The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-12-21

could lind. She read them over with q
shudder of horror that men and women
could be so base and depraved. One
in particular, signed 'Malcolm," fas-
tened itself upon her mind. Thus
armed, she started, early, to consult
that prodigy of genius and brilliant
leader in philanthropy, charity and
morality, John Olmstead's nephew.
She knew him we'll enough by sight,
and doubtless Stanton had frequently
heard her name and even seen her dur
ing the brief period when he was most
in society. He might almost have seen
her yesterday, and forgotten. There
was strong similarity among women
as he saw them. He never tried to re-
member unless they were in the wit
ness-stand
AS Miss Braddon stepped into the ele-
Vator the operator was showing another
boy an item in the Morning Herald
which intensely amused them both.
Always interested in what interested
the young, she glanced over their Shout
ders, to find them absorbed in the ad-
vertisement signed Malcolm" She re-
membered it well, and a new horror
chilled her to find that even boys found
entertainment in the pernicious matter
and from it formed their notions of
what real life would be for them too,
when they were old enough to enter in.
AS she crossed the hall to Stanton's
door, she whispered. Indignantly:
malcolm. Herald Uptown"
She paused timidly upon the thresh-
old, fully aware of the Importance of
the man she was about to approach,
marking:
Good mornin', UNI. Yer lookin' fur
de Mr.. Malcolm as addetised in de
Mornin' Herald, um? He's right in
here, um.''
Before she could collect her thoughts,
the door of the private Office had been
opened, she had entered, and it had
closed again behind her. It was all in
an instant and Esther Thorndike Brad
don was face to face with John Ohm
stead's immaculate nephew-otherwise
Malcolm.
Her first thought was to get herself
instantly away. The next suggested
that she be very sure, first, that she
was right, then fly to her father with
news of the clay feet of his idol. Then
vein of amusement crept into the
situation, and when she found that she
was mistaken for an applicant her
Woman's wit suggested that she had
a glorious opportunity to investigate,
draw him out, preach him sermon
that should wither him with shame,
then tell him who she was, why she
came to him, and what every true wcm-
an would think of him.
Upon this plan she began operations,
and she carried out the plan-almost to
the end. The end itself was not quite
what she had planned. She went d.
rectly to her father She told him
about the WILL with its time-limit and
forfeiture, Of which he already knew;
about the mistake in dates, of which
he did not know; about Richard Ray
mond, which did not greatly surprise
him; about Stanton's determination to
retain the property, of which he high
~ approved; about the matrimonial ad-
.vertlscment and the plan for "a limited
alliance, which certainly did not affect
him as Esther had feared it might;
about-last OF all she pulled together
all her courage, drew long, quivering
breath, and with fear and trembling
as she thought of what she had done,
began-about what her angry, indig-
nant, sympathetic heart had prompted
her to say and do to help John Ohm
stead's nephew and punish Richard
Raymond. With wet cheeks she looked
up to her father for his verdict.
If Thaddeus Braddon could have been
lett alone for the next five minutes. he
would have given half his fortune; but
he was not left alone. Esther's anxious.
troubled face was right before him. lie
saved the half of his fortune, but he
ran great risk of internal combustion
OF some kind, which might have been
much worse
He did his best to look seriohs and
grave while she continued:
You know, papa, didn't really want
to marry Mr.. Raymond at any time. /
never wanted to marry anyone, ard I
never shall want to. 1t will not matter
at all if am bound in this way so that
[ can't. Don't you think l did right.
papa?'
Perfectly right, Esther" Braddon
said, solemnly. u will look into this
matter of Raymond at once, and it the
half is true l will have word with
him. He will not annoy you after that.
Any arrangement you have made with
John Olmstead's nephew will be per-
fectly safe and honorable, rest assured.
Now do you 60 right home and rest
TIL the time comes. Marrying is a
toug h pull on the nerves, however you
no it, and you'll need all your strength.
LII tell you what We'll do, Esther. You
go through this thing like major.
The chances are he'll offer to give I'D &
dozen times before you see the end,
for he'll, think it's hard on YOU: but
don't you let him do it. Don't let any
thing slip SO that the boy will drop
his fortune into Raymond's hands after