The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-05

TeJeCItu butoFS uI Mlbh ElcuncT 6ttNtHn
are requested 10 meet Mt her late residence
on Beechwood street. Philadelphia, on Mon
day, the 2ist instant. at ten o'clock u. M.
with reference to the legacies due then
under her will.--willnrd Pratt, Executor.
Il think that will reawaken popular
interest" said the old lawyer dryly.
And so II did. Seven days later.
when the hour appointed for the re-
ception Of Miss Stevens rejected suit
ors drew near. the street in the vlcin.
ity OF her late residence was lined
with an eager multitude OF men and
women. From behind the curtains OF
every window within a block, unseen
spectators awaited the mornings de.
velopments; while people who would
not acknowledge their curiosity by
joining the crowd OF confessed sight.
seers made convenient errands which
took them through Becchwood street
ut the time appointed for the SHOW"
The only drawback to the anticipated
enjoyment was the fear that, after all,
the suitors might at the last moment
fail to appear.
But no such catastrophe occurred.
II is true that as the hour drew near
in which they were to stand confessed
as members of Miss Eleanor's army
of martyrs" several OF the intended
claimants had found themselves weak
oning In their resolve. Those, for In.
stance. who had justified their claim
solely on the ground OF an admiration
felt but never expressed, felt their
courage oozing as the ordeal ap
preached. Others, who were burning
incense at new shrlnes. seriously con.
s.dered renouncing a claim that would
decidedly complicate their present
prospects. Still others, who were now
happily married. hesitated at opening
the old wound and endangering their
domestic bliss, even for s25, 900; while
hardly one but felt some qualms at the
thought OF openly proiiting by an ex.
perience that most men hide in the
deepest recesses of the heart.
II was n question whether pride or
profit would win the day. In the end,
however, the almighty dollar had
proved its right to that title.
When Mr.. Pratt entered the library
Of Miss Stevens late residence. at ten
o'clock on tails eventful smorning. he
found the room crowded with body
of men clad In mourning garh and sol.
EMMY waiting In various stages Of
uneasiness for the approach of the
long-expected moment.
Gentlemen" began the old law.
yer, Il must trouble each of you to
give me In writing concise statement
OF the time. place and circumstances
attending your several offers and re-
jections. in order that may have
documentary proof that you are en-
titled to the legacies left you by the
terms OF Miss Stevens will.
Documentary proof" At those un'
pected words the emotion that
marked the faces of the strange as.
sembly changed to unmistakable con.
Germ. Was this some disagreeable
Joke? No. the old lawyer waited with
unmoved face for the fulhlment of his
demand. There was a momentary
hesitation. Then, filing up in due or
der, the applicants, one by one, seated
themselves at the table before the old
attorney and wrote the account de-
mandcd.
AS the last statement was signed,
the portieres Of the library were sud.
denly drawn back. and tall, heavily.
yelled figure advanced slowly into the
middle of the room. Then, as she
raised her hand and drew back the
thick gauze that masked her face. a
cry of terror echoed through the
house.
The woman was Eleanor Stevens!
Wait" she commanded. Don't be
alarmed; | am no ghost. The Miss
Stevens who died year ago In the
Black Forest was not the Miss Stew.
ems whose loss you are SO deeply
mourning.
by stupid blunder of the peasants
with whom | was staying, an exchange
OF names occurred between myself and
i'm invalid girl whom had befriend.
NN ~ hli'I hi'i, utE
certificate was issued under the name
OF Eleanor Stevens.
Some weeks earlier bad been In.
fiuenced by daily contact with one
whose life was fading rapidly away
to draw up my will in legal form and
to send 1t home to my lawyer.
when | left so suddenly for Eu.
rope year and halfRgo Il was be.
cause OF conversation overheard be.
tween several OF my seeming admir-
ers which changed all my ideas Of
manly chivalry In affairs of the heart,
and which drove me abroad, Re I sup
posed, forever.
1T was that laundering exchange of
names that has given me the oppor-
tunity of meeting you under these in
teresting circumstances.
Nov, gentlemen, my will, in which
you have shown so deep an interest,
stipulates that each of my rejected
suitors shall receive $4,000 after my
death. That beQuest will be carried
out to the letter when am really
dead.
In the meantime would gladly