The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-08-16
HIS FIRST CLIENT.
A Story of Young Barrister Which
Had an Unexpected Ending.

Boston True Flag.
Capital capital ~ said chorus OF laugh
ing voices, as Mr.. Stanmore, O. c., finished a
legal anecdote he had been telling and rounded
it neatly off with the rolling laugh of the pro.
fessional raconteur.
There was no doubt that Mr.. Stanmore was
enjoying himself. He was an overworked
barrister-barrster usually are overworked,
unless they are starving; there is apparently
no middle course-and it was extremely pleas
ant for him to come down for an absolute
change of scene and ideas to Lady Dugdales
country house In Berkshire.
Most of the party had already heard the
story he had just told. In fact, if the truth
were known, it was rather well worn one,
even to the extent of having appeared in more
than one legal biography, but it was greeted
with none the less hearty applause for all that.
The listeners at the further 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 strenuously than
the rest
ssWhat q delightful store of anecdotes you
must have Mr.. Stanmore p' 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 en-
joyment.
s'How should like to hear some of them"
said Lady Meredith, young widow who, al
though her intentions toward Mr. Stanmore
were strictly platonic, was certainly making
the most of the few days she was passing in
his agreeable society.
''Oh, they'll come out by degrees,'' said
Mr.. Stanmore. ''You mustn't have too many
of them at time. "
s'No. we must be patient" said Lady Dug
dale. "Don't let us run through all our
property at once.o
ssBut you forget" said youth, who was
standing with his back to the fireplace, "that
Mrs. CIanmorris is coming presently, and
after that we shall not be allowed to listen to
nyfestive stores-ln the edrawing-room, at any
rate.'
ssMrs. Canmorris Who is she ?" said Stan
more.
chorus Of various epithets answered him.
"She is so very particular" $50 very straight
laced" $50 intensely respectable" $50 ex-
tremely decorous.n
"But still don't know" said Stanmore,
with twinkle in his eyes, ''why you are as
suming that my stories are not likely to be fit
for the ears of the straight-laced and decor
ous.'
'sThats true; don't know why we need"
said Lady Dugdale, laughing.
0Only that one imagines," said Mrs Mere
dith, ''that barrister must be constantly
listening to dark revelations of the most
hideous crlmes.o
'sHideous crimes % said the young man on
the rug. "Mrs. Clanmorris wouldn't like
that.''
''What time is she coming ?'' said another.
~ suppose by The O'Clock train" said
Lady Dugdale. "She promised to letme know,
but she has not done So"
Suppose in that case we were to adjourn
to the billard-room until 1t is time to dress for
dinner ?n said one of the younger members of
the party, and they all trooped out, filling the
hall and passages with noise and laughter as
they passed along. Lady Dugdale and Mrs.
Meredith remained sitting over the fire with
Stanmore, who was much too comfortable to
move.
At this moment servant came in with
telegram.
'Shall be with you by 5:15 train" Lady Dug
dale read aloud "Will take fly from station.
ClanmorriS"
stFive-ffteen ~ said Mrs Meredith, as the
servant left the room.
''Yes, she will be here in quarter of an
hour" said Lady Dugdale $50 your petite
chronique seandaleuse," she added, smiling at
Stanmore, twill have to be of the most rapid
and sketchy description II we are to enjoy any
of it before her arrival.n
'But this is positively awful" said Stan
more, 'to be called upon for story at the
swords point In this way feel as if were
head cut off IL 1 cannot produce one.''
''One You can surely tell us one," said
Mrs. Meredith imploringiy, with most tell
ing glance of entreaty
nYou need not tell us the names, you know,
so that it can't possibly matter to any one,''
said Lady Dugdale. "Tell us something
thrilling that really happened to you"
Mrs. Meredith went on: "Has some thickly
yelled mysterious lady never come to your
chambers and told you some dark story Of
crime ?'
''Of course" said Lady Dugdale, 81 am sure
that must have happened often"
"Now you mention it' said Stanmore
laughing, sit has happened to me, but not
quite so often as you seem to think, Lady Dug
dale-only once IN my recollection"
''Once? But that once is enough" cried
Mrs. Meredith "Oh, quickly tell us about it
before those people come"
"Yes," said Lady Dugdale, 81 don't think
Mrs. Clanmorrls could bear to hear of lady
thickly yelled. She wouldn't think that at
all nice. She would like to, be told of lady
with thin veil with black spotsn--