Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
STRANGE CLIENTS.
IBelgraviAl
PART LIN MANCHESTER.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |" said 10 my
eelf ~ don't know anybody OF that
name" Then said aloud TO my clerk !:
"Do YOU know her
"No, air. he replied.
NV praciice was not very large at that
time and Il would have been rather odd
il he knew any cbcnt OF mine who was
not personally known 10 mo. The ques-
ton was, therefore, in all probability an
indirect expression OF surprise at tho
prospect OF new client
"Very we'll" Isaid, "show her in,
plcase -: and in few seconds tall
Sonng lady, who might have been
twenty-five or twenty-three years OF age.
came into the room. She was neatly but
plainly dressed. and n glance at her
counfenance aud bearing was sufficient
10 tell me that she WAS lady, IN tho
sense of being an educated gentlewoman.
Perhaps her face was rsthor thin. but
her features were very regular, and al
together, with her dark eyes and erect
carriage, she had rather commanding
aspect
'.Will YOU cit down ?" I said when
the door was closed, motioning her to a
chair as spoke.
81 hardly know how to explain the
matter 10 YOU" she said when she was
seated. "6ut am in very diiiicuit and
painful position. and | require the ser
vices Of n solicitor at once. l am AFRAID
Won viii think / have taken very extra
ordinary way OF selecting one, but i
nm an artist by profession and do not
know any one connected with tho law,
and the matter ! wish 10 consult you
about is OF such nature that you Will
see when mention 1t why do not Wish
10 talk about it TO my friends.
! bowed and she continued
4" Well. 1 took a law list and sald to
myself j shall open IT at random and so
IN the first solicitor whose name is at the
tnp OF the left-hand page. The first
time | oDened the book 1t WIS among the
barristeTs but the second time your
name came up at tho top OF the solicit
tors.
Rather hsphazard way OF choosing
a solicitor | said, smiling; "hut l
shall I've very happy ii l can be Of any
use 10 you.
"Oh. thank you," she replied. "Now
] can tell YOU what Isy business j.. !
have been engaged for the last three
wears 10 be married 10 Mr.. John Eusts,
who was until very recently a com
mander in the royal navy. We were 70
have been married in about r MONTH
time. but this morning ! received tlai
letter. If You will read IT 1t will explain
10 you as much as ] eau.
She took letter ont OF her pocket and
handed il 70 me. AS J took IT from hen
] couid not help thinking that she had
como 10 the point IN "A very buslness-ilSe
manner indeed, for a lady. Ihe lettl
was as follows:
"FnE SADDLE HOTEL, LIVERPOOL,
Nav. 1862. Dear Nlss Constable You
will be surprised ct my addressing You
in this wav, but ] deeply regret to say
that circumstances have occurred which
make it absolutely necessary that oul
marriage should be broken off This Is
the hard md bitter truth, and it Is, per
haps, u kindness to state such truth
rs plainly and quickly as posi-
bic. The nature OF the clrcum
stances cannot tell you; they
must forever remain untold. On two
points, however. / wish to speak most
emphaticaly. TIE circumstances which
render it impossible for rs to be united
have nothing whatever to do with the
honor Of tho character Of either OF MS.
They are such as YOU could not possibly
imagine. Secondly, 1 love and respect
YOU as deeply as before, and never shal
marry any other woman. How grieycC
| am 10 have % act in this way cannot
say. 1t is my fate, and / must beal
with it. Only believe me that II you
knew the anguish 1t gives me to write
this letter. and the reason (Which must
remain untold) why l write 1t, you
would forgive me.
"As you know, I have not muci
money, but what have is yours and
YOU viii let me know what sum You vii
reqnire 10 support you while you ar,
making your way in your profession
shaa send it to you if / possibly can
Believe that I shall ever be your sincere
friend. and that | shall remain now, a
have always been, yours dsvotedly,,,
"JoHE EUsTs."
"Have Won written to him 2" asked
when had read this letter.
mo" she replied. THAT Is JUS
what | was afraid to do. l am very poor
and want some money, of course but
want much more to find out what has hap
peped. and where he IS gOlng-for tina
he is leaving the country feel sure
though | cannot say why. l was airal'
that if / wrote he would merely send III
what | asked for and go.
4 ,,..e 18th a vioU ~ my tFVlnl
TO find out what has made him write thu
letter that you consulted me Z" SAID.
Exactly"
81 am afraid I could only do tina
bv going to Liverpool to see HIM, ! re
marked, after minutes reflection
"But You could do that almost as well
if not, perhaps. better yourself.
81 don't think So" she answered
"But, even if gould, | should certainl,
not 90. 1t would not be very dlgnltie'
OF me to 60 all the way to Liverpool Il
force myself upon him after receiving
such letter as that
81 beg your psrdon, l interrupted
81 quito appreciate your objection
What had occurred TO me was that n
may get suspicious and retlcentt II h
finds that he is dealing with a lawyer
while he might speak more frankly wit
anybody else"
.No, no." was her reply; "you d
not know him, of course, but he
always the same. He means what b
GAYS, and his speaking to lawyer woul'
not make any difference. Ho would b
lust as outspoken."
"Then l had better write him afriend
" letter, saying that / propose to g
down to Liverpool tomorrow Afternoon
10 consult with him as 10 the provisio
he intends to make for you. That wi
perhaps be tho best way to put 1t I
him." said meditatively. elf / ca
see him you may depend that l shall d
all / can to find out what the myster
connected with this letter isl
The result OF some further converse
ton was that we arranged that was I
write TO Mr.. Eustis at once and to go b
amidday train next day TO Liverpool I
see HIM il possible. 1 gathered fror
(axy hmm ~