Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-23
stead's millions.

S9tiSueO. IL mad Deen rather deSper-
ate leap with her eyes shut. The gal
lantry intelligence and tincture of the
west about the man pleased her. The
rest was a sacrifice for her father.
To Braddon it was a thoroughly disa-
greeable surprise. He could read men
too well to be deceived, though he tried
hard to convince himself that it was
only prejudice.
Its all an old mans jealousy" he
frequently said to himself. eff Esther
loves him, what right have to stand in
her way with any Of my whims? ?"
He knew better than TO hint at this
distrust to Esther, and silently sacri-
feed his own wishes to hers.
All three would have been doubly
surprised had the reality of each heart
been readable.
In the secret of his closet Braddon be-
rated himself mercilessly that the right
man had not been introduced.
Its all my fault, yes, all of it," he
muttered; for he and John Olmstead
had instantly renewed their boyhood
friendship. They were like school
chums again for awhile, and only they
two knew why il was that after Robert
returned from college Braddon never
entered Olmstead's house again till he
came to the funeral.
81 couldn't stand it. Jack. I'd make
fool of myself if 1 met him. He's the
very picture of his mother" Braddon
! said, and Olmstead understood. The
result was that Stanton knew Thaddeus
Braddon only as everyone else knew
the brilliant, white-haired financier, as
"Braddon of Braddon g. Burridge," and
had never spoken to him.
The old man knew the voting lawyer
through and through, however. He
| had sacrificed lifetime TO his love
for the boys mother, and the boy was
as like her as two drops of water from
the same spring. His interest in him
was something phenomenal, and when
Stanton began his rapid strides to-
wards fame there was no mortal half so
proud of him as Braddon of Braddon &
Burridge.
When alone with Esther he sometimes
dropped word about John Olmstead's
nephew, and for long she knew him by
no other name. He did it with studied
carelessness, but in woman's eyes there
is a microscopic lens for mental and
sentimental work passing all under
standing.
Before Braddon considered that his
daughter had heard of the young man
often enough even TO have his existence
impressed upon her, she had come tC
the conclusion that behind John Ohm
stead's nephew lay the secret why hel
father had never. married.
Once Esther thought to please hel
father by suggesting that he bring thu
young lawyer home TO dinner, but i
was received with such unexpected op
position that it was never repeated.
Frequently and intensely BraddoI
regretted that opposition Il was 1
J fool She took me by SURPRISE" III
: would say to himself. He said it mos
vigorously after Richard Raymond
, came into prominence. He even trie'
TO bring it about that Esther shoul,
repeat the suggestion. She was neve
| before so slow of comprehension, but
= hint as he would, she never repeated il
On the evening of the 5th of Decem
: Der, 1892, Braddon was late and hurry
, ing home TO dinner. One Of the trustee
2 of the Olmstead estate, in passing hin
1
forfeited his rights and that anathe
!, heir had filed his claim. 1t was merel
e an item of news that might interest tn
E banker, as a good portion of John DIN
:. stead's millions was held by Braddon ,
: Burridge.
The two parted at once, and eac
went his way, but the bankers cheek
e were flushed and his eyes flashed unde
t his white brows. His blood boiled
S spite of the years that should haV
cooled il.
Its a regular Olmstead trick" h
d muttered. Hes a fool. No, he's no
l. Confound him, respect him for ii.
T believe his mother thought insulte
u her by throwing fortune in her fac
e and asking her to change her mint
e She said so by marrying poor farme
/ If I'd stayed poor believe she woul
l. have had me; but never saw il in tn;
light till this minute. This is precisel
the same thing over again. Bless Il
u boy!"
is BY the time he reached his home
8 was sufficiently Gained to hide has e,
a. element, but still sufficiently excite
ie to be very glad they were to sit alo1
at dinner.
He heard Esther talking, and smile
re when she smiled, but paid little furth
III attention. She was recounting a NEE
K ing of her reform club, that day,
or which she had been elected chairmi
Ct of the executive committee.
II Braddon nodded approvingly.
~ For shame, papa!" Esther e
ne claimed. "How young and untitled
'n am for such positionl If I can do t
everyday work of the committee 1 shi
ne be glad. At least I'm determined to t
y and do my share. There's one thing
IN which I think can accomplish son
al thing. They brought up the subject
y horrible system of matrimonial q
vertisements in the daily papers.
no idea that there was such thing
he | all: but Won don't know papa how hi