The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-12-03

''That's precisely what do mean, Mr.
Hendon. Then I'll find out who are my
real friends; you Il not deny that
"You may, but it 5 dangerous expert
ment which you may regret. should
advise you not to try it.
::'Oh, but my mind is made up, my
good man. If you won't help me, prom
ise me not to betray me- at least. -
''Oh, [ can hold my tongue, if you
mean that It's no temptation to me to
speak. Are you going to write to them
and tell them this odd fabrication p
Eyes, this very night. ''Tll write tc
every Gilman, Lees, Fawcett and Bart
ram among them, telling them | have had
terrible reverses, and that | shall have to
turn out of The Cedars. Surely some OF
them will offer me a home, or ask Inc to
spend Christmas, at least.
"Oh, [ have no doubt the Gillmans
will, seeing you We kept BERTHE at college
for two years, y said the lawyer drily.
but it doesn' seem right; it's telling a
down right lie, you know, and the Bible
says we may not do evil that good may
come "
Don't you preach to me. Geoffrey
Hendon, said the old lady tartly. Il
am quite willing to answer for my own
sins. think the GilImans will be all
right. and the Bartrams, too for they are
my own flesh and blood don't expect
much from the Lees or Fawcetts, but we II
see. Good day, I'll write those letters to-
night. and bring the replies to let you see
them, though you don t deserve it. The
Araminta Mines would do. wouldn' it ?
''What for?
"A convenient pit to sink my gold in
for time she said, with a twinkle in
her eye.
1T will do as well as anything else
Miss Bartram. said the lawyer But
mind neither sanction nor approve of it,
and if you Get your fingers burnt over it,
don blame me. >
THAT all right: don you worry over
me, said Miss Bartram, as she bade him
an amiable goody-by.
They were friends of lifetime, and
had frequent chickering's which scarcely
ruffled the good understanding between
them
Il fear Miss Bartram is getting into
her dotage, Ben. observed Mr.. Hendon
to his son as he watched the carriage out
of sight.
But the old lady was very lively; as eX-
cited over her new idea as a child over It's
latest toy. That very evening the har-
rowing epistles to her relatives were written
and despatched, and in due time MIR. Hen
don received second visit from his rich
client.
As more than week had passed since
the last visit, he had come to the conclu-
sion that she had thought better of it.
He gathered something different from her
! room.
..Wen. I've done it. I've found them
all out, she said shrilly-almost vindic-
lively. Now, tell me first, have YOU had
a visit from Tom Gilman and George Lees
my nephews?
''They called here one morning. | be-
lieve but | was absent.
s.Well. [ had call from them pretty
sharp, | can tell you. Tom was the mos
upset. and he had the cheek to ask wha
was the lowest price [ would take for The
Cedars, and said his wife would call anC
select what articles | might be disposed tC
sell cheap
The lawyer tried to conceal his amuse
ment. for he saw that Miss Bartram wa
feeling hurt and sore.
''But what about Christmas? Did any
of them offer you the Christmas cheer yor
wanted p
"Oh, Eve brought the letters; they |
convince you if nothing else will, > sale
Miss Bartram, fumbling nervOusly ly with
the silver clasps of her oldfashioned vel
vet reticule ''There is only one Christian
letter in the pack, but it Il do your hear
good to read it.
''Who wrote it?
sWhv. my niece, Nina Bartram, tha
married Walter Fawcett against my will
I've never seen her since. Read that
look-and tell me what you think OF 1t.
Mr.. Hendon took the dainty little en-
velope from Miss Bartram' hand, and pc.
rusued it from beginning to end.
Whitley End, Dec. 18th.
"DEAR AUNT BARTRAM-We were mucl
upset to receive your letter containing such
distressing news. 1t is very sad for you; but
| ,,,ho M
will not be quite so badly off. Walter ha:
told me to write you at once, and ask you tC
come to us for Christmas. and as long as yor
like Then we can talk everything over. |
only you would make friend of Walter, deal
aunt, you would never regret it. lie Is SC
clever, and everybody trusts him. We have
prospered beyond our expectations, and as
every Christmas you have kindly remembered
us, it is our turn to remember you. If yol
don't like children, | can give you room
where you will scarcely hear their noise, anC
though | have new baby, she is so good We
hardly know we have her, except for our Joy
Now, dear aunt, don't hesitate but come a
once. Walter will meet you at Birmingham
and bring you out, or will even come all thu
way to Odcete if you will let him. If yol
won't accept our invitation, then we mus
come to see you. With love and sympathy
Your affectionate niece,
''NINA FAwCETT."
1.-THE letter of a kind woman and
good woman, Miss Bartram, y said th'
lawyer "And she is quite right abou
her husband. | know that Walter Faw
cett is beginning to be known in the iror
world. -
''Wel, then, perhaps you want to rea'
the others, just as wholesome tonic
Mary Gilman says they have no spare
room. as the house is filled with Bertie'
school friends, and the Bartrams have th'
measles, and George Lees and his wife are
going into Suffolk to spend Christmas will
her mother; so it's Stourbridge or moth
ing"
''I should certainly advise you to g
there, " said the lawyer heartily. "You' "
caught the others nicely, and though cal
hardly say they don't deserve it, [ fee