The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-07-26
HER HEARTS WISH.


him debating all the afternoon.
The swinging door of his office
opened 20 admit the letter carrier
who threw letters ou his desk, nodded
and departed. Webster hastily open.
ed the smaller of the letters. The
handwriting was feminine. iWhen he
had eagerly read the dainty missive
he pushed the remainder Of the letters
and papers toward the typewriter
saying; "Miss johnson, just finish
that last one and then you may 20
home.' Glancing at his watch, he
added: IL shall not return tonight
In another moment the swinging door
banged after him.
The office boy impatiently waited
for the typewriter, Miss johnson, to
arrange her wavy pompadour to the
best advantage and to give a defiant
pull to the bow of ribbon surmount
the wonderful structure, as she smiled
at her charms reflected fatteringly in
the Office glass.
The boy said ''Guess LII git home
some time before morning at this rate.
Can't you get move on 2"
And he skillfully threw a handful
of sawdust as near to her as be dared.
Keith Webster loved a girl whom
he knew was the embodiment of all
he had been taught to love and rev.
erence in women.
Sometimes it seemed to him that
her hearts best devotion was given to
the worship of art.
Her studio was but few blocks
from his office. She was busily gath.
ering up her brushes and removing
her apron when he entered the room.
A pleased look lighted her face as
he caught sight of him, and she cried
quickly:
"Keith, I'm so impatient te tell you
of my legacy I can't wait till morning,
that is why I summoned YOU"
Then, anxiously looking into his
face again, she added:
81 could have waited. I suppose. T
hope it was not an interruption, Keith?
I meant to have written that also"
"Interruption ~ he exclaimed, i'm
patiently. Dora, l want you to un.
derstsnd that my time is always at
your disposal. Now, tell me all about
your eccentric aunt. s. she has left
you some money and is not dead.
Come sit here and tell me all about
it," He led her to the table, where a
curious bronze lamp shed a soft light
upon an official looking envelope, the
seal of which he recognized to be that
of Janette Pentland, Dora's eccentric
old aunt, who was living in Paris at
that time.
Listen, Keith, while l read my
aunt's queer letter.
SEPTEMBER 13, 1908.
"Dear Niece Dora Here, right
under the shadow of statues and mon
uments in the house of a sculptor,
with art in the very atmosphere, and
with Clipped antiques in all corners
of the house, lives your old aunt ia.
nette.
"And l have lonely time of it.
But for the climate, l would never
stay here. The French verbs are bad
"rongh, but the battle I've had with
cabmen have weakened my constitu.
tion.
"It has occurred to me that can
inaugurate new fashion in the mat
ter of bequeathing my money, 50 that
l can see for myself the actual benefit
ensuing thersfrom. Accordingly l
depart from hitherto established Gus
tom by making my bequests before
my death.
II propose to place at your dispos-
al the sum of 80, ,OG0 to be used abso-
lutely for one Of two purposes. Mark
we'll the conditions of my beqnest.
They must be observed, or the money
will not be obtainable.
"First. The money may go to de-
fray your tuition in Paris, under the
best teachers. In which case, the be-
quests will be doubled when you have
given reasonable proof that you have
talent.
Second. In the event of a CON-
templated marriage, within a year
from this date, the sum of $4,000 is
to be appropriately spent in preparing
for said marriage. Should you refuse
both my conditions, l shall trouble
You no further. Please advise me by
cable, care of H. Couteaux, No. II