frightened, ran away and killed the
girl. He was a peculiar man, and seems never to have swerved from his
allegiance to her memory."
"I hope it is not true that the conditions of the will require you to
remove from X---and settle in New Orleans? We can't afford to lose you
from our bar."
"There are no restrictions in my Uncle Lennox's will; the legacy was
unconditional; but the obligation of complying with his urgent desire
to have me live in New Orleans will probably induce me to make that my
future home. For several years he has associated me with him in the
conduct of some important suits; and I understand now, that his motive
was to introduce me gradually to a new field of professional labor. Not
the least valuable of my new possessions is his superb law library,
probably the finest in the South. Of course my business will keep me
here, for the present, and I have matured no plans."
"Did you reach New Orleans before his death?"
"No, I was in Dakota, and missed a letter designed to acquaint me with
his illness. While in Washington on my return, arguing a case before
the Supreme Court, a telegram was forwarded from the office here, and I
hurried off by the first train, but arrived about ten hours too late.
Another grudge I have to settle with that bloody thief, when I unearth
him."
"After all, Dunbar, you are a deucedly lucky fellow,--and--Hello!
historic Hebrew! Bedney, have you seen a ghost?"
"Yes--Mars Alfred--two of 'em."
Spent with fatigue, panting, with an ashen pallor on his leathery,
wrinkled face, the old negro ran in to the office, and leaned heavily
against the oak table.
"What is the matter? Positively, you are turning a grayish white. What
is the secret of the bleaching? Police after you? Or does the Sheriff
want you?"
"Mars Alfred, this ain't no fitten time to crack your on'-Gawdly jokes,
for I am scared all but into fits. I started in a brisk walk, but every
step I got more and more afeered to look behind, and I struk a fox
trot, and now my wind is clean gone."
"What is the trouble? What are you running from?"
"'Fore Gawd, Mars Alfred, sperrits! Sperrits, sir."
"Do you mean that you want a dram to steady your nerves?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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