The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-02
Seleet Story.
A LAWYERS LOVE AFFAIR.
CHAPTER 1.
BY ASHMORE RUSSIAN.


Mr.. Alfred Marshall, of the firm of
Colne, Valley & Marshall, solicitors of the
Supreme Court, had risen from clerk
ship to bejunior partner in that well known
firm by industry, ability and discretion
particularly the last
During three years OF so he had been
writing letters periodically and quite auto
matically to Mrs. Maylord, always 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 reconsider the
decision she came to at the time Of your
marriage. We are yours truly,
"Colne, Valley & Marshall. "
The first instructions had been received
a long time ago. Since then, at inter-
walls of about three months, letters ad
dressed to Mrs. Fairfax had been for
warded to the firm, with the brief intima-
ton: "Please acknowledge as before. "
Nobody in the office had ever troubled to
read those long, closely written sheets, or,
if some inquisitive clerk perused them, he
said nothing about the fact. Certainly
Mr.. Marshall had never read more than
the signatures Having carried out his
instructions, which were definite, Mr..
Marshall added each letter as it came to
the bundle kept in drawer of his desk,
tied the red tape in neat bow, replaced
kha ,ooalyaf on1 tho,,frht ahnI,t
But this was not to continue.
A day arrived when having penned the
usual formal acknowledgements of lengthy
epistle and signed it for the firm, his at
tention was drawn to the name which he
had written mechanically at least half a
score of times before.
'Maylord- p he reflected.
cit would be u coincidence if she were the
little widow 1 met at the Bagleys' st..
Anne's Grove, Streatham.' 1t was at
Streatham, of course. Wonder if she S
the same? Really l should very much
like to know.
Impelled by curiosity, or something
stronger, Mr.. Marshall brought out the
packet of Mrs. Maylord' letters and read
every one of them.
They were written by daughter to her
mother, craving forgiveness in terms that
would have melted the heart of grind
stone, if it had one. ooh, my mother, -
one of them ran, eff I could only be a
child again. 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 agol Oh, if you
would only see me, let me touch your
hand, I should be so happy! All the
world would be so bright. Every night,
every morning, I pray that l 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:
ssMadam-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 will be so good as to call
at this Office and ask for Mr.. Marshall,
that gentleman will be pleased to see you. y
Punctually at $50 next morning the
junior partner was in his place. At 10
o'clock the commissionaire brought in a
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 Bagley's The recog-
milton was mutual
"We have met BEFORE she said. 81
did not know you were Mr.. Marshall Of
this firm.
"You see I am-Alfred Marshall of the
stony hearted firm of Colne, Valley &
Marshall. Believe me, | never felt
ashamed of it before. asked you to call
Mrs. Maylord-'
"Has my mother forgiven me?" she in
terrupted, the pretty face lighting up with
a smile which the Junior partner thought
adorable.
II hope she will" he answered. 81
asked you to call because wished to show
you something" Opening the packet he
took out a couple Of papers and handed
them to her. "Those are the instructions
upon which we have been acting for about
three years. You see they are signed
'Letitia Fairfax Is that your mother s
handwriting?'
Mrs. Maylord rose involuntarily; the
papers fell from her trembling hands.
s'No-noP' she exclaimed.
'.That's why I'm ashamed of this firm,
not excluding the junior partner, said
Mr.. Marshall, picking up the letters.
'sBut why-what does it mean?''
ssThat we ought to have suspected it
before. We ought to have known that
no mother couldresistsuch appeals That
no member of the firm had ever read the
pathetic letters he did not think it neces-
sorry mr. desirable To tell her. edo Won