The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-11-23

l.
Mr.. Alfred Marshall, of the firm OF
Colne Valley & Marshall, solicitors OF
the Supreme Court, had risen from
clerkship TO he junior partner in that
we'll known firm by industry, ability
and discretion particularly the last.
During three years or so he had been
writing letters periodically and quite
automatically to a Mrs Maylord, all
ways very much the same thing:
"Madam-We are instructed by our
client, Mrs. Fairfax, to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter, and to inform
you that she sees no reason to recon
slider the decision she came to at the
time of your marriage. We are yours
truly,
"Colne, Valley & Marshall"
The first instructions had been re-
ceived long time ago. Since then,
at intervals of about three months,
letters addressed to Mrs Fairfax had
been forwarded to the firm, with the
brief intimation: please acknowledge
as before" Nobody in the Office had
ever troubled to read those long, close
~ written sheets, or, if some inquisi-
tive clerk perused them, he said moth
ing about the fact. Certainly Mr.. Mar
shall had never read more than the
signatures. Having carried out his in
structions, which were definite, Mr..
MaFshall added each letter as 1t came
to the bundle kept in drawer Of his
desk, tied the red tape in neat bow,
replaced the packet, and thought no
more about it. But this was not to
continue.
; A day arrived when having penned
the usual formal acknowledgment OF
a lengthy epistle and signed it for
the firm, his attention was drawn to
the name, which he had written me-
chanically at least half a score of times
before.
"Maylord- Maylord?" he reflected.
1T would be a coincidence if she were
the little widow ! met at the Bag
leys', st, Anne's Grove, Streatham.'
1t was at Streatham, of course. Won
der If she's the same? Really | should
very much like to know"
Impelled by curiosity, or something
stronger, Mr.. Marshall brought out the
packet of Mrs. Maylord's letters and
read every one of them.
They were written by a daughter
to her mother. craving forgiveness in
terms that would have melted the heart
of a grindstone, if it had one. "Oh,
my mother" one of them ran, IF |
could only be child againI If ! could
only kneel at your feet and feel your
kiss of forgiveness on my brow, as
used to do in the days that seem so
very very long ago! Oh, if you would
only see me, let me touch your hand,
should be so happy! All the world
would be so bright Every night, every
morning, | pray that | may be for
given Mother, do forgive your daugh-
ter"
Mr. Marshall tore the reply he had
written into very small pieces and
wrote another:
'Madam-We are instructed by our
client, Mrs Fairfax, to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter, and to state
that she sees no reason to reconsider
the decision she came to at the time
of your marriage If, however, you
viii be so good as to call at this office
and ask for MIR. Marshall, that gentle
man will be pleased to see you"
Punctually at $50 next morning the
junior partner was in his place AT
10 o'clock the commissionaire brought
in card
Mrs Maylord, sir to see you. BY
appointment she says"
One glance at the slight figure in
deep mourning was enough. She was
the widow he had met at the Bag
ley's. The recognition was mutual.
I'VE have met BEFORE she said. Il
did not know you were Mr.. Marshall
of this firm
you see l am-Alfred Marshall Of
the stony-hearted firm of Colne, Val
ley & Marshall Believe me- l never
felt ashamed of it before. | asked you
to call, Mrs Maylord-"
Has my mother forgiven me?" she
interrupted, the pretty face lighting up
with a smile which the junior partner
thought adorable.
q hope she will" he answered. q