Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-03-26

VII, L III JA CAAAS0Ss 0AAN Ao">AAS
jcrkily. Didn't you read in the pa
pcrs about that old millionaire who
left half of his money to the son of
one friend and half to the daughter of
another, on condition that they'd
marry each other, and not let any of his
accumulations get into the hands of
people he didn't know? Well, I'm
the man in the story. We'd never set
eyes OH each other, but we both want
ed the money, SO we complied with the
proviso."
"You-married her?" asked the girl,
paling little.
"Six months ago, in New York. It
must have looked queer affair to out
siders. One doleful morning my law
yer and Idrove to the magistrates Of
flee, and as we came in one door, an
other lawyer, with an old gentleman
and lady and three girls, all in short
skirts and shirt waists and brown
wells, entered by another. We al!
bowed, and then the magistrate called
our names, and and one of the girls
it might have been any of them, for
all knew--went up to desk, and an
swered a few questions, and wrote our
names. The lawyers gave us each
deed of separation to go in force at the
door. Then we all bowed again, and
the family party got into carriage
and drove off, and IL had a two
mouths furiough, you know--for the
honeymoon-came abroad to get out
of the talk"
. His listeners color had faded en-
tirely. III
"Her name was Margaret Kennedy,
wasn't it," she asked, slowly. II went
to school with her. She"
"Oh, you needn't hesitate" said
Powell, with short laugh. ''l've had
several fetching descriptions of her.
She's Jew at bargain, know by
experience. And her voice, and--er
looks, impressed me even through
the veil" -
'She wasn't pretty, certainly, or
very popular; but she was we'll born.
or course, and thoroughly well bred"
she was speaking with an evident ef-
fort now.
"Oh, there is the steward" she said,
rising. "'I--I must see if he hasn't
something can coax auntie to eat"
Powell gazed after her, his face rath-
er colorless, too.
But in the morning Miss Emily
emerged from her seclusion, probably
against her will, and the day passed
quite unconstrainedly. When the last
morning came Powell was silent and
stern. and Madge was absorbedly So
icitous of her aunt's comfort; but the
final parting was conventional enough.
As their cab bore the aunt and niece
away from the docks, the girl drew q
quick sigh.
"A, soldier and a gentleman" she
murmured, with little laugh; but
there was glow in her face, neverthe-
| less.
The city awoke under the weeping
skies. Powell, in his club window,
gazed gloomily down on the dripping
streets. The disgust that his whole ap-
pearance bespoke, however, was not
for the dismal prospect, but for. the
years that were stretching, in his mag
| ination, interestless and wearisome
ahead of him. He was sick of the
army, he told himself, and, worse, sick
Of civilization. AS for that pile of
money in the bank-he loathed the
thought of it.
One of the club servants brought
him letter, and he tore it open indif-
ferently; but his face changed as he
drew it out.
81 would not write this" he read,
Except that you would learn it from
some one else. 1t was your own mis-
take in the beginning, you will re-
member, in taking for granted that my
name was the same as that of my
mothers sister. And, in self-defense.
Icould not do less than leave you under
the delusion, though my aunt strong
ly disapproved. I am sorry that the
only time we are likely to meet, I
should seem to have been passing un-
der false colors. But for the future,
I beg you will believe, 1 shall take as
good care of your name as you shall
yourself. Margaret Kennedy Powell"
"What a fool I must have looked"
he muttered, the dark color rising in
his face.
Miss Lockhart was deep in the APP
prehensive delights of unpacking her
bric-a-brac, when maid, entering, an
nounced:
"a gentleman for Mrs. Powell"
Its the landlord" said Miss Lock
hart, sharply. 81 expected him. Mind.
Madge, if he asks for another cent, you
go!"
Her niece had risen from beside a
trunk, with changing color, and put
her hand nervously to her hair.
every well, auntie," she murmured
vaguely, from the door.
In the hall below she paused before
the drawing-roomportieres; then, part.
ing them, stopped short on the thresh-
old.
capt. Powell!" she exclaimed, in .
low voice.
(! He came quickly forward.
ooh, you knew I would come" he
said, uhsmilingly, taking her hands.