The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-11-13
When the Plot,
Thickened.

1T is pretty fulSomc praise to sing
at ones own funeral he commented.
IF she should ever find out that am
the author OF the panegyric she Will
certainly think NE too efervescent to
write a history of her deceased hus.
band. must warn Henry to say
nothing about our compact. If ne
should give me away my vanity would
certainly prove fatal"
Grant did not come up to their rooms
that night. He sent word that ne
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 Quan-
tity. for Thursday morning brought an
other letter from Mrs. McKeever.
Il was somewhat surprised at your
choice OF literary executor she wrote.
Il knew Clarence Dudley several years
ago, and have rather pleasant recollec-
tions of him, but had hardly thought
that his literary qualifications are ex-
actiy what I require. Still, YOU seem
to be in 4 position to judge him from
every standpoint, and I will gladly
grant him an interview. Before send
ing. him to me, however, there is one
point that 1 must make clear to you.
should have mentioned it in my last
letteRs~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 my
self or my second husband should write
a line of his biography. Naturally, he
preferred that l should do it without
assistance, but he was not jealous or
selfish man, and he realized that I,
being young woman, should probably
marry again. If found the book too
great an undertaking to accomplish
alone, and decided to marry before its
completion. he expressly stipulated
that my husband should carry on the
work. So. you see, before entering into
literary agreement with any author
must come to an understanding with
him in regard to that clause in the
Generals will. You will see, my dear
Henry, without further explanation,
that my position is most awkward. BY
the Generals commands l am bound
to see that the book is put on the mar
ket, yet 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 delicately as
you know how. I think it much better
that you, rather than I, should hroach
the subject. Then, if he does not posi-
lively revolt, let him come to see me.
Yours, LUELLA."
Dudley spent less than ten minutes
on his reply to the second note.
''My dear Luella," he said Dudley
understands the situation thoroughly.
I 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, 1 still think him the very
man for the place, and if agreeable to
you he will call on you Saturday after
noon a. 8. 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 a noted
General.
II must confess" said Mrs. McKeev-
er, that was astonished when Henry
Grant proposed your name as an ac-
comDlished historian. I did not know
that you aspired to fame in that direc-
ton. Furthermore, I 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. lie 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?" murmured Dudley.
"Dear old HANK
"And, besides, he is so very proud of
your literary attainments. If I didn't
know Henry to be such level-headed
fellow l should accuse him of gushing
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
ton which I explained to him would
be required of you-why-"
She shifted her eyes uneasily. Dud
ley felt that he had skated safely over
the thinnest parts of his duplicity, and
he filled up the pause buoyantly.
"Now. see here, Luclla.' he said
"you ought to know pretty we'll ho!g
feel about the matter. put the ques
ton to you six years ago. and you
| turned me down most beautifully.
swallowed the dose, l fatter myself
with fairly good grace, but I kept on
thinking of you pretty constantly. ever
after you married General Mckeevel
and went to Chicago to live. Ever
since you've been single again I've
been aching to sound you on tie sub
| iect, but felt rather afraid of you anC
| thought I'd better 90 slow. l wan,
| YOU, Luella, and I want to write th.
Generals biography. Are you willing
| - 1oS }t m nk fbnf7h