The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-29
THE BEST LAID PLANS.
BY HOMER STOUT.

fCopyright. 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col.
 How Sister Agatha happened to leave the little tin box open on her table at the very time when Bertha was summoned to her room is difiiciilk to explain, when the sisters exceeding care and conscien- tioueuess is taken into account It only goes to prove that no human being is infailible. and in this case good Sister Agatha certainly failed in care and eau tion' to a degree that entailed results which forever robbed her of her peace of mind As a matter of fact, she open ed the box to refresh her mind as to some particular instructions regarding Bertha, about which she was to talk to the girl. Then the mother superior came in with a few suggestions and-well, to tell the plain truth, Sister Agatha forgot that the precious box with its secrets still lay on her table when Bertha ar- rived.
 Bertha was no longer child She was 17, and a most beautiful young woman, had she but known it. One more year and she would leave the care of the con- vent No one in the convent knew even the name of her parents. She was a child of mystery. Brought there when a child. with most explicit instructions as to her education and treatment, with am- pie provisions for the pa. a.-ment of all bills, naught was known of her antecen- dant nor her future excepting what was contained in the tin box confded to the keeping of Sister Agatha. And all that was ineligible there was a series of ex- plicit instructions regarding her training. education and treatment-excepting one mysterious packet, amply sealed and marked: ITO be delivered to Bertha up- nr, fVU fhn hnr eighteenth birthday
 Scarcely had Bertha entered the room before Sister Agatha was summoned outside on a brief errand. Bertha, left alone, inadvertly glanced at the mysteri- ous box. It was open. with the sealed envelope lying on top of all the other pa- pers. The girl started and turned pale. For years she had wondered and grieved over the mystery surrounding her. She knew she was different from the other girls, who had letters and visits from their people, and who frequently went away in vacation time to their homes bringing back strange cries of pleas ures unknown to her. At times she fierce ly resented the fate that had left no af- fection in her life. A sudden impulse seized her and she reached for the sealed envelope and tucked it in the bosom of her dress.
 A moment later, When Sister Agatha returned her eye caught the open box and she glanced kecnly at Bertha. The innocence on the girls face reassured her and she hastily locked the box and returned 1t to its place in her closet.
 That afternoon, alone in & secluded nook, Bertha opened the precious enve- lope. It contained only letter as fol- lows.
 My Dear Ward: owe you. perhaps, many apologies for keeping you so long without knowledge of your name. ante cedents and place in the world, but when you have read this I am sure you will agree with me that is all for the best Your name is Bertha Farley. Your fa- ther was a dear friend of mine. and when he followed your mother to the grave, while you were still an infant. he made me your guardian. My brother Charles was disappointed sultor of your mother and never recovered from his attachment, He died a bachelor soon after the death of your father. and left a large estate. He had very strong sense of kinship. and desired the estate kept in the family. He was very fond of his Nephew, my son Richard. four years your senior. He had, however, so strong sentimental attach ment for your mother. and through her for you, that 1t became a dream of his mind during his last years--in fact from the time of your fathers death-that a match should be arranged between you and my son Richard. With this in view, he left his property to Richard, provid- Ing he should marry you immediately upon coming of age. Knowing that I was In position as your guardian to in- huence you, and fearing my opposition,