Evening journal., 1891-06-18
HIS FIRST CLIENT.

"Captal capitalr' said chorus OF
laughing voices, as Mr.. Stanmore, @. c.,
finished a legal anecdote he had been tell
ing, and rounded it neatly off with the
rolling laugh OF the professional rAconteur
There WAS no doubt that Mr.. Stanmore
was enjoying himself He was an over
worked barrister-barrister usually are
pverworked unless they are starving; there
Is apparently no middle course-and It was
extremely pleasant to him TO come down
FOR an absolute change of scene and ideas
TO Lady Dugdale's country house in Berk.
shire
Most Of the party had already heard the
story be had just told In fact, If the truth
were known, II was rather a well worn
0ne, even TO the extent Of having appeared
In more than one legal biography, but il
was greeted with noue the less hearty ap.
plause for all that The listeners at the
Farther end Of the room, who had not quite
caught the point, and some who had
caught the point without having heard the
beginning, laughed, as Is the won't OF those
deaf ones, still more strenuously than the
rest
"What delightful store Of anecdotes
you must have, Mr. StanmorePi said the
hostess, smiling AT him from behind her
silver tray
"Oh no doubt I've come across many
queer things in my time" said Stanmore,
pouring cream into his tea with an air OF
unctuous enjoyment
-How ! should like to hear some OF
them" said Mrs. Meredith, a young
widow who, although her intentions to-
ward Mr.. Stanmore were strictly platonic,
was certainly making the most Of the few
Ia. tr. n 1.
ciety.
"oh they'll come out by degrees" said
Mr. Stanmore, you mustn't have too
many OF them at a time"
mo, we must be patient,n said Lady
Dugdale. Don't let us run through all
our property at once"
''3ut you forget" said youth, who was
standing with his back TO the fireplace
''that Mrs Clanmorris is coming presently
and after that we shall not be allowed to
listen TO any festive stories-in the drawing
room al any rate
Mrs clanmorrisl who IS shef" said
Stanmore
A chorus OF various cpithets answered
him She is so very particular" $50 very
straitlaced:" so intensely respectable;'
ESQ extremely decorous."
But still don't know" said Stanmore
Will y lAfhhit III t1ts WHY you 0It Aa'
sumlng that my stories are not likely TO bt
1t fer the ears Of the straitlaced and deco
rous
"That's true. l don't know why We
need, said Lady Dugdale. laughing
"Only that one imagines,n said Mrs
Meredith. that barrister must be con
stantly listening to dark revelations Of th'
most hideous crimes
"Hideous crimesP said the young mar
on the rug Mrs. Clanmorris wouldu'
like that"
"what time Is she eoming'" said an
other
II suppose by the O'Clock train, sait
Lady Dugdale. 'She promised TO let m,
know but she has not done so"
Suppose ia that case we were Co adjourn
to the billiard room until il is time 70 dres
for dinnerr said one Of the younger mem
bers Of the party. aud they all trooped out
filling the hall and passages with nois'
and laughter as they passed along Lad,
Dugdale and Mrs. Meredith remained sit
sing over the fire with Stanmore. who wa
much too comfortable TO move.
At this moment a servant came In with
q telegram
"Shall be with you by 5:i5 train,n Lad,
Dugdale read aloud "Will take ay iron
station. Clanmorris"
"Five- lfteenW said Mrs Meredith, as th
servant left the room.
"Nes, she viii be here In a quarter Of a
hour" said Lady Dugdale $50 you
petite chronique scandaleuse" she addel
smiling AZ Stanmore, "will have TO be
the most rapid and sketchy description
We are 70 enjoy any OF it before her a
rival
Bat this IS positively awful" said Star
more TO be called upon for a story at Il
sword'u point in this wayl feel as II
were IN the Arabian Nights and shoul
have my head cut OF il ! cannot produl
one
"onel You can surely tell us one" sal
Mrs. Meredith imploringly, with a mo
telling glance Of entreaty.
"lou need not tell US the names yC
know, so that It can't possibly matter
any one" said Lady Dugdale "Tell |
something thrilling that really happen,
to yourself"
Mrs Meredith went on, "Has son
thickly veiled mysterious lady never con
70 your chambers and told you some dai
story Of crimef
"Of course, said Lady Dugdale 81 a
sure that must have happened often"
Now you mention It" said Stanmor
laughing. ''it has happened to me- but n
4"AtN ~ 'AAIA a. lt4 1ICAA 70 AAAlhf A4A'
Dugdale-only once IN my recollection"
"Oncel But that once is enough" cri
Mrs. Meredith "Oh, quickly tell us abo
1t before those people come"
"Yes, said Lady Dugdale Il dor
think Mrs Clanmorris could bear to he
Of a lady thickly veiied She wouldl
think that at all nice. She would like
be told OF lady with a thin veil wi
black spots"-
"Not large ones. interjected Mrs. Me
dith.
''No, small spots,p said Lady Dugda
between which her respectability could
clearly seen--a black silk gewn and a q
emn bonnet"
We'll, ! believe she had black S
gown and bonnet" said Stanmore.
"She-whoi Oh, how tantalizing y
arei said Mrs Meredith. DO go
NTH it.
Yes Now, begin at the beginning a
20 on 70 the end. said Lady Duadale.
Endi There Is no end 70 il. dear ladie