Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-02
HIS FIRST CLIENT.

Capitali capital" said chorus of
laughing voices, as Mr. Stanmore, Q. c..
finished a legal anecdote he had been tell
ing, and rounded it neatly off with the
rolling laugh of the professional racon-
teur.
There was no doubt that Mr. Stanmore
was enjoying himself He was an over
worked barrister-barristers usually are
overw0rked 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
Berkshire. Most of the party had already
heard the story he had just told. In fact,
if the truth were known, 1t was rather a
we'll worn one, even to the extent of hay
ing appeared In more than one legal bio
graph, hut it was greeted with none the
less hearty applause for that. The listen
ers 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
wont of those deaf ones, still more siren
uou is than the rest.
What delightful store of anecdotes
you must have, Mr.. Stanmore" said the
hostess, smiling at him from behind her
silver tray.
80, no doubt I've come across many
queer things in my time, said Stanmore
pouring cream into his tea, with an air OF
uncti0us enjoyment.
'|How / should like to have some of
them, said Mrs. Meredith, young
widow. who. thought her intentions to-
ward NJ. Stanmore were strictly slatonic,
was certainly making the most of the few
days size was passing in his agreeable So
ciety.
''Oh, they'll come out by degrees" said
said MIR. Stanmore; you mastn t baye too
many Of them at time"
mo; We must be patient said Lady
Dugeale, Don't let Us run through all
our property at once. y
But you must not forget" said youth
who was standing with his back to the
fireplace, ''that Mrs. Clanmoris is coming
presently, and after that we shall not be
allowed to listen to any festive stories-ln
the drawing room, at any rate.
Mis- Clanmoris Who is she?" said
StanmOrA
A chorous Of various epithets answered
him. "She is SO very particular; so very
straig ht-laced; so intensely respectable; SO
extremely deco,ous
But still, don't know" said Stan-
more, with a twinkle in his eye, why
you are assuming that my stories are not
likely to be fit for the ears of the straig ft-
laced and decoTous.
That's true; | don't know why we
need. said Lady Dugdale. laughing.
Only that one imagines, said Mrs.
Meredith, that barristtr must be con-
stantly listening to dark revelations Of the
most hldeous crimes.
''Hideous crimes" said the young man
on the rug. Mrs. Clanmoris wouldn t
like that
Nv hat me is she coming?" said an
other.
Il suppose by the o'clock train said
Lady DugdaIe. She promised to let me
know. but she has not done so.
Suppose in that case we were to adj
journ to the billiard room until it is time
to dress for dinner?' said one of the
younger members of the party; and they
all troope out, filling the hall and pass
ages with the noise and laughter as they
passed along. Lady Dugdale and Mrs.
Meredith remained sitting over the fire
with Stanmore. who was much too COM
fortablh TO move.
telegram.
Shalt be with you by 5:12 train, Lady
Dugdale read aloud. "Will take a fly
from station. Clanmoris. -"
"5:15!" said Mrs. Meredith, as the SER
want left the room.
Yes; she will be here in a quarter of an
bour,'' said Lady Dugdale. 80 your
petite chronique acdadaleuse," she added.
ssx1,III I.,,,o 10 ho oE
the most rapid and sketchv dissertation,
if we are to enjoy any Of it before her
her arrival"
But this is positively awful, y said Stan
more Ito be called upon for a story at the
swords point in this way! | feel as if
were in the Arab Nights, and should
have my head cut off if | cannot produce
one"
One! you can surely tell US one, said
Mrs Meredith, imploringly with a most
| telling glance of entreaty."
You need not tell us the names, you
know, so that it can't possibly matter to
anyone, said Lady Dugdale. Tell us
something thrilling that really happened
to Yourself.
Mrs. Meredith went on: HAS some
thickiy yelled mysterious lady never came
to your chambers and tod you some dark
story of crime?"
OF course, said Lady Dugdale. L am
sure that must have happened often"
Now you mention it, said Stanmore.
laughing, ut has happened to me, but
not quite so often as you seem to think,
Lady Dugdale-only once in my reeol-
lection
Once? but that once is enough. " cried
Mrs Meredith. 30, quickly tell US about
it before those people comet
Yes. said Lady Dugdale, Il don't
think Mrs Clanmorris could bear to hear
of a lady thickly yelled; she woul dn't
think that at all nice. She would like
to be told of landy with thin veil with
black spots -
Not large ones," inte1jected Mrs.
Meredith.
No, small spots" said Lady Dugdale,
between which her responsibility could
be clearly seen-a black silk gown and a
solemn bonnet.
well, believe she had on black silk
gown and a bonnet, said Stanmore.
"She-who? 0, hcw tantaIizing you
are!' said Mrs. Meredith; do go on with
it."
Yes. Now, begin at the beginning
and 90 on to the end" said Lady Dug
dale"
End? There is no end to it. dear la
of this story-it only has beginning
| 20, this sounds better and better, -
cried Mrs. Meredith. Come, now, when
was 1t? how long ago?'
How long ago? All! a long time, >
| ca1,l Stannonro raAoot.r, o+