Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-09
.nrnInr AMY. disFusfsd

ished in an instant. whether because
the sacrifice stood before him or be-
cause the way was clear OF opposition,
and he replied:
81 was this morning, but am
ashamed of it. My name Is Stanton
Robert Stanton"
mine is Esther Thorndilke. My
friend explained TO mesvbat Is required
and 1 am ready TO act for YOU"
The young lawyer hardly realized
what she was saying. He was looking
for the deformity. 1t required but
moment to decide that at least II was
not In her body. Whatever was wrong
was surely under the veil He could
not even see the outline of the face
She stood ms if waiting. for a reply,
but he was not aware that she had
asked a question. BE tried TO recah
what she had said, and then took refuge |
In expressing his conjunction.
1--WE begun to realize that my plan |
was a very cold-blooded and selfish !
idea, and I've grown heartily ashamed
of it," he said.
"a plain business bargain Is hardly
open to sentiment" she replied, quick
". II am quite ready, and If yon are
we had better start"
| "Yes. but my carriage. 1t has just
| gone with your messenger-boy to Jer-
sew City,. He paused as his ear caught
low laugh tinkling under the veil. 1t
was contagious. He was smiling, too,
as he continued: shall we have an
other carriage and go on, rtskng
meeting? 1t seems cowardly 10 run
from anyone. but there are many de-
testable things which we might do that
| would DELAY US till after midnight, In
spite of anything but common law,
which would be to degenerate alto
! eether. / hate to run the other way,
but perhaps il would be wiser, tonight
: TO go to Brooklyn instead. Does IL
) matter to you?"
II "Dr. Atwood is my pastor, and 1
) would rather not go to him. But to
, anyone else. Yes I think IL would DC
e better to 90 to Brooklyn" she said
e REV. DIR. Borden was witness to
e the will. 1t might save publicity, In a
e legal way, afterwards, to have him also
:. perform the ceremony"
1 II occurred to Stanton that this was
y really a remarkable idea, and he was
, wondering that 1t had not occurred tc
+ him before, as the lady replied;
d 81 know just where he lives, and per
z, haps II would be better that we should
Is not 90 together. will be there as soor
As you"
She had hardly ceased speaking wheI
he she literally disappeared. Stanton
re hooked after her for a moment, and tn
tips of his teeth appeared as he NUT
" tered:
re -She'Il be there some time before IN
III at that rate. To say the least, she's no
a cripple" Then he followed her.
ST On the way conflicting sentiment
Id 30 thoroughly disturbed his first in
pressions of that Kew idea that by tn
CT time be arrived at Dr. Borden's b
es heartily wished himself anywhere els
ul in the world, and il appeared the MOI
ag fortunate thing that the good lawy'
Il was attending conference in lowe
an New York and could not return befoi
hn ten.
y The lady talked necessarily, upc
TT. subjects which had always INTEREST,"
n him. and more than once Stante
found, to his astonishment, that
to- was laughing heartily at her wit al
'or Joining eagerly in arguments, fl
ur- came out OF them o~ermatched-
wondered that he was not bored a
ut s,.tf to hi.lac Ii that { il were not
Ite- the business ahead of him he shoV
md count IL one. of the plsasantest eve
yht inrs of his life. Sometimes it Occurr
.ik- TO him that he would have been forth
not ate If he had made the bargain fol
real wife, instead; only how could
E1n, have known in advance? Yet und
= II ,eath it all his other mind was emit
an tanning conflicting sentiments abb
the advisabilitY of securing the servi
the of Judge Russell, afterall- There w
j III certain social complications VIII
S no might result, late- on, which would
HAT threaten If DR.: Borden performed
-gor ceremony. Besides twelve O'Clock
'een creeping dangerously near, and at
e art he suggested that they go back TO
the Rorden's.
ools In all his life~he had never been o
IaIiy ! rnapx minds; bnt the lady concur
I'M VITA sech as though it were the wi
7hen possible suggestion, and they return
:. Sober thought would have helped
KING hut ideas came in the abstract an
rev utter confusion, piling one ON anot
and. To n. Dordao bad returned. doubt
dow, r.o,.+o,,,s 6~s+ ;mnnlse would
I'd: -, -, +,,,D and RIM. Rr,t DIR. Bo
ound IL - ra+,,,-nad n rcnsed in
wing -fr,,,I,, dataruinatiav. 10 find hin
r sits 60 = voc too Ia+e
ne az Ahsol,,tal,, uotb;po, occurred to
II but TO go at once. TO- New York
hunt him up
They went by the ferry. as NJ
their destination and less conspic
II n<u and a curiousIy safe feeling crep'
you Stanton's heart as he walked by
= ilru' Their Thorndilxe. HeoRly realized it
10 LAY as he had realized that she entert
rage him at Judge Russell's- He ha'
ooor time for more than that among
river crowding of conflicting sentiment