Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-09-16
MISS LAV|N|A'S LOVER
The Result of the Search For the
 Man Who Went Away.
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
ICopyright, 1903. by Associated Literary
 PreSs.l

Mrs. Briggs sniffed. "It wouldn't unsettle me if any one left me S1O,0OO. l would know what to do with it.'
 Miss Lavinia leaned forward eagerly. "What would you do, Jane:" she de manded.
 "Oh. we'll" Mrs. Briggs hcsitated. "Id get some new clothes right away and fix up the house. and entertain my friends, and take trip and have an automobile"--
 'I have thought of those things. but they don't seem to be just what want, after all. Maybe I'll just put 1t out at interest"
 "Now. look here Lavinia Latimer," Mrs. Briggs said solemnly, don't you do any such thing. You've got enough to live on. such as it is. and my advice is to take some of the money and have good time. Goodness only knows you haven't had many good times.''
 "No, l haven't" Miss Lavinia admit ted somewhat wistfully. "Well. I'll think it over, Janc''
 And after Mrs. Briggs had gone Miss Lavinia picked up her big yellow cat and told him her innerinost wish. I'm going to use some of tha: money to find out where John Forfes is," she whispered. "but l wouldn't tell Jane."
 But to look for the man who had left town ten years ago was not an easy matter And i.avinia Latimer was not wise in methods. But she wanted to know the fate of her old lover. and so 1t happened that ten days after her talk with Jane Briggs, Miss Lavinia went to town.
 I'm going to buy clothes" was the reason she gave, but when she came to the big town it was not to the stores that she made her way, but to a dusty. musty little office in a squalid street.
 "McDermott. private detective" said the sign.
 Miss Lavinia was all pink and white and pretty as she stated her case. But MT. McDermott set her at once at her ease He was a brisk little man with curly white hair and red cheeks.
 'So you want to find John Forbes" he said 'Is he relative?"
 "Oh no"' And Miss Lavinia blush ed.
 "Owe you any moneyy McDermott demanded.
 "Oh. no. no." Miss Latimer cried dis tressfully. We were engaged fifteen years ago. and 1 couldn't marry him. because I had to stay with my old father and mother-and he-he went away-and l promised that when was free l would let him know.
 "Oh" McDermott ejaculated, and after a pause, Were you expecting to find him still single?"
 "I-I'm not sure"
 McDermott tugged at his mustache. '"The chances are that he'll be mar ried.''
 "Of course,' Miss Lavinia agreed. "but should like to be sure.'
 Surely" said McDermott. You just let me have the case, and I'll bring you news of John Forbes before you know it
 McDeriaott reported regularly once a week by letter to Miss Lavinia and as regularly received her answers.
 Miss Lavinia wrote on pale violet paper that gave forth q perfume of fresh flowers in the stUTy little office. McDernott found himself laying those letters ia q little drawer by themselves. and one day in early spring. when he had travelled out into the country on q case, he spied some yiolets by the way side. He picked them and brought them home and laid them with the let ters in the drawer.
 McDermott had money of his own. so that Miss Lavinia's little fortune had no charms for him, but the thought of her delicate presence in his home often came to him with a sense of irresistible attraction.
 "But if she finds John Forbes single she will marry him." lie would say with sigh. and the temptation to overlook clews was great.
 In June he called on her and found her in her garden with a little low table in front of her on which was set l forth lemonade service Miss La vinia was in pale mauve with q hat l wreathed with violets. When yoli i wrote you were coming" she said to McDermott, Il thought you would en- joy it better here in the garden-its cooler"
 Well if you knew what niee change it was from that office i1 ! town" sighed the little man.
 After that he came cften, and grad ! ually it began to be rumored in the town that Miss Lavinia was keeping company" with man from the city. Well. I must say that I like his looks" Mrs. Briggs told Miss Lavinia when she came over one morning after McDermott had called. He is just a business acquaint- ance," Miss Layinia protested. Mrs. Briggs sniffed. Il guess you wouldn't be dressing up i'll those pretty clothes and waving yOur hair just for !