The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-08-16

clearly See0--a Ulack SILK gown anu q Solemn
bonnetn
tWel, believe she had black silk gown
and bonnet" said Stanmore
''She--who9 Oh, how tantalizing you are!'
said Mrs Meredith sDo go on with it,"
Eyes. Now, begin at the beginning and 90
on to the end,'' said Lady Dugdsle.
END? There is no end to it, dear ladies'"
said Stanmore, ''that's the worst of this
story-it only has beginning"
''Oh, that sounds better and BETTER" cried
Mrs. Meredith. 'Come, now, when was itl
how long ago?'
'How long? Alb, a long time" said Stan
more, rejecting. "Let me see, thirty-no
nearer thirty-ive-years ago. 1 was notmuch
over twenty"
The two women exchanged glances OF
amusement as they saw him fairly embarked
upon the story.
.sMy uncle James Stanmore," the narrator
went on, "was bsrrister, most successful
one-a man who had the reputation of father
confessor almost among the people who knew
him-full Of tact, sympathy and discretion, as
well as frmness and decision. just after
had left Oxford was at his chambers late
one winters afternoon waiting for him to
come in when there was hurried knock at
the outer door. opened 1t, and woman-sa
shrouded female figure believe, is the con-
secrated term-came hurriedly into the room.
"'Mr. Stanmore p That is my name,'
said. But she said, apparently taken aback,
you are so very young'--l suppose it was
to see,' replied Yes, 1t was; it was indeed.
wanted to see him particularly. How soon
will he be In p Il really haven't any idea'
said 'Oh,' she cried distractedly what shall
dop Can give him any message p / said,
COR will you write letter? 2? No, no; l won't
write,' she said incoherently. Il wanted to
see him, himself-to tell him about it and ask
his advice. 'Oh, what shall l dog and she
covered her face with her hands.'
'How thrilling ~ murmured Mrs. Meredith.
II fH,il1 1ad said Mr
must say, extremely anxious to know what
had happened to her.'
"Was she pretty ?' inquired Mrs. Meredith.
81 couldn't see her face in the least" said
Stanmore, 'for, besides having thick veil,
she stood with her back to the window and
the room was growing darker every moment
For one moment she stood silent; then, con-
scious, perhaps, that / had no means of identi-
tying her, she said Il will tell you. / must
have some advice, some sympathy; but, mind,
am counting on your silence and discretion
need not say,' said Stanmore again, with
twinkle in his eye, 'sw.th what fervor swore
to obey her commands.
'.She then, in a low and hurried voice, told
me her tale, which certainly was piteous
one enough. She had left her home during
her husbands absence--left her home and her
child, as she thought, forever. Then sud-
denly, on the eve of quitting England, she
had realized-partly, at any rate-the full
horror of the future stretching before her,
becoming the legal wife of the man with
| whom she had castip her lot, she made up her
| mind to turn to my uncle, of whose wise and
| understanding kindness she had heard, and
| find out from him if it were possible to become
| free from the husband she had left"
'Of course 1t was not" said Lady Dugdale
| sotto voce
''Of course not" said Stanmore; $50 much
| / knew even then. l told her so, and told
| her that unless her husband chose to take
or to- ~, hast
! She was staggered by the blow. Are you
! quite sure Of thisp she asked. Absolutely
! certain replied And then in burst of i'm
| passioned eloqnence," Stanmore went on, In
| which could doubtless be discerned the germs
| OF that forensic eloquence afterward SO justly
| famous, 81 put before her-prompted by
| 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 husband 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 as his peace of
| mind and her fair name were concerned. She
| listened in silence, and then burst into tor
| rent OF tears.
''Thank you,' she said, as she turned to-
ward the door, In spite of your youth and
inexperlence you have done me service to-
night which shall never forget. | see you
| are prepared to follow you uncle's footsteps
| have been told that he was wise, good man, >
L
siye," said Stanmore, with smile, twas
somewhat abashed at this, and in order to turn
| it off said lightly, 'Oh, yes, Pm going to be
| a barrister, too, some day. In fact, feel as
| il had begun my career to-night--you are my
first client She held out her hand to me
silently and went away"
| Sand then ?" said Mrs. Meredith, eagerly
'That's all,'' said stanmore. ~ know
nothing moren
"Nothing more?" said Lady Dugdale. "Did
| you never hear of her again ?''
| "Never," said Stanmore; ''never saw her or
heard of her. And if / 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 never heard.
| So am afraid that now / must make up my
mind that that story is to be forever unfin-
ished. have told you all am ever likely to
know about it"
Sand just In time" said Lady Dugdale, as
pealing ring at the hall-bell sounded through
the house.
''There she ISL said Mrs. Meredith.
The butler threw open the drawing-room
door and announced "Mrs. Clanmorris.''
An atmosphere of social influence and un-
impeachable position seemed to accompany
the newcomer into the room. Her clothes
were certificate In themselYes-the hand
some long dark cloak of stamped velvet,
trimmed with the most expensive fur; the
suitable middle-aged bonnet.
Lady Dugdale, after welcoming her effus-
ively proceeded to make her known to the rest
of the party. Mrs. Clanmorris acknowledged
Mrs. Meredth's bow with measured gracious
ness; then, as Lady Dugdale pronounced
Stanmore's name, very unexpected thing
took place. For the first time In the memory
of the county did Mrs, Clanmorris manner
alter; that luminous atmosphere and serenity