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

perfns his search.
An hour later he came hurrying
down the walk alone, his face express
i've of failure.
Esther Thorndike was waiting at the
gate. He knew her in an instant, but
before he could speak she laid her hand
on his arm, saying:
Hurry. He just passed me- He y
on this boat"
Again q strange feeling crept over
him, which he remembered afterwards
As the wheels started, Esther Thorn
dixie entered the ladies' cabin, and on
the other side Stanton greeted the cler-
gyman with the question:
do you remember my uncle's last
words, DIR. Borden?"
Early In the morning the good doctor
had heard that the property was taken
from his young friend and parishioner-
1t fell like heavy weight upon his
heart. and all day long his mind had
been upon the death-scene, with the
diving words its salient feature. In
stantly he repeated them: Twelve
! o'clock. and all is we'll" But, Robert,
he said. anxiously, what does this
mean that hear about the property?'
"A mistake" Stanton replied hur-
| riedlv. 1T is for me 10 correct II
can. and can do it with your help. 1
did not like the way the property was
left. and did not care to redeem 1t.
Only last night l learned the reasons
for my uncle's wish that should keep
It. and j resolved to do so il could. i
cannot explain il better now, but Will
| satisfy YOU fully later. The seizure oil
! the estate was made according to the
death certificate, which was dated De
cember 8; but the physician has ac-
. knowledged that he was wrong, and. as
, YOU know from those last words my
uncle did not die until after - o'clock
Z It was upon the 9th. If l am married
n before midnight tonight, i shall carry
out my unele's wishes.
: But the wife, Robert?" the goot
doctor said, lowering his head to lool
! over the top Of his glasses, as was hi'
4 wont in moments of emergency
"She IL waiting in the ladies' cabin
7 We have been searching for you all IN
= evening"" Stanton replied.
"a good wife is better than riches
but q poor wife turns heaven into mel
IN am sure your uncle would not haV
= the property preserved at the risk OF
- sacrifice" the doctor said, a htti
doubtfuiiy-
"She is very much too good for me, ]
any case" Stanton said, taking out al
= xatch--a legal trick which rarely TAI
to distract the attention lnvolur
tarily DIR. Borden looked Mt his ow
I, watch, and his thoughts turned upo
the time
Oh 1T is 1925, Robert he said. -Tc
close to the last moment Too niue
en like n death-bed repentance But
On can make it by taking a carriage direc
ne ly to- the house Have you the paPe
readyZ'
stanton handed him the Brookll
ne permis- He glanced at It and sal
o' Esther Thorndike, Brooklyn It's
GOOD name, Stanton. Whatever there
ITS in a name / don't know, but there
IN something; and that is agood one IL
he don't seem TO remember it. Whe
ne does she live?"
lse "She attends DIR. Atwood's churcl
ost Stanton replied. with some hesitate
yer He was not am expert AZ answeri
yer questions, especially whenke had son
ore thing TO conceal. and from the docto
tone it was evident that If he knew
'on facts his. assistance would be don
teo fui-
ton Eyes, but her home? - Drc-Borden 81
he There was wild cry forward. So
and enc was overboard; and it was not :
fire. prising that Stanton first thought '
he Of Esther Thorndike.
de Instantly leaving the doctor,
and pushed his way fTantically through
for ladies' cabin till he found her, a
'uld layinga trembling hand upon her She
ven der. said=
red THANK heaven. l was afraid tha
iun- was You, and that l had driven yo'
or q it. I've been blind TO every interest
he nv own. I want you to ask vhatev'
der Is that you are 70 ask me, .and / VII
tier IL, and a great deal more; II can,
bout we will let this miserable business
noes right here"
hich IT am not troubled, SIR she repl
not quietly. UNLESS you are afraid
the trust me-; the end that yols wish Il
X.,as complishA IS worth more than any
last rifice which 1 am making, and Oh
, DIR. -
SDhnnn Elm