Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-12-03

IL Sic SuOlilu cNCf Iluu CUT ludL ;lill
the author Of the panegyric she will
certainly think me too efTerveScent to
write history OF her deceased hus-
band. must warn Henry to say
nothing about our compact. If he
should give me away my vanity would
certainly prove fatal"
Grant did not come up 20 their rooms
that night. lie sent word that he
should be out Of town for day Or two,
but that Dudley was to stick to their
bargain and continue to answer his
share Of their mail, as usual. There
was very little to answer, but it made
up in quality what it lacked in guam
tity, for Thursday morning brought an
other letter from Mrs. McKcever
II was somewhat surprised at your
choice of literary executor" she wrote.
Il knew Clarence Dudley several years
Fago, and have rather pleasant recollec-
tions of him, but had hardly thought
that his literary qualifications are ex-
actly what require: Still, you seem
to be in position to Judge him from
every standpoint, and l will gladly
grant him an interview. Before send
ing him to me, however, there is one
! point that I must make clear to YOU
I should have mentioned it in my last
letter, but shrank from doing so. But
it Is too important to be put off longer.
1t relates to the commands Of General
McKeever. 1t was one OF the provis-
ions Of his will that no one except N.Y.
self or my second husband should write
q line Of his biography. Naturally, he
preferred that should do it without
assistance, but he was not a jealous or
a selfish man, and he realj2rdf7f5atT realj2>rd hat r 7
being young woman a9-sii6uld probably
marry again. found thn bool, too
steas s-tf Undertaking to accomplish
\dTone, and decided to marry before its
completion, he expressly stipulated
that my husband should carry on the
work. So, you see, before entering into
q literary agreement with any author
/ must come to an understanding with
him in regard to that clause in The
Generals will. You will sec. my dear
Henry, without further explanation,
that my position is most awkward. By
the Generals commands 1 am bound
to see that the book is put OH the mar
kct. vet am unable to finish it myself,
and am constrained to seek help only
from some man at whose head 1 am
virtually bound to throw myself in
marriage. For PHYS sake. Henry, help
me over this difficulty. Explain the sit
uation to Mr.. Dudley as dalicately rs
you know how think it much better
that you, rather than I, should broach
the subject. Then, If he does not posi-
tivcly revolt, let him come to see me.
Yours LUELLA."
Dudley spent less than ten minutes
on his reply to the second note.
'My dear Luclla," he said. Dudley
understands the situation thoroughly.
l must say that his remembrance of
you seems to be exceedingly vivid, and
he is anxious to meet you again. Not
withstanding your frank criticism of
his work, l still think him the very
man for the place, and if agreeable to
you he will call OIL you Saturday after
noon at s. HENRY"
Mrs. McKeever was plainly nervous
through the preliminary handshaking
when they met on Saturday afternoon,
but Dudley had braced himself for the
occasion and acquitted himself as be-
came the literary trustee OF noted
| General.
II must confess" said Mrs. McKccv-
or, that was astonishcd when Henry
Grant proposed your name as an ac-
complished historian. did not know
that you aspircd to fame in that direc-
ton. Furthermore, didn't know that
you and Henry were such close
friends
"Oh, yes" said Dudley, carelessly.
"I've known Grant for years.
$50 he tells me. He seems very fond
of you. 1 really did not know it was
possible for one man to care so much
for another. I hope that your are
equally devoted to him. His praise of
you is unstinted. He says that you are
the best friend he ever had, and that
he likes you better than anybody else
in the world"
"Does he?" murmurcd Dudley.
"Dear old Hankr'
"And besides, lie is so very proud Of
your literary attainments. If I didn't
know Henry to be such level-headed
fellow should accuse him Of gushing.
I should be afraid that his Judgment
had been warped by the heat Of friend
ship, and that his recommendation was
not entirely reliable However, have
decided to take his advice, and if you
are willing toto enter upon the proba-
tion which 1 explained to him would
be required Of you-why-"
She shifted her eyes uneasily. Ind
ley felt that he had skated safely L
the thinnest parts Of his duplicity,
he filled up the pause buoyantly.
"Now, see here. Luella." he sa
"you ought to know pretty well ho!e
feel about the matter. put the que!
tion to you six years ago. and you
turned me down most beautifully.
swallowed the dose, l tlatter myself.
with fairly good grace, but | kept OH
thinking Of you pretty constantly. even
after you married General McKeever
and went to Chicago to live. Ever
since you've been single again I've
been aching to sound you OH the sub
| iect, but felt rather afraid Of you and
thought I'd better 90 slow. / want
you, Luella, and want to write the
Generals biography. Are you willing
| tn LET it GO Mt that?"