Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-17

deliberate calmness he busted himself
with the preparations upon which he
had determined. and q half hour lat
er he descended the stairs and went
out through the front door. Upon his
left arm rested the infant. still sleep
ing; in his right hand he carried a
satchel. Behind him was his luxurious
home. to which he gave no thought.
Within it. in the room where he had
parted with his wife. man had just
staggered to his feet to behold upon
the floor near where he had fallen the
senseless form Of the woman who only
| q short time before had stood so proud.
ly erect above his own inanimate body.
Later the man who bore the sleeping
baby in his arms was uShered into q
pretentous house that fronted upon
Central park-fOr the unhappy scene
occurred in the city Of New Iork-and
q few moments afterward was seated
in the library behind closed doors. The
infant. still asleep. was securely en-.
sconsed in the depths Of 4 huge arm
chair. and vis-a-viS with the unhappy
father was a strong. bushy browed.
square jawed man who looked ten
years older than he really was.
81 must have one contidant. Max
we'll" the self exiled man said calmly.
"and you are the only man in all the
| world whom | care to trust.
He began then ut the beginning. He
told a story which covered the lapse Of
nearly two years. He referred to his
wife not bitterly. not angrily. hut with
sadness and pain. He omitted moth,
ing concerning detail. and he concluded
his recital with these words:
II could not leave my baby there. so
brought her with me. shall take
her away. and we will disappear for
ever from the sight and gradually from
the memory Of everybody who has
known me - from everybody except
yourself. shall change my name.
and only you shall know who | am.
My property fortunately is nearly all
in negotiable securities and can easily
be transferred Ny real estate wish
you to accept in trust for my wife. pay
ing her the income from it as long as
her every want and leave her com
Portable surplus besides. You can
draw all the papers and forward the
new deeds to me"
"And the reverSion-what about that
in case Of the death Of your wife,
asked the lawyer.
Let the revers;on he to You as trus-
tee for the benefit Of my heirs. If |
ever want the property, will come to
you for it,"
"Are you aware that you are placing
more than million in my possession?
"Perfectly have twice as much
more. as you know. in negotiable secur'
tiles. That will suffice for me"
"You will not apply for divorceY
Certainly not"
What name will you assume"
yours. think = that Is. your last
one. if you will permit it. ! will call
myself Richard Maxwell"
"Why not Philip Maxwell"
"No: will retain nothing Of the past.
| am only 50 years old. but as long as
| am permitted 10 live my life shall be
devoted to that child. Philip Barring
ton ceased to exist an hour ago. ! will
sleep here in your house tonight. If
may I'm the morning | will ask you to
take some checks to the banks for me
and secure in their places cashiers
checks that may deposit where |
please: also to withdraw my securities
from the safe deposit vaults and bring
them to me. Such other affairs as need
attention | will remember before morn
ing. and before night tomorrow will
! be gone"
"Where will you go?'
Il have net decided. probably will
not decide for Sonlr time to come.
will let you know in good time"
You are very unwise. Philip. Your
suspicious may be unfoundrd. your
conclusions wrong"
"Perhaps So" wrarily. My decision
| is irrcvocable. however. so we will not
discuss it,"
You cannot hc father and mother to
that chld-to that little girl. If she
were Il boy. il would he different"
~ will be father. mother-everythinS
to her DO not argue with me. Max.
Will You show me where | am to sleep:
My duties begin at cnce. shall not
avoid them"
Not until the man who had decided
that H. WAS hcnceforth to be known
| only as Richard Maxwell was alone In
the room that had been assigned to
him-.no. not alone, because the little
girl. still quietly sleeping. unconscious
| of the tragedy that had already occur
red in her young life. rcposed upon the
bed-not until then did he show any
sign Of the ravagcs Of the mental whirl-
wind that had passed over him. and
even then his face did not lose its
calm. although tears tricklcd down his
checks and splaSled unheedcd upon
the pillow where rested the companion
of his future.
He remained thus silent for several
| momcntS, and then lie began reStlcSSly
| to pace the floor with bowed head and