Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-28
New York Ledger.

gentleman. There were few of his &C
quaintances who could cope with him
and but one of them who could mattel
him fairly. That was James Bittles
his lawyer. 1t was a close contest
between the two-first one ahead anC
then the other.
Bittles stood high Mt the bar, but
he mainly won and retained Archer's
confidence by his ability as chess
player. He was barely 40, and
Archer maintained that by the time
he reached 60 he would surpass all
those around.
Archer had a 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 a 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 of a 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
ly twenty years old, and a 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 Lefty until she was 21, 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 if 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 n
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 OF
Maryland, if she 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
match. But the power OF
Bittles in the matter was as absolute
as pen and ink could make it.
Bittles proved himself to be a Wig
liant guardian and n careful trustee
guarding his ward against adj
and managing the estate
with prudence and vigor Everything
went well until about ten months
after Archer's death. Then the cur
rent of affairs rippled n little. Lefty
and Bittles both fell in love-Letty
with Car ter Cooke, a Young man who
belonged to what, before the late war,
was known as lone of the first fnmi-
lies of Virginia" and Bittles, in spite
of his forty-one years, with Lefty,
who did not care snap for him,
looking upon the middle aged bach
elor as venerable person, and be-
slowing her heart upon his youngest
rival. Love is like the measles, and
il we be attacked with it in middle
age, the disorder assumes an aggrav-
ated form Bttles had a very severe
attack indeed
Lefty might well be excused for
reciprocating the feelings of Car
ter Cooke. The young man was
not only by blood, but by culs
lure and associations, n gentleman,
with no censurab!e habits, and with
polished manners. He had well
proportional figure, as well as a
pleasing face; and he did not even
drop his RS, as so many of the tide |
water Virginians do. He was well
liked in New York, where he went !
about half of the year; and though
not by any means fifth as rich as |
Lefty would be possessed of a hand !
some competence. Bittles pronounc-
I'd him to be fortune hunter. and
rowned upon his suit, really because
t interfered with the one he wished |
TO make. Lefty was not of an age
10 reflect on the serious consequences
Of her guardians disapproval, and,
lad she been, her cheerful temper
would have led her to optimism.
Then Carter Cooke was a skillful chess
player, and Lefty, who had been
taught by her father, was about rs
Expert as he, which strengthened the
bond between them.
The wooing went on in spite Of the