The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-28
lwyer, but-well, he didn't know what to


them that he was instructed by Mr. Mark
Leigh, who denied all knowledge of Miss
Stella Storey, but the letter, notyithstand-
ing the clear statement it contained, was
so worded that any one reading it would
have his doubts of the belief of the writer
in what was said There was something
about it to induce Messrs. Specker &
Spottley to read between the lines, so
to speak, which they did and treated it with
the contempt they considered it deserved
by pushing forward with their action as
fast as that cumbrous and slow moving
machine, ''the law, would allow Of
In about six months time Mr.. Mark
Leigh received a summons from Mr. Stand
well to attend at the law courts the next
morning, when the action would come on
for hearing.
''Great heavensr' he cried. ''Fancy
me, Mark Leigh, defendant in breach of
promise ease! shall be laughed off the
marketI''
But be must go. And go he did
Arriving little before TO- 30, he found
Mr.. Standwell had not yet got to the court,
30 he sauntered up and down the passages
until that gentleman should appear.
While pacing to and fro he was accosted
By a very pretty and modest looking young
lady, who evidently took him for climb
of the law
''If yon please, sir, she asked diff
dently, ''can you tell me which is the court
of queens bench?'
''It believe it is that one, he replied,
pointing to the door.
'Oh, thank you. sir, she said in a
sweet voice IL have to give evidence,
and I'm stranger.
"What remarkably nice looking, sensi-
bic, modest sort of girl, said Mr.. Mark
Leign to himself as she left him.
And now it became clear, once for all,
that he had told Mr. Standwell the truth
and knew nothing about the fair Stella
Storey, for an idea seized him and he ran
after his questioner Could this sweet
girl be the plaintiff in his action, whom he
had depicted to himself as brazen faced
Mrs. Bardell?
He touched her gently on the arm
Excuse me" he said might l
ask what action you have to give evidence
in?
They were at the door of the court,
upon which was exhibited list of the
causes to be tried, and she pointed to
''Storey versus Leigh. :"
And are you the plaintiff p
''Y-yes," she admitted ~ am Miss
Storey
II knew there must be mistake, he
cried II told old Standwell there was,
but l don think he believed me- l am
Mark Leigh, the defendant. Now, don
know, you, and you don't know me!
How comes it, then, that you are suing
me for breach of promise of marriage,
young lady?''
''You, Mr.. Mark Leigh" she exclaim-
ed. ''You are not the Mr.. Mark Leigh
whom | knew, and who prom-who
prom - And she began to cry.
She looked prettier than ever, thoug int
Mark.
'Don't cry" he said gently. "Come
over to this seat and sit down. There
been some mistake. But what it is |
can t imagine, for believe there is only
one Mark Leigh in England, and l am he "
She sat beside him, and in answer to
his questions told him how she had been
courted and deceived.
''Some fellow has been taking liberties
with my name, he said, 'that' certain.
What was he ike?'
She described him.
s'The rascalr' he cried. 1T was fel-
low named Blobkins, one of my clerks,
whom 1 discharged for dishonesty. am
really very sorry for you'll "a.
By this time the solicitors and counsel
had arrived. There were Mr.. Standwell
and his counsel, Mr. Lettmyn and Mr.
Pruvitt and Mr.. Specker and his counsel,
Mr.. Sportleigh, and Mr.. Larpher.
They were about to enter the court when
Mr.. Specker and Mr. Standwell spied
their clients at the same moment.
what this % demanded Mr. Specker
suspiciously. "Who is this gentleman,
Miss Storey p
''0h, that's the plaintiff, is it p cried
Mr.. Standwell. "That gentleman is the
defendant, Mr.. Mark Leign."
''And this is not the gentleman at all, "
exclaimed Stella. ''There has been mis-
take, and some one has deceived me and
used his name r.
"Phew p calculated Mr.. Speaker
~ wrote and told you so, but l suppose
you didn't believe me, said Mr.. Stand
well triumphantly.
"Well, I naturally thought your letter
was bluff. You'd have thought the
same r said Speaker.
''Perhaps so, but it was true, you see,
retorted Standwen.
''Well, what's to be done p asked
Speckcr.
"Oh r replied the other, blandly, ''we
must try the action, of course VIII you
submit to verdict for the defendant with
out evidence?
Something very like naughty word
escaped Mr.. Speakers lips as he saw his
vision of a fat bill of costs dissolving into
thin air But just then the usher called
the case, and they all hurried into court,
except the two principals, who had retired
to the end of the passage and were talking
animatedly together.
Mark Leign's only sister had got mar
ried recently and left his house, and he
was suffering from such plague of house
keepers and servants that he had thought
several times of trying to find wife. He
so seldom got an hour away from business,
however, and knew SO few ladies that he
was at loss how to proceed, and here was
one ready found. His business on change
had taught him the need of swapping
bargain when he came across one, and he
determined then and there to marry his