The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-25

cry. The two men were close companions.
The news Of Lownies death was an awful
shock to his cousin. who Is now critically
Ill in consequences"
Montgomery dropped the paper with Il
weary sigh. He still felt wretcheily weak
and unnerved and shudlered whenever no
thought of his consin's CHASTITY tate. In Il
moment he picked up another paper and
read
Sacramento Cal. March lo-The will
Of the late Homer A. Lowndcs. n we'll
known citizen of this city. was yesterday
plobated In the register of Wills office.
The document leaves all OF his possessions,
most of which are collateral and valued in
the aggregate at about Sl25.oe0, 10 bis
rephew and nanesake in an Eastern city
The formers lawyers are row investiGat-
ing the report that the nephew met VIC
lent death from fall on "Wednesday last. :"
For fully thirty minutes Montgomery
lay back in his chair and gazed straight
ahead OF him, thinking as hard as his poor.
bruised brain would let him Then he qhl-
city dropped to sleep. When His iandiady
came in a little later he Was smiling in his
dreams in o way that almost frightened
her.
During TIRE nsNt six months Montgomery
had very little mental quiet'Iie. After the
Us ual amount OF red tape, ne haa rouha
himself moderately well OIL as result OF
his cousins insurance, and the properly
to iham. Early In the seventh month after
Lowndes' death he was sitting at his desk
In handsomely furnished room TWO
letters lay in front of him. both addressed
in feminine hands One, he lid not recog-
nze. the ether was Alace's ana ne SAT
gazing apparently afraid TO open IT,
Owing to the fact that she had seemed
to avoid HIM for the last week or Two
never permitting him 10 be alone WIN ner.
Montgomery had decided 10 settle the mat
ter finally. He wrote her an earnest letter
with touch of his old manHness III ~
pleading HE case and Begging 'ol sp 49,
answer. And now 1t lay in front oil MN,
Finally he opened II and spread IL out w
the desk. IL began in the old. old way.
my Dear Mr.. Montgomery; have Just
received your letter and / am so sorry
abs ut It, Believe me, ] never 'naeiheu
that you cared for me in Lat Way az an.
louow that you have been at my nome
great deal since Mr.. Lowndes' DEATH put
I Imagined 1t was only because You were
lonely without him and needed nay com
r.anisnship, | din not realize what was
coming For your own sake must ~
firm and tell you that there can never Nc
any hope. / know 1t sounds cruel to you;
hut never loved anyone but Homer ana
can never think of anyone else. l wan,
vo,, In let me remain your best friend al
ways. Very sincerely yours .,
"Alice Else Travers.
Montgomery sat staring at the sishaeuIs
.,i,h h,,rning ewes. So Lowndes had robbed
Nm after all.
While no was trying TO think Tine thing
,,,t calmly his eye caught sight OF the
ether letter. For the sake Of TEN oeadg RAJ,
mental distraction he opened ". ~ ~
nc ,..e saw the first line his brain gave an
other tbrob. -, a..
.,Wy dear cousin" 1t began, am le
lighted to renew our acquaintanee lnousn
grieved TO make letter o. M sm~
It's object. You may De si.sht hson hnr-le1
to hear from me, ] haVshs - fund
over six months. bur 10 pc or,e' - cary
an obliging proxy WHO con n.. tas,Iy
out our arrangenup. o,oi a. he maxi morn
Between l ana o.asD .s1n.irtg. WAS
ing, after aay aa'S n.rE Mhen came
INCOMING aivu mo rocks by the drive.
In the moonlight ! couiu ~ 80 br,dxe. He
evidently had lailen o nm ia,amp, and as
was dressed like a co.nip ,'l,, mashed up. a
his features were pretty "e''
brilliant idea struck me- I, ant NEG
I changed clothes WIN n'A'i i,nmed afely
eegary TO so any iursa@. ~ the wicdfsil
from my uncle TOT som sm ma, In the most
s a. a In the word, ana
aiiiuen. me In thbak OF M fortune TOE
winch YOU are deriving all the gensa .,,,,j
49, i, -, n,,Ist FOR a NAH YER bVIH : "rDN'~