The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-03-12

earnest attentlOn, anu uuNisc HiV o~
soon as you have made choice. |
Yours sincerely.
LUELLA MKEEVER.
Hawthorne Apartments, Septein-
Der q"
Dudley read the letter several
times. Even after he knew il ty
heart he kept on reading it. Pres
! emily Grant started down town. and
then he made preparations for an
swering it.
"She's the same old Luella," he
mused. over ink and notepaper. i've
| been thinking ever since | heard that
the general was dead that | would
| look her up and see if she were as
sweet and pretty as she used to be.
This is an unparalleled opportunity.
It's a blessing | made that contract
with Grant. He wouldn't have rec
commended me in hundred years,
but | shall have no hesitancy in rec
ommcnding myself Luella refused
me once. in another capacity, and
she may refuse me now in this, but
I certainly shall not fail through
want of endeavor."
Grants was an easy hand to imi-
tate, and after couple of hours
practice Dudley fiattered himself
that his writing would pass muster
before anybody less skilled than an
expert. That feat accomplished, he
wrote to Mrs. Mckeever.
"Mv dear Luclla," he said. 81 am
very glad that you consulted me in
regard to competent literary man
to finish editing the generals pa
pers. because it gives me chance to
recommend a man whom I think re-
markably well fitted for the post.
Clarence Dudley is the man | mean.
You have no doubt heard his name
mentioned frequently of late, for he
has been doing some very creditable
, work. Dudley is n particular friend
of mine. have known him intimate
ly for many years, and have always
, found him the right sort. | have
never known man whom ! liked so
well. He is. by all odds, the best
friend | ever had, and if you can sec
your way clear to trusting him with
your book YOU will be comforting a
favor upon me personally. Aside
from his attributes as an all-round
. GOOD fellow, Dudley is SO well
equipped mentally that | feel sure
. he would give excellent satisfaction,
and hope you can strike bargain
with him. Let me know at once what
YOU think of my selection. If your
, decision is favorable, will have Dud-
lev call on you, and you can settle
; the matter to suit yourselves. Yours,
"HENRY GRANT"
, Dudley did not view this ei1usion
with unalloyed pride.
( at is pretty fulsome praise to sing
i at ones own funeral" he comment
V ed. "If - hould ever find out that
V ! am the 'uthor of the panegyric
q she will g .ainly think me too eifrr-
l. Nescent to write history of her de-
t to say . < about our compact
n If he s, give me away, my van
ity woul- ,ertainly prove fatal"
ant uiu mol con.o-ar IO~~ths;-
ms that night. He sent word that
. lie should be out of town for a day
?. or two, but that Dudley was to stick
= to their bargain and continue to an
swer his share Of their mail, as usual
II There was very little to answer, hut
it made up in quality what it lacked
t in quantity, for Thursday morning
y brought another letter from Mrs
q Mckeever.
Z Il was somewhat surprised at your
IA choice of literary executor she
o wrote. IL knew Clarence Dudley sew
I eral years ago, and have rather pleas
{ ant recollcctions of him, but | hat
hardly thought that his literary
{ qualifications are exactly what ! re
= quire. Still. you seem to be in a po
u sition to Judge him from every stand
,' point, and | will gladly grant hin
an interview. Before sending him tC
me, however, there is one point thai
! / must make clear to you. | shoult
have mentioned it in my last letter
!. but shrank from doing so. But it i:
100 important 10 De put OH longer
u 1t relates to the commands of Gen
y McKeever. 1t was one of the provi
sions of his will that no one eXcep
u myself or my second husband SHOULD
: write n line of his biography. Natu
;, rally, he preferred that | should dc
it without assistance, but he wa.
not a jealous or a selfish man, ant
~ he realized that |, being young
y woman, should probably MARI.
again If found the book too grea
an undertaking to accomplish alone
a, and decided to marry before it's com
-, pletion, he expressly stipulated tha
" my husband should carry on th'
:, work. SO, you see, before entering
into a literary agreement with an.
, author | must come to an under
:, standing with him in regard to tha
y. clause in the generals will. You vii
:" see, my dear Henry, without fur
~ tier explanation, that my position i
~ most awkward By the general