The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-12-08
copyright. 1895. by J. p. Llppineott Col
Malcolm.


Malcolm.
I, 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
a 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 a sermon
that should wither him with shame,
| then tell him who she was, why she
came to him, and what every true wom-
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 di-
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
ly approved; about the matrimonial ad-
veftiseInent and the plan for limited
alliance, which certainly did not affect
him as Esther had feared 1t might;
about-last of all she pulled together
all her courage, drew a 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
left 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. He
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, serious and
grave while she continued.
"You know, papa, didn't really want
to marry Mr.. Raymond at any time. l
never wanted to marry anyone, and /
never shall want to. 1t will not matter
at all ii am bound in this way so that
1 can't. Don't you think l did right,
papaw
Perfectly right, Esther" Braddon
said, solemnly. II will look into this
matter of Raymond at once, and if the
half is true l will have q word with
him. He will not annoy you after that.
Any arrangement yop have made with
John Olmstead's nephew will be per-
fectly safe and honorable, rest assured.
Now do you go right home and rest
till the time comes. Marrying Is a
tough pull on the nerves, however you
do it, and you'll need all your strength.
I'll tell you what we'll do, Esther. You
go through this thing like major.
The chances are he'll offer to give up
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 inte Raymond's hands after
all; and when it's settled you and will
take that trip to Europe we've been
talking about, Wen start one week
from to-day, If you see this thing
through all right. Now run home
that's good girl"
At last he was able to lock the door
of his private Office and be alone. It
was none too soon. Thaddeus Brad
don, the white-haired head of Braddon
q Burridge, sank into the nearest arm
chair, helplessly convulsed.
Clasping his own hands, lacking the
Visible hand OF his old friend to clasp,
he shock them with cordial energy,
gasping, between the uncomfortable
paFoxysms:
"eh, Jack, dear old boy, Jack, did you
ever hear of such luck in all your life?
Mary's boy, Jack, and my Estherl
Why, it's almost as good as If Mary
was to come back herself and marry
me. Oh, Jack, Jack, Jack! And just
to think! the two little fools don't
know what they're doing, or they'd
both of them kick over the traces and
balkk like z pair of mules.h