Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-20

sldIlleu ny llIS uOtlCe III lHe udlly pa
pers:
To Whom 1t May Concern-The rejected suitors
Of Miss Eleanor Stevens requested to meet at
her late residence in Redwood street, Belgravia,
on Monday, the 2lst inst, at 10 O'Clock 4. M,
with reference to the cgaaies due to them under
her will. WILLARD PRATT, Executor
81 think that will reawaken popular
interest" said the old lawyer dryly.
And so it did. Seven days later,
when the hour appointed for the recep-
tion Of Miss Stevens rejected suitors
drew near, the streets in the vicinity Of
her late residence were lined with an
eager multitude Of men and women.
AS the hour drew near in which they
were to stand confessed as members of
Miss Eleanor's army of martyrs" sew
eral of the intended claimants had
found themselves weakening in their
resolve. Those, for instance, who had
justified their claim solely on the
ground of an admiration felt, but never
expressed, saw their courage oozing as
the ordeal approached. Others, who
were burning incense at new shrlnes,
seriously considered renouncing Il claim
that would decidedly complcate their
present prospects.
1t was a question whether pride or
profit would win the day. In the end,
however, the love of gold won.
When Mr.. Pratt entered the library
of Miss Stevens late residence at 10
O'Clock on this eventful morning. he
found the room crowded with a body
of men clad in mourning garb and sol
emnly waiting in various stages of un-
easiness for the approach of the long
expected moment.
As the lawyer silently took his seat
behind Il baiZe covered table the trou-
bled faces grew yisibly more troubled,
and as he produced sundry important
looking documents and laid them on
the table each countenance was stamp
ed with mingled emotions, eager ex-
pectancy in many cases being linked
with shame and avarice.
Gentlemen" began the old LAWYER
81 must trouble each of you to give me
in writing Il concise statement of the
time, place and circumstances attend
ing your several offers and rejectiOns
in order that | may have documentary
proof that you are entitled to the Iega-
cies left you by the terms of Miss
Stevens Will"
documentary proof!
AT those unexpected words the emo
tion that marked the faces of the
strange assembly changed to unms-
taxable concern. Was this some dis
agreeable joke? No. The old lawyer
waited with unmoved face for the full
tillment of his demand. There was a
momentary hesitation. Then, filing up
in due order, the applicants, one by
one, seated themselves at the table be-
fore the old attorney and wrote the
account demanded.
| AS the last statement was signed the
portieres of the library were suddenly
drawn back and Il tall, heavily yelled
| figure advanced slowly into the middle
of the room. Then, as she raised her
hand and drew back the thick gauze
| that masked her face a cry of terror
echoed through the house.
The woman was Eleanor Stevens!
| wait" she commanded. Don't be
alarmed am no ghost. The Miss
Stevens who died a year ago in the
Black forest was not the Miss Stevens
whose loss you are so deeply mourn,
ing.
"By a stupid blunder of the peasants
with whom l was staying an exchange
of names occurred between myself and
an invalid girl whom had befriended,
so that when she died her death GER
/ tn ~, Of
Eleanor Stevens.
| Some weeks earlier | had been in
| fuenced by daily contact with one
whose life was fading rapidly away
/ to draw up my will in legal form and
\ to send it home to my lawyer
"When | left so suddenly for the con
/ tinent year and a half ago it was be
cause of a conversation overheard be
tween several of my seeming admirers
which changed all my ideas of manly
chivalry in affairs of the heart, and
which drove me abroad, as | supposed,
/ for ever.
ut was that laundering exchange Of
names that has given me the oppor-
tunity of meeting you under these in
! teresting circumstances.
"Now, gentlemen, my will, in which
you have shown SO deep an interest,
stipulates that each of my rejected
suitors shall receive $4,000 after my
death. That bequest will be carried
out to the letter when am really dead.
I'm the meantime l would gladly
read your documentary proofs, but as
have never in all my life rejected
but two suitors, and as one of these
died six months ago, and the other is
not here today, shall be obliged to re-
fer you to my lawyer"
And with a sweeping courtesy Miss
Stevens withdrew from the room.-Ex-
change.
Baptist Fish.
"Dowu in thp sOuth " remarked a