The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-06-28

A FIRST TEMPTATION


81 suppose there is no news Of Mary
Coverdale YETI"
'No, Jack; the guv'nor has not beer
able to trace her. 1t seems strange
that she doesn't turn up, with a big
fortune like that awaiting her."
Perhaps; but it's very rough on you
Jack"
Eyes, 1t is; and l can't understand
why Uncle Geoffrey made such a will.
Ever since he adopted me he has al
ways led me to believe that | was his
heir, and all he leaves me is E200 a
year"
"Plus the Marley estate and $1,000 a
year II you marry Miss Coverdale.'
"As have told you before, cannot
do that, Fred, and, in any case, it Is
absurd to suppose that l would marry,
or contemplate marriage, with a girl
whom | have never seen."
"You accepted the situation phil
osophlcally enough when the will was
read six weeks ago"
"Ah! | had not met Miss Carson
then"
But really, Jack, do you mean it
honestly that you are going to marry
Miss Carson without waiting to see
what Mary Coverdale is llkeY
Il mean 1t so much, Fred, that am
going to marry Miss Carson in two
days time, and then we go off on our
honeymoon You are coming down to
Marley Hall to-night?'
Yes. l say good-by to Messrs. Fos-
ter and Arnold to-day for my usual
three weeks holiday, and as l suppose
It will be the last vacation | shall spend
at the old place shall make the most
Of it."
: "Then shall meet you at dinner
tonight, and as am away again early
tomorrow morning you will have the
place to Yourself"
"Oh, shan't mind that l can al
ways amuse myself at Marley Hall"
Jack Winter and Fred Blake were
cousins, and until the death Of their
old uncle, Geoffrey Winter, their lives
had run In very different grooves.
When Jack was left on orphan he had
been adopted by Godfrey Winter and
led to believe that he was heir to the
old mans wealth, and had, in conse-
Quence, lived life Of ease and luxury.
Fred Blake. on the other hand, had al
ways had to work for his living, and
was now clerk In the office of Messrs.
Foster and Arnold, highly respected
firm OF lawyers.
AS the two men parted on the steps
Of the fashionable restaurant where
they had been lunching, Fred stopped
and looked after his cousin.
Poor fool--poor loye-sick fool
Fancy giving up Marley Hall and e.
900 year for the sake of Mary Carson
and her pretty face. Why, for for
tune like that I'd marry Miss Cover
dale even II she was old enough to be
my mother and looked like gargoyle
on st. Paul's"
With which elcvatlng reflection he
walked back to the office. He had only
been at work for few minutes, how
ever, when Mr.. Foster, the senior part
ner, sent for him.
Il think | understood you to say,
Mr.. Blake, that you were going to spend
your vacation at Marley Hail."
'srhat Is so, sir"
"Shall you see Mr.. Winter to.night?"
"Yes; am dining with my cousin
this evening"
"Ah! Then in that case viii get
you to take letter to him. He will
be glad to hear that have been able to
trace Miss Coyerdale,"
Indeed, sir !"
"Yes; and l have made careful In
qulry and have no doubt of her being
the right lady; but In accordance with
a promise made to Mr.. Winter | have
not Informed her of her good fortune,
as your cousin had desire to make
her acquaintance while she was lgnor.
ant of the terms of Godfrey Winters
will"
"A good Idea, sir"
"Perhaps 50, perhaps so; anyway,