The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-29
FOR A CENTURY.


popular than his ancestors. But latterly
he had become heavily involved in debt,
leaving behind him nothing but the prao-
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 a neighboring So
icitor's office certain documents which re-
7ealed eyerything-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
a consideration, they said-yes, for a con-
s1dera tion-the documents would be Civ
en- up to DR.. Ringwood. But the price
demanded was a 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 a neighboring town as their likely home
for the future, does she start instinctively.
ooh, Maurice, to leave The Cedars and
go to Newington-to live thereP'
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
comes to business.
Here, DR.. Ringwoods - he says, handing
over a foolsoap envelope with some inclo-
sures; there are the documents you have
already seen. Better assure yourself that
they are all right. A nd 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, a 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
IneditativeIy, 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.
'FYou don't mind me- do you, Mauricef''
she asks shrinkingly.
Certainly not love, - answers her hus-
band. So she leans over his chair. While
he is looking over the other papers she alb
sently toys with the notice to quit, which
lies open on the table. Whether her hand
trenbles as she fingers it, or whether
slight breeze from the open easement
causes it to fall from the table, no one can
tell, but the paper futters for moment
in the air, then falls on the blazing fire.
''Oh, what have done?'' cries Dot dis
trsctedly.
Don't put yourself about, ma am, - in
terposes the solicitor blandly. ''It's of no
consequence whatever-only a simple no.
tice, which can easily be replaced
In ordinary circumstances he would at
once have returned to his Office and had a
fresh notice written out. But delay in
this instance may be dangerous DR.. Ring
wood seems to be in hesitating humor.
Better, then, to strike while the iron is
hot.
eff you will oblige me with a sheet of
paper, ma am, - he continues, II will draft
a fresh notice. A mere memorandum will
serve" he adds, turning to Ringwood.
And, if you wish, it can be extended
afterward.' -
Dot silently pushes a stationery case to-
ward him, from which he extracts sheet
of note paper. 1t is headed 1.-The Cedars,
Nottingham, - and ruled space is left IN
derneath for the date. He rapidly drafts
a notice to quit, ''as 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 a mist before his eyes-his hand
trembles he writes his signature, 'Mau
rice Ringwood."
Silently the surgeon locks the document
in drawer. AT last he 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. $50 here is your cadeGul''
She laughingly hands him an oblong
packet. He opens it. Nothing within but
a goodly number of quires of note paper,
printed with the familiar heading of ''The
Cedars.''
He looks up inquiringly, why, what is
this, darling?''
'You foolish boy. you haven't looked at
it. Read the heading
''The Cedars, Hedingham,' - he begins.
"Why, what is this2 The date line is
printed for next century, 19-l What does
it mean?''
''Just this, Maurice. found a lot of
this paper in the old escritoire up stairs.
You know you told me once that your IA
Their used to buy enormous quantities of
tationery-sufficient to last for years. 1t
is plain that he did so-there are reams
upon reams of it up stairs, and, do you
know he actually made provision for the
coming century by storing up paper head
ed like this, 49, Now. don't you see?"
81 confess I'm rather dull, - he begins.
"Why, love, don't you see that our no.
tice to leave is written on this very paper
by Glib himself, and he never noticed the
printed date figures, but just added 81?
So perhaps, after all, we won't have to
leave till pretty distant date comes round,
say a century from this-1997 is what the
notice says anyway"
"And you-you''- he stammers.
CT took good care, of course, that the
original notice fell in the fre-on the
chance of his using this paper instead. I
had put lot of it in the stationery case
just in fun. But the idea struck me the
moment came into the room. You are
not angry with me, Maurice, are your"
The Ringwoods are still at The Cedars,
a very prettily laid scheme having been
frustrated by woman's stratagem. AL
though the surgeon had his doubts at first,
they were soon put to flight, for the Lon
don lawyers affirmed that Dot was right.
The notice to quit was duly written out