Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-04-21

SGE6l mcrnlng Alex vincent step
AlIN ped from an elevator at the
SSaSS4ggS9 fifth landing of the Equitable
fsSSSe'" building and entered his Of
flee few yards distant.
Mr.. Vincent was handsome young
fellow of twenty-six, with a refined
face, dark eyes and mustache. He
wore light gray ove;coat and der
by hat ; he had a dandelion in his
buttonhole and carried q cane.
There was a general air of languor
and disafection about him this
morning What earthly ase was
there, he wondered, in taking the
trouble to come TO his office.
During nine months occupancy be
hadn't had dozen clients. In fact,
nothing ever came to his office but
bills and book agents, and he would
gladly have avoided both. He was
beginning to consider seriously what
he was going to do about it.
For the present however, he did
nothing but throw the window up,
and sitting down on the broad sill
gaze over the wide prospect that his
lofty height commanded. The wide
blue Charles, the low, misty hills, the
thin white clouds we're soothing. He
sat and thought about Miss Mar
quand's musicale, and dreaded 10
turn abont and face the perpetual
problem of income and expenses.
His reverie was broken by the alb
rupt opening Of the office door.
dispatch for Alex Vincent.
Thirty cents charges" sung out the
district messenger boy who confront
ed him as he turned.
1t was with feeling of near sur
prise as our philosophical young
lawyer was capable of that he tore
open the yellow envelope and read !:
" Gideon Dane was buried yester-
day. His heirs will meet for consul
tation on the 18th. You are re-
quested to be present."
The message was dated Queens
town, Va, and signed "Gwendoline
Dane"
Who, then, speculated young Vim.
cent, was Gideon Dane and who
were his heirs? His grandmother
who had died before his remembrance
was, as he recalled, a Virginian, and
her name was Dane.
This Gideon Dane might be her
relative. He went out and telegraph
ed at the end of all hours cogitation
for further information, cam I one
of Gideon Danes heirs ~ and dur
ing the day he received 5he brief an
swer, "Yon are" with the same sig
nature rs before.
1t was about the middle of the
afternoon on The 18th that AlexVin-
cent found himself at the end of his
long journey. He had come over a
single track road, by slow train, in
a common car. Among his fellow
passengers the women were sallow
and the men slovenly. He had had
bad nights rest and a poor break
fast. A good many young fellows OF
Vincent's age would have enjoyed
the novelty and adventure of the
journey, but Vincent was of a cool
fastidious temperament, critical and
fond of his comfort. Before leaving
home he had taken the precaution
to visit an elderly aunt, his mothers
sister, who in response to his inquir
les could only tell him as far as she
knew the Virginia Danes had beer
ruined by the war, and that the
northern branch of the family haC
never been able TO get along Will
them anyhow.
"They were a hot tempered set,
said the old lady, "with no manner
of reason or judgment, according tc
onr notions. But you'd better go OF
and see to what's left since they biz
you"
Vincent. as has been said, was lef
standing on the platform at Queens
town and the train moved on. 81
Was among the mountains in a will,
! and picturesque scene. 4 colore,