Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-06-12

said StanmOre; that's tho worst OF this
story-it only has a beginning"
"Oh, this sounds better and BETTER"
cried Mrs. Meredith. Come, now, when
was it? how long ago?"
allow long? All, a long time" said Stan
more, rejecting. "Let me see, thirty-no,
nearer thirty-five--years ago. I was not
much over twenty"
The two women exchanged glances of
amusement as they saw him fairly en-
barked upon the story.
"My uncle, James Stanmore," the mar
rator went on, twas a barrister, a most
successful one-a man who had Il reputa-
ton of father confessor almost among the
people who knew him-full of tact, SYM
pathy and discretion, as we'll as firmness
and decision. Just after l had left Oxford
l was at his chambers late one winters af-
ternoon, waiting for him to come in, when
there was q hurried knock at the outer
door. opened it, and a woman-'n
shrouded female figure l believe, is the
consecrated term-ca1ae hurriedly into the
room.
"'Mr. Stanmore?' That is my name,'I
said. But she said, apparently taken
aback, you are so very young I sup
pose it was my uncle, Mr.. James Stanmore,
you expected to see,' ! replied. Yes, it
was; it was indeed. l wanted to see him
particularly. How soon will he be mp L
really haven't an idea,' I said. Oh she
cried distractedly, what shall l do?' Can
l give him any message? l said, or will
you write a ~letter?' No, no; won't write
she said incoherently. Il wanted to see him
himself-to tell him about it and ask his
advice. Oh, what shall 1 do?' and she COW
cred her face with her hands,"
"How ~thrilling!' murmured Mrs. Mere
dith.
81 was thrilled" said Mr.. Stanmore,
"and, l must shy, extremely anxious to
know what had happened to her."
"Was she pretty?" inquired Mrs. Mere
dith.
II couldn't see her face in the least"
said Stanmore, 'for, besides having a thick
veil, she stood with her back to the win
dow, and the room was growing darker
every moment. For one moment she stood
silent; then, conscious, perhaps, that l had
no means of identifying her, she said: 4
will tell you. must lave some advice,
some sympathy; but, mind, l am counting
Oh your silence II discretion | need not
say" said Stanmore again, with u twinkle
in his eye, with what fervor l swore to
obey her commands.
"She then, in a low and hurried voice,
told me her tale. which was certainly a
piteous one enough. She had left her home
during her husbands absence-left her
home and her child, as she thought, for
ever. Then suddenly on the eve of quit
ting England she had realized-partly, at
any rate-the full horror of the future
stretching before her, and with a desperate
idea of, at all events, becoming the legal
r,sfa IF fho wan, x,s&1 ,ulo~. IL. L1 ---L
in her lot, she made up her mind to urn
to my uncle, of whose wise and under
standing kindness she had heard, and find
out from hin if it were possible to be-
come free from the husband she had left"
"Of course it was not" said Lady Dug
dale, soto voce.
"Of course not" said Stanmore: $50
much I knew even then. told her So, and
told her that unless her husband chose to
take steps she was powerless to regain her
freedom. She was staggered by the blow.
Are you quite sure of this?' she asked.
Absolutely certain I replied. "And then,
in a burst of imprisoned eloquence,'
Stanmore went on, in which could doubt
less be discerned the germs of that forensic
~eloquence afterward so justly famous, ~
put before her-prompted by l know not
what passionate regret at seeing her young
life destroyed-the future, the only future
for which she could hope, and implored
her to go back to her home while there was
yet time. Her husband was not to return
till the next day, SO that the evil she had
done was not past redemption, so far us his
peace of mind and her fair name were con-
cerned. She listened in silence, then burst
into a torrent of tears.
h you,' she said, as she turned to.
ward the door. In spite of your youth and
lnexperience you have done me a service
tonight which l shall never forget. l see
you are prepared to follow your uncle's
footsteps. | have been told that he is a
wise, good man. My modesty, which has
always been excessive" said Stanmore,
with a smile, twas somewhat abashed at
this, and in order to turn it off l said light
ly, oh, yes, I'm going to be a barrister
too, some day. In fact I feel as if l had
begun my career tonight-you are my first
CLIENT She held out her hand to me ST.
lently, and went away"
And them" said Mrs. Meredith eagerly.
"That's ALL" said Stanmore. II know
nothing more"
Nothing more?" said Lady .Dugdale.
did you never hear of her AGAIN."
"Never," said Stanmore; ''never saw her
or heard of her. And if I had l could not
have recognized her features, which !
never saw; nor her voice, which was
hoarse and strangled with sobs; nor her
name, which l never heard. So l am afraid
that now l must make up my mind that
that story is to be forever unfinished.
have told you all I am ever likely to know
of it,"
And just in time" said Lady Dugdale,
as a pealing ring at the hall bell sounded
through the house.
"There she is!'' said Mrs. Meredith.
The butler threw open the drawing room
door and announced "Mrs. Clanmorris."
An atmosphere of social influence ant
unimpeachable position seemed to accom-
pany the newcomer into the room. Hel
clothes were a certificate in themselves
the handsome long dark cloak of stamped
velvet, trimmed with the most expensive
fur; the suitable middle aged bonnet.
Lady Dugdale, after welcoming her eff
fusively, proceeded to make her known tx
the rest of the party. Mrs. Clanmorri
acknowledged Mrs. Meredith's bow will
measured g~raciousness; then, as Lad.
Dugdale pronounced Stanmore's name, ;
very unexpected thing took place. For tn