Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-01-10
NV Beautiful Client.
By MAUDE A. HILTON.

By NAuDE A. HILTON.
| 1t had been an unusually sultry sum-
mer day, and l was fretfully anathema-
tizing the press of business that con-
fined me to the city during the heated
term, while all my friends and associ-
ates were enjoying themselves in fash
ionable watering places, or rusticating
in some picturesque nook.
| / was only q poor young barrister,
although rapidly rising in the pro-
fessiOn, and there WAS a case on my
hands that promised a golden har-
vest.
It is true the courts were not then
in session, but the case of Smith versus
Jones required a deal of study and
working up" and l was kept rather
busy all the time.
"ConfOund the lucky" I CALCULATED,
as tossed aside brief over which 1
had been pondering on the particular
| summer afternoon of which / have
made mention. "ConfOund the luck !
l have great mind to pack up my traps
and take run out of the city, despite
the claims of hundred Smiths and
Jones'"
While l had been giving way to this
unusually vehement Outburst, there
had been timid rapping at the outer
door, and my Office boy Henry threw
aside the paper which he had been in
tently perusing for the last two hours
| and admitted a young woman, pretty
| and pleasant-faced, and with an agree
able smile
"Please, sir, are you lawyer Reavey"
she asked, timidly, and with the slight
est possible brogue, betraying her Celtic
origin.
"That is my name, madam" as
sured her, as / placed chair for her
near the desk from which had arisen
at her entrance.
She handed me a note written in
delicate female hand, and insisted on
remaining standing where she was un.
til 1 read it.
IcOnfoss to feeling ofcuriosity, and
without much ceremony l opened the
daint, pink-tinted note and read its
contents, which were brief and to the
point.
Mr.. Hugh Reary:
SIR-If You are at leisure to wait upon
me, should like to SEQ you on q matter OF
business, the nature Of which will explain
when we meet.
If possible, should like to have you re-
turn with ny maid, the bearer.
Respectfully yours,
FLEyoRE HERBERT.
This was the note, word for word, and
confess no stranger message had ever
been transmitted to me. There was
something in the tone of the brief
epistle that seemed 10 breathe spice
of romance and adventure, and my
idea of q country trip was abandoned
instanter.
81 am ready to accompany you, miss, -
said to the waiting-maid; and watch
ing her closely, / could see that my
decision pleased her.
found q carriage awaiting at my
door, and silently assisted the young
lady to enter it.
She made no attempt to enter into
conversation with me as drove through
the city streets, and although l was
as the ladies say-"dying to know ="
something of her mistress, l did not
stoop to question.
I heaved q sigh of intense relief,
however, when the carriage drew up
before the entrance to superb resi-
dence on Madison s-enue, and my COM
panion announced that our journey
was At an end.
A solemn-looking man-servant ad.
mitted us, and in answer to some low.
spoken inquiry of the maid, informed
her that the mistress would receive the
gentleman in her boudoir.
With q growing sense Of my own i'm
portance, I followed the girl up the
broad, richly-carpeted staircase and
into Q room that was like the homo of
fairy, 20 beautiful and pure-looking
with its furniture of white and gold
and delicate hangings Of snowy silk and
lace"
"Lawyer Reavey, Miss Herbert.
announced my companion, and lady
arose from q couch near the window
and came forward to meet me.
I could with difficulty repress an ex
clamation of astonishment, for my eye!
had never beheld anything % exquis
itely lovely - the lady addressed a
Mr.. Herbert
She could not have been moro thar
eighteen years of age. and looked ever
younger, although there was nothing o
the child in the expression of the sadl.
beautiful face or in the blue depths Q
the fair, shadowed eyes.
She nOtioned me to a sest near tha
she had lately occupied, and ! could sc