Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1890-12-16

.,@a ! rIpI,0 b Sad' re.
manned in Amer
lea this summer instead of going to
Europe, | should have kept my place of
refuge as much a secret from you as from
the rest of our set.
| am supposed to be-anywhere. |
/ had to communicate with my banker
/ the other day, and several letters were
/ forwarded to me. One of my corre-
| spondents hoped that | was enjoy
/ ing myself in Switzerland; another
that my Western trip might not en-
amour me too much with that section
OF the country and lose me TO New
York; another had inclosed the letter
to the banker with the request that he
would direct il to my hotel in Paris.
Nobody knows just where | am; and no
body suspects that l have quietly
snealxed off here without servants,
dresses or money to q little secluded
cottage a mile or two from Oyster Bay
town. and that have been spending
whole month with no oompanionship but
that OF my old nurse Harriet and her
husband, William Sayer.
The day told you / was going to
creep out OF sight Of the world for
few weeks, we were 50 interrupted by
your preparations for going abroad, and
our talk was so vague, that | feel that l
owe you great deal Of explanation.
You will remember, dear Clara, what
a shock my fathers sudden death was
to me- True, We had never been more
to each other than acquaintance, and
realized long ago that my chief charm
to him was the certain snowy quality l
possessed, which made money spent on
me seem well invested. l had often
longed for change, but when 1t came
and / found myself alone in that great
Fifth avenue house of ours, grew mol
ancholy and unhappy.
/ was too listless to attend TO business
matters, nothing reused me, and the
change which DIR. Wood recommended
TO me as a nerve restorer after the shock
! had sustained when my father was
brought home killed by the fall from his
undertaken.
was in this morbid state when my
lawyer called on me.
miss Van Cortland" he said, 'it Is
almost the beginning of July; your
father has been dead month now: don't
you think you had better attend TO your
affairs and leave town."
what is there TO attend TOP" l asked.
"Your fathers will. for instance"
81 suppose as am the only child and
heir that that is mere matter Of FORM"
~ 81 n Ia II
am delighted to be able TO approach you
at last on the subject Of the will, for
your continual refusal To be made aware
of its contents was singularly embarras- /
sing to me-"
I'm what way?" asked. my father
has not left me peaniless, | suppose?"
Not quite" said the lawyer, dryly.
j sprang to my feet.
Tell mo what you mean?" l de-
manded.
THE fact is, my dear young lady, that
your father did not appreciate the so
lidity of your character, and he was for
several months before his death tor
mented with the idea that il you once
had control Of your fortune, you would
throw IL away on some foreign duke, or
Italian prince. IL has
been mis- one thought TO find means of
you after his death, as easily
as during his life"
/ could not speak as the lawyer ceased,
but sat watching him with anxious eyes
till / should know the worst. IL seemed
to be an interminable time before he had
coughed, and wiped his glasses, and con-
tinued his story.
Under these circumstances, he said
at last, she was not long in finding a
means whereby the money and posi-
ton, of which he was so proud, could
not only remain in the country, but in
the family"
IL don't understand you!' gasped.
I'm other words, Miss Van Cortland.
he found husband for you"
'For me!' ! said, angrily.
'You have cousin, first cousin,
the son OF brother OF your father, who
was disowncd and discarded by your
grandfather In consequence of his hav-
ing married . very "stimable and charm
ing iadc who had once hccn on tho
sfa'.o Won" "1"' was Mt vnrv sue
cessful in business, but with the help Of
his good wife managed to give your
cousin an excellent college education,
md the young man has been for some
years in the employ of very respect
sble downtown firm, and bears high
reputation for honesty and integrity.
Your father searched out all these facts
lbout your cousin, and thereupon de-
'ided that he would make an ideal nus.
'and for you; ami, IN pursuance OF this
dea, he has left you mis- entire fortune
contingent on your marrying your
'ousin, Pryor ID. Van Cortland. In the
went OF your refusing to make the de-
tired marriage, your fathers whole
property is to be divided among certain
,hari les"