Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-30


@pWS was normal,
W2 healthy girl who
had never known nerves: now here
she was, on the verge of collapse Win
eyery newspaper man In New orleans
banging on the front door
Her mother was quite helpless. pldnsco
as they were into this astounding conui-
ton OF affairs. She was an Invalid ana
received the news as she did everything
else In her life-patiently and sweetly
But Eleanor had been too wholly aiiVe'
desperately trying for four years to pluck
from a pervcrse fate enough golden
sheaves to support her double burden.
Now when the burden was so astonishing
IN lifted she staggered and went down.
The bombshell came in the guise OF
long and formal document from Mrs. Mary
Hingham's lawyers in New York. Mrs
Mary bingham was dead and had left her
fortune of $5.OOO.O0O to Eleanor, the
daughter of her old friend, Sarah Floyd,
and to John II. Morton. nephew of her de-
ceased husband, with the condition that
they were to marry within three months.
IL they did not. the money was to go to
an orphan asylum. She gave as her rea-
son for desiring this that John and Flea
nor were the two whom she most loved
therefore she wanted them to love each
other. Just like an old woman.
The lawyers letter explained that both
we're expected to be in New York in two
weeks after the filing Of the will. There
they were to be introduced, and three
months allowed for them to decide their
fate and the fate of the $5,O0O.O0O. In
closed was a substantial check for ex-
penses.
Eleanor made a determined effort to
bring her thoughts into normal channel.
but they were racing in such mad
tangle that she felt as if she had been
taken up in a balloon and pushed out into
space. She had known that Aunt Mary
was rich, but-$5.OOOOC0! And she had
never dreamed of anything like a gift
coming to her. even with a condition.
Aunt Mary had been liberal to the
Floyds in some respects. She paid for
Eieanors education in a school so su-
pcrior that, thrown in contact with
wealthy girls. the economies she had to
practice were maddening Pin money was
not supplied.
So when Eleanor came out Of school
she put her hand TO the pillow. and for
GnO to
tinkle out melodies on the piano. to the
accompaniment OF "One. two three. one.
two, three, occasionally varied by
Wrong finger, DEAR" At home she prac-
ticed hour after hour, end dreamed of
Europe and a career. Sometimes she did
q concert for friend on a newspaper
then went back TO teaching those wrong
little fingers with a lighter heart. But
she had had no time to think of men ex-
cept in an abstract, friendly sort of way,
and to be thrown at the head Of Mr.. John
II. Morton in this offhand manner startled
her
She knew absolutely nothing about the
man. Aunt Mary often said. John Nor
ton likes this or. John Morton once did
that" but the words had no especial
meaning for her. She knew he was a
civil engineer. off down in Mexico some
where. trying to put through a canal in
some absurd little place. 1t would be a
marvellous achievement If he did it, but
OF his looks and personality she had never
a hint She had been twice to New York
TO visit Aunt Mary. and Aunt Mary had
been innumerabIe times to New Orleans
10 visit them. but John Morton had never
appeared on the horizon.
But the awful, overwhelmingly immedi-
ate problem was the clamOrous. insistent
mob of newspaper men TO be disposed of.
Mrs. Floyd patiently and sweetly. re-
fused to see them. Eleanor simply couldn't.
Finally she had an inspiration.
She had heard Billy White of the Lexi-
con tell of the way reporters sometimes
cleverly managed TO see people who didn't
want TO be seen. Billy always saw the
person he was sent TO see-he told her so
bimseIf-so she would send for Billy and
let him cope WITH MS hiliu lie "ouiuh
mix up professional conscience and friend
ship and she needed advice If he were
real good she would let him print in his
paper a thoroughly diSnitied interview
with her. in which he could say: II am
going to New York at the request Of my
dear deceased adopted aunt. Goodbye"
:. Bilys suggestion and with Billy's
help, she was sne liking out of New Or
leans like criminal at night. She had
so far eluded reporters. for Billy managed
10 convey the impression to his rivals that