The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-12-01
copyright, 1893. by J. P. L!ppincott Col

and yet do an incalculable injury to a
mond could wish to harm. Here is my
check, to bearer, for $4,000. Use it as
you see fit. One year from to-day
shall be here in this office, if | am alive
If in the meantime there has not a
word appeared in any New York OF
Brooklyn paper connecting the woman
you mention with the story you have
rehearsed, come to me on that day and
l will honor this other paper, which
calls for $4,000 more"
The interview was at an end, but the
scribe hesitated. First he tore from
his notebook dozen pages, remarkirg:
I'm sure it's an exclusive so far, sir
and that's all 1 have" Then he laid
the second paper on the notes, adding:
"If I succeed you will not forget. That
paper might fall into other hands and
make you trouble in some way. l hope
| shall be back in year.
With that he went out; but he waS
hardly gone when the trustees ap
peared, as full of curiosity as the Office
boy. They were handled almost as
roughly. however, and quickly subsided
to the business In hand.
DR.. Borden had hurried to Judge Rus
sell with the official news. and the two
had notified the trustees, only to find
that Raymond, too, had discovered the
facts and had been there before them.
He had withdrawn his claim and ap-
piled for the $4,000 under the terms of
the will.
1t was easily arranged for them to
retain their charge of the property for
another year, as Stanton briefly in
formed them that he should be away.
They left with much better feelings
toward the young lawyer than they
had possessed for years, for charity and
John Olmstead's millions were old as
sociates.
1t was late in the evening when Stan
ton returned to his home for the first
time in two days that seemed longer
than lifetime.
DIR. Borden had been zealously spread.
Ing the news of the marriage, as any.
one but Stanton would have antici-
pated. The card table at the door was
covered with congratulations and in
quiries. The good doctor had made
an earnest search for information con-
corning Esther Thorndike, too, and,
finding her one of the best unknown
individuals in all Brooklyn, he had left
a note for Stanton ominouslv REQUEST
ing call from him at his earliest con-
venience.
Thus everything warned the poor fell
low of the increasing horrors he must
face. He reached his home longing for
nothing SO much as rest, but In less
than an hour he was on his way to a
hotel In New York, having left instruc-
tions with Sam and his wife to pack
for him such things as would be neces-
sary for journey and forward them to
his office, then to discharge the servants,
close the house and remain in charge
Of 1t till his return,
The dearest associations of his life
still clung as tenderly as ever to the
grand old-fashioped mansion, but it had
suddenly lost all sense of home. A new
longing had taken possession of him,
filling the great house with emptiness,
in spite of logic to the contrary. He
could not solve it, and only realized that
it drove him, disappointed and desper-
ate, from everything that had satisfied
him; while every expression of that
longing ceptered In thoughts of the
veiled face, the music of that voice and
the touch of that warm, soft hand, with
its diamond set In pearls.