Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-31
A LOST LETTER.

influence oil the trOplcal weather, anu
could not resist the temptation OF dis
cardinp his coat and waistceat while
at work in his private room. To be
sure, it was the long vacation, and
nearly all his clients were out Of town
but he was constantly apprepenslve
OF being discovered in a state OF de-
shabille, and would not have allowed
a client to see him without necktIe
for the world.
One particularly hot day, when the
atmosphere seemed almost suffocatlng,
there came knock at his door, and
as the handle was being turned from
the outside he was startled by the
sound of a woman's voice and the
rustic of silk gown. Could it be
possible that lady was being ushered
in by one of his clerks without any
previous warning2 Mr.. Parchment
was perfectly aghast at such impro
priety, especially considering the very
unprofesslonal state of his attire. 1t
was evident, however, that this was
not a false alarm, and moments
hesitation would have been fatal
Fortunately, close at hand vas balze
screen, concealing toilet apparatus,
and behind this Mr.. Parchment rush
ed with breathless trcpidation, just as
a clerk, followed by lady, entered
the apartment.
"Mr. Parchment mast have gone
out, murmured the clerk, after a
pause, apparently greatly relieved,
having no doubt realized his indlscrs-
ton.
81 thought you said he was within, ="
said the lady sharply.
''He was a moment ago, Numbered
the clerk
"Then J will wait here" said TIE
lady, seating herself III the clients
chair.
perhaps you had better take a
seat outside, ma'am," suggested the
clerk.
81 can remain here" said the lady
quietly, as she took up the news
paper.
Tho clerk fingered moment, evil
IDENTIFY overawed by the lady'S manner
and i'll at ease in his mind, and then
slowly disappeared; while Mr.. Parch-
ment, behind the screen, CRASHED his
false teeth with rage. He altogether
failed to realize the ludicrous side of
the situation, and was conscious only
of mingled discontinue and humilia
ton. 1t was out of the question that
he should confront the lady in his
present state, minus his coat and
waistcoat, collaiess and culfless. The
alternative was to remain in his hid
ing place till the visitors patience was
exhausted, although this involved the
risk of detection, which would only
add to his embarrassment.
To make matters worse the visitor
was the last person in The world he
wished to see at any time. She was
the wife of Sir Hector Bannister
hard drinking baronet, whose family
affairs Mr.. Parchment had managed
cd for years. Unfortunately, pro
ceedings for II separation, and
even for divorce, We're pending be-
tween Sir Hector and Lady Bannis-
ter, and the lawyer had to bear the
brunt of the unpleasantness. Matri-
monial controversy was branch of
his business which Mr.. Parchment
particularly disliked, being highly
respectable, straight-laced old prac-
titioner, and he had neithe" tact nor
confidence in dealing with female
clients. He had been worried TO death
over the unhappy affair already, and,
feeling no respect or esteem for either
of the paotieS, he would have been
delighted to wash his hands out of it.
lie particularly dreaded tete tete in
s'0"' ,';niait ,a,,,nonn'; ',,a ,"r '" "
Il" 49,, nd mr.. pamoI,'n'Dt
s,,,I :, ~, I'll -
~, -, ,l;.,,;,.. ,.;n, - M -
o' I'' ~, u's ivy WIN t' NJ ~ :'l','o
~ az t'ip 'nolH 1li,PossIp'o ioI MN w W
P 'Nso't i''''S1's 'oo",hs 90 ''rot's nc
WY s.' 'Ppcu l"I 'o''e Vi ns''S"iS'
anu ms n"t9ral p rilll',eSs ana olo ,
o"N,lelo, niouoS'} eaussu mn W leol
~ ne' ''"' anu o''io''i "'SoN every
"'up e' ., ,,D.
~, NC !" Si' .i' pauso i1'Ny paauis.e'
ii'''" '1'l,.o 'i'o iho"spap'' NJ ,ni p n,
~ "'I iS',' w 'lei I S w avn
f S,oh snu Si l,, Ut 'ue acton l9t II
S S sho9io s'roiI ~, up 10 'ie WINDOW WINDOW
~ ne Wo"'" iisNlI"oiV oe uiScoVerea'
10 MS great reile', however Lazy
no doubt to arrange hnr bonnet,
strings before the loekinp GLASS over
the mantel. shelf I'm, Gro the lawycr
had recovered from, his first fr;oht
he was seized with a fresh naroxSsm
of dismav MS he p, membered that mon
his desk there law OMEN = Letter. he bed
recc;yed that mornino from, tho Iody,s
husband Tad,, Rann2stor no,ld Lard
" fail 10 nerceive i If She cast her eyes
in that direction and She wcnI6 tben
learn what Mr. Parcbmept \ reca;v.
ed snch nart;cular instrnct;ons ~ CON.
coal from, her-n,nel,, ber bnsho,,5's
nreseat adJraSs Co. Ifn',,I>n n,'5 -
Rann;stsr rre,,e rod w !, ', ,nr,, 80
game Of bidenn5 g OK tba eI haro $3.50
6cs;r;ng 10 keer ont of b;s u,;fa's 1-a,.
nj mi bsTar5s my sbc be;or ~ onu "nSS
intent mon nnaar,h;nr him Nf"S NJ
parcbmspt feIt i 70 ha h;s H., VI
Tho barnnnt =, ~ ,os, a''S "' ~ W alo
mol tar,ns Of tba;r ssp 49, an' VI ;s.
tbat tho bnShanJ ny" w s mn. "ndo oe,ng
c;rcumst,nceS - ha ,,oI n 80 aua s ny
lawyers attitnJe IN tbs ,o;nt All" ,os ' a,e
endless cnnse If nnpleasantness sS h "n
tween him and tho In 'A>'' 70
' >'N '''N ''
Mr.: Parchment was so startled AT
the idea OF Lady Bannister seeing her
HUSBANDS letter that he very nearly