Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-11-04
THE UNION OF
TWO ESTATES


ger. 1t is an old story that young peo
pie of opposite sexes owning adjoining
estates are induced by their elders to
marry, thus carrying out the modern
commercial plan of community of
interest" and so it was in this case.
TOwle went to college, then Travelled
abroad. Miss De NeauX, after COM
plotting her education, chafed that she
had been born rich. She pined for a
vocation.
One June day Towle was wandering
about his grounds and before he knew
1t found himself in the De Veaux es-
tates a young woman in the costume
of a trained nurse was resting on a
board seat between two trees reading
or studying. TOwle, who had been
carried through long illness by one Of
this profession and had great adj
hat politely.
Il beg pardon" he said "Will you
tell me who is i'll at the house?'
She hesitated to reply.
mo NATTER" he added. Il have no
right to pry into family secrets"
"NIiss De Veaux is not very we'll"
Indeed. have-I mean we have
not been informed of her Illness"
"Why should you be informed"
1t occurred to Towle to play part
and learn something about the lady
whose interests and his were identical.
"Well, | am Mr.. Towle's business
man, secretary. general utility man.
He lives on the adjoining estate. Had
heard of Miss De Veaux's illness l
should have suggested the propriety of
his writing to express his concern. He
would have directed me TO write
letter, and in this case he would have
copied it in his own hand and sent it
to Miss De Veaux."
"Bless me. Is that the way these
rich people express sympathy"
Usually"
"But l thought there was some talk
Of Mr.. Towle's marrying Miss De
Veaux. How could he be so coldly
methodical with her|
"He has never seen her. His family
has long owned its estate here, hers
only a few years, during which both
Mr. Towle and Miss De Veaux have
been getting an education"
Il see. Doesn't he rather shrink
from such cold blooded unionT
Hes a practical fellow, with no
romantic nonsense about him."
"Then he's not like Miss De Veaux,
who is in full sympathy with that TO-
nance which is at the bottom of every
true heart"
Il am surprised. l supposed Miss
De VeauX was rather practical.
have heard that she is proposing when
she comes into this estate to organize
staff to assist her in devoting her
immense income to practical charity
Her postgraduate education, so tG
speak. is directed with that end in
view
TOwe sat down on the other end of |
the board and beat the grass with his |
cane.
Il wouldn't suppose" he said, that |
Mr.. Towle would care to marry that
sort of woman. They are very well
to admire at distance. but they dcp't
work well in double harness"
"I'm quite sure Miss De Veaux
wouldn't care to marry a man who
would write her letter of sympathy
drawn by his business man."
Towle sat for few minutes with
sober look on his face, then turned to
the nurse with smile. eve are set
Ting the affairs of our betters as
though they were our own. Suppose
We drop them and chat about other top
cs-that is, if you don't mind making
IN acquaintance in this way"
"a trained nurse can't be squeamish."
The pair talked for an hour, then
parted. to meet when the nurse came
,ff duty for an hour of recreation the
lcXt day. In this way they kept up
series of meetings for several weeks.
Meanwhile Towle had sent Il letter Of
with flowers TO Miss De
IeauX, asking to be allowed to call as
Don as she was able to receive callers.
)ne day he received formal note
igned by Miss Edna Knapp, Miss De
'eauX's secretary. informing him that
he was quite recovered and would be
'leased TO see him. Towle was some
What startled at this method Of COM ,
but Miss De NeauX might
e still too weak 10 do her own CORE
pondence. He did not much care for
e had been captivatcd by her nurse.
When WadSWOlrh ToWlc was usher :
d into the drawing room where Helen =,
De Veaux. arraycd in plain but becom- I,
ne costume, awaited him he started.
Hiss De Veaux and her trained nurse /,
yere one and the same person. :
"PardOn me sending you note
Trough my secretary. Mr.. Towle. |
hOuld have made al exception to my
1le in your case. but since your note
coincidence to me came from your :
usiness man | presumed you wouldn't !
IRE. Were you aware that he sent me '
le flowers or did they come under gen =,
raj Instructions for cases Of illness?' :
81 have called to say" rcnlicd Towle =
18th quick recovery of his cquanim- :
y. that all hope of our uniting these :,
roperiics is ended have fallen in "
we with your nurse" :,
Miss. De Veaux bent her eyes to the ',
Dor
"rhe nurse you met" she sud. SIS :,
NY Il student. She IS preparing her =,
If TO organize staff. etc. and had =
lst come in from her studies when she -
,und you on tine De VeauX property :,
nd recognized you at once. She has .,
zen graduated, and you will know her =,
! a nurse no longer" h
And this IL how the Towla and De /,
eaux properties came TO be 4nitcd" a.
BESSIE MAUD WILBUR. :,
Zlr'7S-sz|I N