New-York tribune., 1909-10-24


me like this and know that is Martha Carpenter,
know her knock. There Marie, does it show she
continued after Marie had given her the powder puff
\ second and more vigorous knock sounded at the
door.
The mother held to her daughters dress until she
received a satisfactory answer as to the powder, be
fore leaning back in her chair to greet with becoming
formaty the expected neighbOr.
Marie threw open the door rather abruptly because
of the delay, only to encounter a strange young man.
who seemed rather confused for the moment at the
freshness and beauty of the young girl and the sud-
denness with which she appeared
After brief embarrassing silence, Marie, with
half concealed smile, bowed her head slightly and
said Did you wish something.
Il am looking for Mrs Ingram
Il am Miss Ingram My mother IS at home.
Won't You come in?' and the next instant Jimmy
Fox hat in hand talking rapidly, his remarks
directed to the lavender lady.
You will pardon nv intrusion, said the young
man. but | was directed here by some ladies down
the street. 1t my last chance
Your last chance?" echoed Marie, who stood at
her mothers side.
Yes. You see have been looking for an elderly
lady. first Margaret, last name unknown,
who was sometimes called the lavender lady, who
had a sister Marie, living in New York. and IS
supposed to live in Westfeld" Fox stopped to take
breath.
Marie, Marie!" gasped the old lady. " He means
1t my sister Marie my name IS Margaret and
l the lavender lady, and she stared at the young
man bewildered-
tone of apology, in the last two months / have
visited no less than five Westfeds IN as many dif-
eTeTt States TRYING YOU, LndJ trEIDg ind
the lavender lady, first lie Margaret whose sister
Marie lived in New York In New Iersev out n
Western New York, in Connecticut, everywhere but
here in Westfeld, Vermont, they laughed az me
when | spoke of the lavender lady. l guess they
thought was crazy. But as soon as / landed from
the noon train here felt | had found YOU TIE
first woman / met down the street said the Lavender
lady surely Mrs. Ingram"
Yes young gentleman" +" broke in Mrs Ingram
with rising emotion. What is it all abOut:
THEN Jimmy Fox very gently and quietly told
her of the death of her sister Marie. He related
how Sargent. senior, attorney for Marie Passavant
had been called suddenly to witness her will; she
the document, and signed it; how the attorney had
arrived only TO find her unconscious and how
physicians had been sent for, and finally how she
had died during the night without recovering con
SCiOusneSS.
On the table by her bedside" continued the
Young man, Mr. Sargent found the draft of her Will
She had mentioned her sister Margaret and her niece
Marie but by strange oversight had not given Your
last name nor Your exact place of residence. As /
remember the will, it read about like this i be
queath to my beloved sister Margaret whose friends
delight in calling her the lavender ladv and nv dear
godchild, Marie both of Westfeld-'
And here she had stopped" went on Jimmy Fox
evidently intending write in the next few lines of
the provisions of the will and the value of her estate
but down at the bottom of the sheet she had signed
her in full
Poor dear MarieI" sObbed the lavender Ladv.
Then Fox told the mother and daughter that Sar-
gent, senior had been appointed administrator of
the estate, and that every effort had been made 10
find the sister Margaret.
And there were many Westheds!' he said
W ny, IN the postal guide we found there was a
visited the four WeStheldS nearest New York II be
came rather problem whether we should find Won or
not. Luckily all the Westields are small towns
You see the name Margaret meant nothing at all
tf