Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-04-19
New York Ledger.

VA 10y bc INC Jul
ExZ game fit for u
gentleman. There were few of his ac-
quaintances who could cope with him,
and but one of them who could match
him fairly. That was James Bittles,
his lawyer. 1t was close contest
between the tWo-first one ahead and
then the other.
Bittles stood high at the bar, but
he mainly won and retained Archer's
confidence by his ability as a chess
player. He was barely 40, and
Archer maintained that by the time
he reached 60 he would surpass all
those around.
Archer had Il daughter-his only
child. Her father had married late
in life, and ten years after the birth
of the girl her mother had died Let
ty held place in his heart next to
chess itself. A bright, lively and pref
ty girl was Lefty Archer, and she
would be an heiress to something
over a million. Her father feared
she would become the prey ola for
tune hunter, and endeavored to
avert it by the provisions of his will.
He neglected to execute his testa-
ment, however, until Lefty was near
Iy twenty years old, and spinster
still. 1t was none too soon, for the
week after he died suddenly OF an
apoplectic fit.
When the will was openend it
was found that Bittles was named
sole executor and constituted guardi-
an of BETTY until she was 81. and
trustee OF all the estate, real and per-
sonal The conditions of the trust
were that, if Lefty married with the
consent of Bittles, the trustee was
to turn over to her all the prop
erty on the day OF the wedding and
so long as she remained unmarried
after 81 to pay her the rents and the
interest as they accrued; but II she
married without his consent, she
was to receive only five thousand a
year, and the residue of the estate
beyond that necessary to secure this
payment was to he conveyed to a
third party or her heirs. This third
party was described as:
catherine Sinclair, daughter Of
Gordon Sinclair, now or late of the
city of Baltimore, and the state oil
Maryland, ifshe be still single; or, if
she be a married woman, then to the
said Catherine Sinclair, by whatever
name she may be now known, to her
and her heirs forever"
A further provision was that in case
the said Catherine Sinclair, by what
ever name she might be known, was
dead, and had left an heir or heirs,
the property over and above the re-
served amount in the contingency
mentioned was given, devised and be-
queathed to him, her or them.
Who Catherine Sinclair or her father
was, Lefty could not tell, nor could
the lawyer, but it was suggested
that it was anearly flame of Archer's.
Some thought that the possible leg
aztec was mythical, and brought for
ward to scare Lefty from making an
imprudent match. But the power OF
Bittles in the matter was asabsolute
as pen and ink could make it.
Bittles proved himself to be q Wig
liant guardian and a careful trustee
.guarding his ward against adj
venturers, and managing the estate
with prudence and yigor. Everything
went well until about ten months
after Archer's death. Then the cur
rent Of affairs rippled q little. Lefty
aud Bittles both fell in love-Letty
with Car ter Cooke, q young man who
belonged to what, before the late war,
was known as zone Of the first fami-
lies of Virginia" and Bittles, in spite
of his forty-one years, with Lefty,
who did not care o snap for him,
looking upon the middle aged bach
elor as O venerable person, and be-
slowing her heart upon his youngest
rival. Love is like the measles, and
If we be attacked with it in middle
age, the disorder assumes anaggrav-
nted form. Bittles had avery severe
attack indeed.
Lefty might well be excused for
Teciprocating the feelings of Car
ter Cooke. The young man was
not only by blood, but by cul-
ture and associations, gentleman,
with no censurnble habits, and with
polished manners. Ee had well
proportioned figure, as veil us n
face; nnd ha did not even
1roo his RS, us so many OF the tide
water Virginians 40. He was well
liked in New York, where he went
lhout half Of the year; and though
rot by any means % fifth as rich as