The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-06-20
LEGAL,
GUARDIAN

icopyriEht, 1909. by C. .. Lewis.l
when Mary Streeter was seventeen
years old, her guardian. Mr.. Caulkins.
Whom she had never seen called at the
sThabl where she was being educated
5 Ia lee her. He told her that on the
dts4i Of her father the courts bad ap-
pointed him her guardian After his
departure she made Inquiries ana learn
dhStsshe had inherited $4,000 in
q and improved property. and the
Stest had been more than enough To
meet her expenses. 1t was not above
four weeks when Miss Streeter's guard
ian paid her another visit He took q
more familiar tone this time, and she
t.could not help seeing TINT he was
naking il great effort to render himself
aefReable. His ardor WIS instantly
<tlf 5ened. however, when she began
Question him about business. He
seemed Il good deal surprised and put
out that she had learned what she had.
and he took advantage OF the occasion
to read her lesson in Inv. During
her minority he was responsible to the
courts alone. When she had attained
her minority. he would be obliged by
law to Cir report of and surrender
li:s Ei.ars.a:ls,: =. ind he hoped she
wo!id lie e:.tirey sltIs..,d with what
lie had done.
In about three weeks Mr.. Caulkins
came again. IL there had been any
thing unpleasant ut the last interview,
he had apparently forgotten it, for he
was all smiles and compliments and
good nature. Before the girl really
{. knew what he was at he had made her
an ofer OF marriage aud smtlingly
awaited her reply. She was embar-
raised, confused and indignant She
had never even felt friendly toward
him. Except that she dlstrusted him
he was totally Indifferent TO her. and
ssife thought his proposal born OF tmpu-
dence rather than love. 1tdld NOS take
her over minute to set him right
young girl though she was and his de-
meanor showed that he was abashed
and chagrined. He ATTEMPTED TO argue.
hat she would not listen. He asked hee
20 forget that he had spoken Of mar
rfage. and she asked him to cut his
visit short. He went away with words
OF regret and apology on bis lips, but
his eyes told a different story. they
had hard. cruel look. and she realized
that she had rejected a husband to
make an enemy. An hour after he LETT
the school there came for her by mes
sanger box Of candy aud a bouquet.
She understood they were peace oner-
invs. but she would not accept them.
She gave the bouquet to one OF the
teachers, and the candy she laid away.
Another two weeks passed, and then
dreadful thing happened In the
school. One of the women employed
10 clean gave Miss Streeter's room
saturday dusting and while 90 doing
came across the candy 90 the shelf
and appropriated 1t. Halt an hour att
{. or eating Il she was screaming with
main and, though n doctor was speedily
calIed. she fingered along Tor On hour
: ar two and died. A doctor was brought
I'm. but his diagnosis Of the case was
ceSxainIy wrong. She was a strong
shearfy. woman and had beeni in the best
!. n health and spirits up to the moment
eating the candy. 1t could not be
shown chat she had eaten anything dse
70 arouse suspicion. but the thing wac
got over without anybody being held TO
blame.
~ The woman was buried, ana as the
days went by the incident was being
forgotten when another dreadful thing
happened. The deceased wonan's
clothes had been given to sister re-
siding in the town. and In ovcrha uiinE
the dresses piece OF cnndy vus found
in one Of the pockets. rhis vas eaten.
the same sort Of an ATTACK followed,
ana another doctor pronounced It a
case OF .pdso1ing. The uoman died.
and sftg postmcrtem eximinadon
the case vas given To the pdce The
nr2 death had npk been ennanfaa