Laura Brayton — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 LAURA BRAYTON, The man turned, and followed by Bartram, left the room. . As soon as he was alone the lawyer drew some paper before him, and at once commenced writing as if he were in great haste. A minute or. two afterward there was a knock at the door. “Enter!” said Sharp, and he kept on writing, without raising his eyes, although the steps of a person approaching his table were plainly heard. “Nathan,” said the lawyer, not raising his head yet, “I wish you would see to that order of Panama stock to-day; it is on the rise, and we must pur- chase at once or—— Why, Mr. Withers, I beg your pardon; [ thought it was that lazy clerk of mine, Nathan Sloth, that came in. Take a seat, sir—take a seat.” And with his usual hopping step the missbapen lawyer sprang to place a chair for his visitor. Lhe latter was quite an elderly man, a gentleman, evidently, by his dress and appearance. His face was very grave in its expression, bordering on melancholy. “What can I do for you to-day, Mr. Withers?” asked the lawyer, in an obsequious tone, remaining on his feet and moving about restlessly after his visitor was seated. “ve come to have my will written, Sharp,” said the gentleman, nervously. “You’ve done the law business of our family for so many years that it would hardly seem right to employ any other.” | comicboo <S