Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-02

Why, sir" she answered slowly, T wouldn't exacey say she was i'll, but she seemed troubled about something. I think she'd been crying. She's been crying good deal, off and on, since her father died, poor thing" she added.
 That would explain it. certainly, and yet grief for her father might not be the only cause of Frances Holladay's tears
 But she didn't seem vexed with you?
 "Oh. no, sir; she gave me brooch, as told you.'
 q fear I can't promise you any thing" said MT. Royce slowly, after a moments thought "Of course it's none of my business, for Miss Holladay must arrange her household to suit herself; yet. if you don't get back with your old mistress, may perhaps be able to find you a position somewhere else. Suppose you come back in three or four days, and I'll see what I can do."
 "All right, sir, and thank you she Salu, ana leTC the once.
 I had some work of my own to keep me busy that night, so devoted no thought to Frances Holladay and her affairs, but they were recalled to me with renewed force next morning
 Did you get Miss Holladay's sig nature to that conveyance?" Mir. Gra- ham chanced to ask his partner in the course of the morning
 '"No, sir" answered Mir. Royce, with just trace of embarrassment. T called at the house last night, but she sent down word that she was too i'll to see me or to transact any business. ?
 Nothing serious, hope? asked the other quickly.
 No, sir I think not. Just trace of nervousness, probably"
 But when he called again at the house that evening he received a sim liar message, supplemented with the news imparted by the butler, a servant of many years standing in the family, that Miss Holladay had suddenly de- cided to leave the city and open her country place on Long Island. It was only the end of March, and so full two months and more ahead of the season. But she was feeling very i'll, was not able to leave her rocel, indeed, and believed the fresh air and quiet of the country would do more than anything else to restore her shattered nerves So the whole household, with the exception of her maid, a cook, house girl and underbutler, were to leave the city next day in order to get the country house ready at once.
 q don't wonder she needs a little toning up," remarked our chief sym pathetically. "She has gone through nerve trying ordeal, especially for a girl reared as she has been. Two or three months of quiet will do her good. When does she expect to leave?"
 "In about week, think. The time hasn't been definitely set It will de pend upon how the arrangements go forward. It won't be necessary, will it, to bother her with any details of business? That conveyance. for in- stance"-
 'Can wait till she gets back. No, we won't bother her at all"
 But it seemed that she had either i'm proved or changed her mind, for two days later a note, which her maid had written for her, came to MT. Graham asking him to call upon her in the course of the next twenty-four hours, as she wished to talk over some mat ters of business with him. It struck me as singular that she should ask for MT. Graham, but our senior called cab and started off at once without comment An hour later the door open ed and he entered the office with a most peculiar expression of counte- nance.
 Well, that beats mel he exclaimed as he dropped into his chair.
 Our junior wheeled around toward him without speaking. but his anxiety was plain enough.
 'To think that a girl as level headed as Frances Holladay has always been should suddenly develop such whimsi- calities. Yet I couldn't but admire her grasp of things. Here have I been thinking s~ didn't know anything about her business and didn't care, but she seems to have kept her eyes open.'
 'Well?' asked Mir. Royce as the oth CT paused.
 Well. she started out by reminding me that her property had been left to her absolutely. to do as she pleased with, a point which I. of course, con ceded. She then went on to say that she knew of a number of bequests her father had intended to make before his death. and which he would have made If he had not been cut of so suddenly: that the bequests were of such a na- ture. that he did not wish his name to appear in them. and that she was going to undertake to carry them out anony- mouSly."
 "Well?' asked our junior again.
 Well" said Mir. Graham slowly, "she asked me to dispose at once of such of her securities as I thought best in or der that might place in her hands by tomorrow night $1O0.O00 fin cash-a cool hundred thousandr'