The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-30
FOR A. CENTURY.

popular than his ancestors But lAtterly
he had become heavily involved In debt,
leaving behind him nothing but the prac-
tice and the long leasehold Of the house
During his lifetime no whisper had as
sailed his integrity. But that very morn
ing his son had seen In neighboring So
licitor's office certain documents which re-
yealed everything-dark records there,
which, although they could not harm the
dead, would, If once disclosed, forever dis
grace the living.
Glib & Shaken knew the value of the
papers they held, and meant TO get It, For
. consideration, they said-yes, for con.
sideration-the documents would be CIV
On up to DIR. Ringwood. But the price
demanded was heavy one. He must be
prepared to quit The Cedars, of which they
were the ground landlords, at the ensuing
term.
His child wife slips to his side Sooner
or later she must know the truth. So he
! tells her all. Only once, when he speaks
| of neighboring town as their likely home
for the future, does she start instinotively.
"Oh, Maurice, to leave The Cedars and
| go to Newington-to live therel"
As the business is far too important to
be trusted to subordinate, it is Mr.. Glib
himself who is seated next morning in the
library at The Cedars, his black bag by
his side. After few commonplace he
comes to business.
Here, DR.. Ringwood, he says, handing
over foolscap envelope with some inclo-
sures; "here are the documents you have
already seen. Better assure yourself that
they are all right. And this, again, Is the
formal notice to quit these premises at
Lady day, which requires your sigma
ture by way Of acceptance AS you are
aware, clause in the deeds Of the lease
hold provides for Its termination at any
time in this manner"
Poor Ringwood soon satisfies himself
that the papers are in order. He pauses
meditatively, however. A strong tempta-
ton assails him at that moment to seize
the papers and expel their rascally posses.
sor on the spot. But he restraints himself.
At this moment his wife comes into the
room, with the slightest of bows In Mr.
Gibbs direction.
"You don't mind me, do you, Mauricef"
she asks shrinkingly.
Certainly not love-" answers her hus.
band. So she leans over his chair. While |
heis looking over the other papers she alb |
sently toys with the notice to quit, which |
lies open ON the table. Whether her hand |
trembles as she fingers 1t, or whether |
slight breeze from the open easement |
causes 1t to fall from the table, no one can |
tell, but the paper flutters for moment
In the air. then falls on the blazing fire.
"Oh, what have I donef' cries Dot dis
tractedly.
Don't put yourself about, ma am" in
terposes the solicitor blandly. "It's of no
consequence whatever-only simple no.
t1ce, which can easily be replaced"
In ordinary circumstances he would at
once have returned to his office and had
fresh notice written out. But delay in
this instance may be dangerous DR.. Ring
wood seems to be in a hesitating humor.
Better, then, to strike while the iron is
hot.
IF you will oblige me with sheet Of
paper, ma am, he continues, II will draft
fresh notice. A mere memorandum will
serve" he adds, turning to Ringwood,
And, If you wish, it can be extended
afterward."
Dot silently pushes stationery case to.
ward him, from which he extracts sheet
of note paper. 1t is headed 1.-The Cedars,
Rockingham, and ruled space Is left un.
derneath for the date. He rapidly drafts
a notice to quit, las at Lady day next en-.
suing after date hereof" appending the
usual form Of acceptance, to be signed by
the tenant
The surgeon looks over the paper handed
him with mist before his eyes-his hand
trembles as he writes his signature, "Mau.
rice Ringwood."
Silently the surgeon locks the document
in drawer "At last" be says to him
self-"at last, but at what pricel'
"This Is your birthday, Maurice" says
his wife at the breakfast table next morn
ing. 80 here Is your cadsaui''
She laugbingly hands him an oblong
packet. He opens It, Nothing within but
q goodly number of quires of note paper,
printed with the familiar heading of 1.-THE
Cedars"
He looks up inquiringly, "Why, what is
this, darlingP"
"You foolish boy. you haven't looked at T.,
1t. Read tho heading"
"The Cedars, Nottingham" he begins. I
why, what is thisP The date line is
printed for next century, 49,! What does
it meanP"
Just this, Maurice. 1 found lot of
his paper in the old escritoire up stairs.
You know you told me once that your IA
her used to buy enormous quantities of
tationery-suffcient to last for years 1t
s plain that he did so-there are reams .
Upon reams Of 1t up stairs, and, do you
lnow, he actually made provision for the II
oming century by storing up paper head !.
d like this, 19- Now, don't you seo9" Z
II confess I'm rather dull" he begins. i
why love, don't you SEQ that our no. y
Ice to leave is written on this very paper y
y Glib himself, and he never noticed the | r.
rinted date figures, but just added or a
10 perhaps, after all, we won't have to !"
ave till pretty distant date comes round, t,
ny century from this-1997 is what the y
office says anyway" Il
And you-you''- no stammers. ,
II took good care, of course, that tho
riginal notice fell in the flrc-on tho
hance of his using this paper instead. l W
ad put a lot of it in the stationery case.
lst in fun. But the idea struck me the &c
loment / came into the room. You are oil
OF angry with me, Maurice, are youp' 70
The Ringw0Ods are still at The Cedars, oi
very prettily laid scheme having been at
ustrated by woman's stratagem. Al Dc
lough the surgeon had his doubts at first, a.
icy were soon put to flight for the Lon.
IN lawyers affirmed that Dot was right
he notice to quit was duly written out
: one of the ground owners Of the prop =
ty was duly signed by him and by DR.. III
ingwood and the signatures were not dis
tied. 1t was therefore perfectly legal 80
strument, and the date could not be
nended 1t was valid notice to quit
deed, but only ut Lady day century
nee, certainly not before. London News