The Washington herald., 1907-04-29
AN UNPUBLISHED CHECK.
BY EDITH NJ. DoANE.

When all the legal formalities were
ended and the fortune that had been
Robert MaXwelTs was finally handed over
TO his beloved daughter Elizabeth" that
young lady regarded her new-found re-
sponsibilities In dismay and promptly
proceeded to shift them to other and
broader shoulders. James Gordon had
been her fathers secretary and his shout
ders were presumably better fitted for
the burden.
But you cannot hand me over your
fortune to carry, as If It were a book or
parcel" said Gordon distractedly, though
inexpressibly cheered by this profession
of confidence. You do not under
stand"
''oh, yes, l do" returned Miss Maxwell
serenely. 1T understand perfectly. shah
appoint you"
Chairman Of the finance committee. b"
suggested Gordon.
Yes. said Miss Maxwell Il will be
the committee"
Well. shall 90 my best, said Cor
don. laughing. But the committee will
please remember that it has certain act
i've duties"
4 don't see why it should have any,"
she retorted. Practically, you have al
ready managed the estate for the past
I'VE years. You were Invaluable to IA
Their"
Perhaps I was" Gordon returned.
Though I don't remember it. and he
never mentioned it. However. ] appre-
ciate your confidence and will serve you
faithfully; but (graveiy) what Il I should
make mistakes? Is IT wise TO intrust the
handling OF so much money TO one man?''
I should think it might depend a good
deal upon the man, said Miss Maxwell,
softly.
So Gordon fitted up an office in a down
town skyscraper where he sat at table
strewn with papers and pink-taped, legal
looking documents, figuring and writing
late into the nights; and Miss Max
well. having arranged her financial af-
fairs to her liking, annexed a meek. ED
erly relative as chaperon and turned her
attention 10 other difficulties.
Her first. chiefest and most immediate
difficulty was her cousin, Tom Cornish.
1T isn't that I do not like you" she
pd4l&oLdhll4eAA NAEAdtllEl AtI the &lulAQl ENLti
time. You know l do. As a sister now,
T."
"Oh. drop It," retorted Tom, inelegant-
Iy.
And anyhow, shall never marry"
$50 it's all up"
Il think I have been telling you that
for the past five minutes, said Miss
Maxwell frnDatientiy
you know what I meant all along" he
said sulIeniy. Some one has been Civ
ing you a resume Of my vices
Your vices are nothing to me. nor
your virtues either II you" The
words died on her lips For the first time
in all their lives his arms closed around
her. Convulsively he held her to him.
bending his head till his lips met her
soft, brown hair.
Betty, live got to-tell you-Tm in
no end Of trouble need you'll need your
help-I-"
By a single vehement effort Betty re-
leased herself
How dare you How dare your' she
raged-then came 10 a dead stop: her eyes
grew wide with dismay, and fixed upon
the doorway at the cad OF the room.
Mr.. Gordon" she said, in constTaln-
ed voice.
It was Gordon, indeed. He was quite at
the other end of the long room. but not
so far that the late tableau could be un-
seen by him. and the distress Of her face
was intensified in his as he bowed hur-
riedly and the yellow portiere fell be-
hind him.
Betty blushed furiously. A person look
ing on and not understanding might. Of
course She turned suddenly to Tom,
who stood staring at her uneaslly
Now go" she cried, desperately Cor
Meanwhile Gordon had found his hat
and the sidewalk and walked blindly down