The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-03
MISSLAVIHIA' LOVER
The Reslli ef 10 Search For the
Man Vito lyent Away.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.

Mrs Briggs shifted. at wouIdn's
Wnsettle me II any one left me $4,000.
would know what to do with It,"
Miss Lavinia leaned forward eagerly
What would you do, JaneT she de-
@anded.
"Oh. well,' Mrs. Briggs hesItated.
"l'd get some new clothes right away
and fix up the house. and entertain my
friends, and take trip and have an
automobile
Il have thought Of those things. but
tiiey don't seem to be just what
want, after all. Maybe I'll just put It
cut at interest"
Now, look here, Lavinla Latimer,"
Mrs. Briggs said soIemnly, "don't you
do any such thing You've got enough
to live on. such as 1t is. and my advice
is to take some Of the money and have
a good time. Goodness only knows
you haven't had many good times"
mo, haven't" Miss Lavinla admit
ted somewhat wistfully. "Well, ri
think It over, Jane"
And after Mrs. Briggs had gone Miss
Lavinia picked up her big yellow cat
and told him her innermost wish. "Tm
going to use some OF that money TO
and out where John Forbes is." she
whispered. but wouldn't tell Jane
But to look for the man who had left
town ten years ago was not an easy
matter. And Lavinia Latimer was moi
wise in methods. But she wanted TO
know the fate Of her old lover, and SO
It happened that ten days after her
talk with Jane Briggs, Miss Layinia
went TO town.
"Pm going TO buy Clothes" was the
reason she gave. but when she came
to the big town 1t was not to the
stores that she made her way, but to
a dusty. musty little Office In soualId
street.
"McDermott, private detective" said
the sign.
Miss Layinia was all pink and white
and pretty as she stated her case But
Mr. McDermott set her at once at her
ease. He was a brisk little man with
curly white hair and red cheeks.
$50 you want to find John Forbes"
he said. "Is he relatiVeT
"Oh. now And Miss Lavinia blush.
ed.
"owe you any moneyT' McDermoit
demanded.
"0h. no, nor Miss Latimer cried dis
tressfully. I'VE were engaged afteen
years ago, and couldn't marry him.
because ! had TO stay with my old
father and nfother-and he-he went
away-and ! promised that when
was free ! would let him know.
"oh" McDcrmott calculated. and
after pause Were you expecting 10
find him stili single?"
"I-Pm not sure"
McDermott tugged at his mustachc.
"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."
MeDermott reported regularly once
week by letter TO Miss Lavinia aud
as regularly received her answers.
Miss Layinla wrote on pale violet
paper that gave forth a perfume Of
fresh flowers In the stuffy little Office.
McDermott found himself laying those
letters In a little drawer by themselves.
and one day in early spring, when he
had Travelled out into the country Oh u
case. he spIed some violets 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 Layinia'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 II she finds John Forbes single
she will marry him." he 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 O little low
table In front of her on which was set
forth a lemonade service. Miss La
vinia was in pale mauve with a hat
wreathed with yiolets. when you
wrote you were coming" she said to
McDermott, Il thought you would en-
JOY It better here in the garden-It's
cooler"
well. II you knew what a nice
change II was from that Office In
town." sighed the little man.
After that be came often, and grad
uully 1t began TO be rumored In the
town that Miss Lavinia was Excepting
company with a man from the city.
"Well. ! must say that l like his
looks" Mrs. Briggs told Miss Lavinla
when she came over one morning after
McDermott had called.
He is just a business acquaint-
ance," Miss Lavinia protested.
Mrs. Briggs shifted. Il guess you
wouldn't be dressing up In those pretty
clothes and waving your hair just for
business man."
Miss Lavinia blushed and sighed.
"You don't know how many things l
have TO look after since got my
money"
To tell the truth. the search for John
Forbes began to weigh on her. She
realized that with the coming of John
Forbes would end the visits OF John
McDermott.
McDermott continued doggedIy with
his search. He didn't want to find
John Forbes. or II he did find him b
hoped that he would be married. But
II Lavinia Latimer wanted anything.
she should have II.