Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-08-05
you- mourning. My advice Is fos you

aud Davis seconded it with all his might.
Miss Palmer thought it over, cooliy and
| collectedly, weighing all the chances,
and finally decided that she had best fol-
low the suggestions OF her lawyer and
her lover.
In very short space of time all the
arrangements for the wedding were
completed. The Major, who was enjoy
ing a loose sort of life in town, and re-
ally bringing himself nearer to his
feigned condition than he would have
liked 70 acknowledge, was kept we'll in
formed Of aL the movements OF Davis
md Miss Palmer by Amos Maxwell,
who acted as legal adviser ON both sides.
On the eve of the marriage, the law
yer suggested the possibility Of partial
failure TO the Major.
"When they find you've recovered,
they Will use every exertion to retain
possession of their half of the estate"
said lie "and, though the terms of the
will are explicit in commanding Eliza
beth to marry according to your wishes,
yet il is very difficult to keep a legal
heiress out of her property by any such
provision III this country. III they
choose TO 90 to law and fight hard, you
will he likely to lose the suit"
"The deuce Wilt"
eyes and the court may suspect
conspiracy, too-in which case yod will
suffer. 1t would be safest for you to
get all your property out OF your hands
before You attempt such stroke"
" How shall | work it?"
"Oh, il Is easy enough make over all
vour real estate 30 some friend, for the
a., foal
least have lost nothing"
The Major, too Ignorant of law to
know whether this was sound or not, but
placing implicit confidence in Maxwell,
made over every cent he possessed to
that gentleman and expressed himself,
IN the prastnoo of several witnesses, as
greatly opposed to tho mat,'h his sister
WAS about to make--asserting that he
wonld either prevent it or keep her out.
Of har share OF the estate.
Just after tine cerom3ny had been per-
formed, Elizabeth Davis, nee Palmer, re-
ceived telegram from New York, as
foilows:
Nsw YonK, Oct. 8, 1856.
ELIZABETH PALMEn: Don't marry Davis
am recovering, aid forbid tho marriage.
CynIL PALMER
The message fell like thunderbolt
upon the newly-married couple, who had
fancied Cyril dying. Before they had re-
covered from their alarm and astonish-
mont, or decided what to do, the Major
returned--looking little worn out, per-
haps, but 10y no means SO emaciated as
they had reason to expect. His first
Communication with his sister was q dec
iaration that he should never consent to
the mitch, and, ii possible, should not
allow her a farshing.
Legal steps were Immediately taken,
and the OK officer, having seen nothing
of his crony, Maxwell, for some days,
called upon him for advice as TO the best
mode Of procedure.
81 am sorry, my dear Major, said the
cadaverously respectable little lawyer,
"but I really cannot act in your behalf
any further"
"What I"
81 have discovered that our proceed
mgs were illegal, and cannot go on
with them. Indeed, have been retained
by Mr.. Davis to conduct his side Of the
case p
The Major was the thunderstruck
party now.
"Why, you Internal little rascal, said
he, getting dangerously purple in the
iace, ''what do you N, amp Are you 60
ing to betray me2"
Don't use hard words, sir. know
my business, believe; and this is my
office"
~ know it is; and + take this op-
portunity of kicking you out of your
own premises p replied the Major. with
a terrific oath. Tho next moment
Maxwell was srrawling on the walk,
outside Of his Office door, and Palmer
was standing over him brandishing his
cane.
''Assault and battery! You shall sweat
for this - cried the lawyer.
"And you smart for it now, don't your"
said the Major, laughing griinly as he
strobe away.
He'dd not laugh long, however. On
sending to get the titles, ETC., to the
property which had been made over to
the attorney, the latter returned word
that heknew nothing about Maj. Palmer's
affairs, and cared less than he knew. The
property had been assigned in due form,
with all the necessary precautions, and
Amos Maxwell could keep it as well as
not, il lie chose. The fact dawned upon
the Majors mind, gradually, that he had
been dupe and WAS now u beggar. In
trying TO overreacii hrs sister he had been
overrcached himself. just as she had
nearly fallen victim TO her own covet-
oEs desire for his share Of the parental
ie3acy.