The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-08-18
THE CITY LADY
Chapter 20


The man who was in the same law
ONCE with Morton was about 45 or So
He was supposed to know lot and
keep his mouth shut" to use the COM
the town. He acted as justice of the
peace, did odd legal jobs, now and then
took a real case.
But legal affairs were never very
complicated or exciting in Norris City,
house deeds, mortgages, sales, wills,
once in awhile a petty law suit were
almost al that came his way. But he
was supposed to have something tidy
salted away to use another descrip-
tive term, so the lack of expensive fees
did not trouble him, And he took out
his love of excitement by reading the
widest detective stories and going
faithfully TO every new film at the "Es-
planade." For the rest, he was six feet
and stoutish with gray hair and a
gray moustache parted in the middle
and dropping lankly on each side. This
was Jacob Innisley.
Dora knew him slightly She knew
he took a great interest in Morton, and
was coaching his law studies. Morton,
meantime, was making a small salary
as a clerk in the firm.
Morton was doing the honors.
Mrs. Gates, may l present Miss
Nicholson
Dora had never known such a cere-
monious introduction She held out a
hand that had gone ice cold, as usual,
from nervousness. 1t was caught in a
firm and friendly clasp, and Mrs. Gates
said:
I'm so glad to meet you, Miss Mich
olson. You know my cousin, Mr.. Innis-
ley, of course? And my small son,
Francis"
The little lad looked up at her with
solemn dark eyes. Dora felt a sudden
impulse to take him in her arms. He
was the prettiest and the most appeal
ing child she had ever seen. In her
half shy glance at him, she saw the
vast difference that lay between his
raleness and delicacy, and the robust
and sometimes raucous children of her
friends
Mrs. Gates was chatting meantime
Morton, you don't mind being called
that, do you? I'm sure I'm old enough
to be your mother-Morton has been
telling me wonderful tales of a house
full of old furniture you have here
I'm decorator, you see (Dora didn't
she had never heard of a decorator)
and wondered whether I could per
suade you to part with any"
This was a way of buying, Dora an
swered that it wasn't hers, but her
aunts, who was away. Mrs. Gates
would have to wait and see her
But I'd love to show it to you. It's
such fun to show it to people that like
it," she added.
They explored the small house to
gether. Dora walked as far from Nor
ton as possible. Did he remember
their first visit? The thick volume OF
speeches they had read, lay on the win,
dow sill where they first found it. The
door to the tumble down house opened
TO a push-rain had come in all the
broken windows.
What crime to let these things go
to ruin" Mrs. Gates murmured to her
cousin. But Dora heard and answered =:
I've pushed the things I liked best
into corners where they would be pro
tected." And she began pulling out
chairs and cradles and broken tables
Mrs. Gates bent forward eagerly
Some she admired-"that's ordinary
This cutting is most unusual. Jacob, dc
YOU see the veining in the birds claw
on this leg? Probably imported-by
the tone of the wood | should say il
was 1850, but they weren't doing such
delicate work here at that time-pos
sible a European cabinet maker who
had emigrated. It's hard to tell"
How do you know all this? I've
wondered so about these, but the lib