The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-17

pretty and youthful widow and disap-
pears with her within the coy parlor.
How long has Mrs. McLane been
packing?" asks Mrs. Parry, presently,
of the maid.
"How long, mum? Oh, two or three
days only, though we got down the
trunks, mum, on Wednesday last" is
Annette's reply.
-Four trunks and four days packing
| to spend a week or so at frontier
post" says Mrs. Parry to herself, with
increasing wrath. Then turning, she
sweeps through the hallway with the
mien of an offended queen, passes the
parlor door with barely glance at
the bright, CHEEKY interior, let's herself
out with snap and slam, and stands
angrily tapping her daintily booted
foot on the rug in front of the cage I'M
| til the elevator noiselessly answers her
signal and then lowers her to the mo-
sale pavement of the ground floor. ITO
Mr.. Parry's Office" she says to the
| coachman, as she enters the waiting
carriage, and is whirled rapidly away
down the avenue, past the dancing
waters of the lake.
Ned" she cries, 20 minutes later, as
she precipitates herself into Mr.. Par
rvs ground-glass citadel at the rear
of the big Office, what am to do? Fan
is actually packed and ready to start
for Fort Sedgewick-where Mr.. Mer-
riam is stationed!"
Ned turns slowly toward her, trying
rot to show in his deep-brown eyes how
pleased he is at the sight of his hand
some helpmeet. "The first thing you
have to do, Mrs. Parry, when you come
to this Office for advice is to pay the
customary retaining fee," he responds,
as he takes her carefully-gloved hand
in his and bends forward for kiss.
She recoils, pleased, yet provoked. He
should have been startled at her reve-
lation, even though he did wish for her
kiss.
as that the customary retaining fec,
sire" she asks, demurely, forgetful for
the moment of the portentous news
she brings. 81 heard you had quite a
number of feminine clients"
$50 many that my partners find it
difficult to straighten out their ac-
counts as do their stories. Pardon me,
Mrs. Parry, did you say was retained?
If So" and the junior member of the
distinguished firm of Greene, Rayburn
& Parry again bends downward toward
the glowing face.
you're absurd, Ned, if that's what
you mean," replied Mrs. Parry, secretly
delighted at the lover-like ways of her
lord. "I've "A mind not to pay-any-
thing. You shouldn't charge members
of the family"
81 don't" he answers, reflectively, "in
all cases. There's Aunt Mildred, fol in
stance, and Aunt Charlotte and grand
ma, but you and Fan now"
Fan! Why should she k--consult
you?"
"Why, do you know, Lot, I've never
once asked her. She might select some
other fellow in the firm and ll-consult
him.
Ned, you're simply horrid now. I
never did like you when you tried to be
funny. You know l never interrupt
you here unless I'm troubled about
something, and you're just laughing at
me instead of sympathizing," and Mrs.
Ned pretends to pull away her hands,
but conspicuously fails.
Zone of the first principles OF my
large and successful practice, Mrs.
Parry, is to secure prepayment of the
retaining fee in all cases where have
reason to believe the client will sub
sequently act contrary to my advice.
When you have All, that will have to
do, l presume, though it came with a
bad grace. And now you say Fan is
going to Sedgwick?"
"Yes, and Randy Merriam's hardly
been married month longer than Mr..
McLanes been dead"
| astounding coincidence! But Bran
| dy is married, isn't hep"
Brandy. Ned, not Brandy-how your
mind runs to such things!"
well, toward five p. m. the firm does
feel like running to such things, my
best beloved, and is only deferred from
doing 50 by the fact that touch of the
button makes it do the running. What
shall order for you?" And Mr.. Parry
transfers her Left hand to its mate re-
posing in his left, and stretches forth
the right toward his desk.
II want nothing" she answered, 'but
advice, and no more nonsense. Ned,
appealing,y, "what ought to do? Whst
can do?"
"Are you sure you can do just what
tellyou, Lott" he asks, fond light play.
ing in his eyes, despite the half-teas-
ing smile.
"Of course I can. Don't I-always?'
stanccs-But you will do just what ]
say?"
Eyes, Ned, I Will"
"Then, your ladyship, let her go ant
don't worry. don't, haven't, bit"
"Why, then you have known she was
going has told you?"
"She hasn't. l learned it from Swim
burne"
"When?"
"Three days ago"
"And you never told me, Ned!" re
proachfully.
"Factl" says Ned, sagely and senten
tiously. "You would have protested
. She would have been the more obsti