The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-09-01
MISS LAV|N|A'S LOVER
The Result of the Search For the
Man Who Went Away.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.

1TeSS.l
"Well, of course" Miss Layinia con.
fided, Il am glad to have 1t, but it's
unsettling."
Mrs. Briggs shifted. ut wouldn't
unsettle me If any one left me $4,000
l would know what to do with it,
Miss Lavinia leaned forward eagerly.
"What would you do, Jane?" she de-
manded.
ooh, well,' Mrs. Briggs hesitated.
I'D get some new clothes right away
and fix up the house. and entertain my
friends. and take trip and have an
automobile
II have thought of those things, but
they don't seem to be just what
want. after ALL Maybe I'll just put It
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
a good time Goodness only knows
you haven't had many good times"
mo. haven't" Miss Lavinia admit
ted somewhat wistfully. well, I'll
think 1t over, Jane"
And after Mrs. Briggs had gone Miss
Lavinia picked up her big yellow cat
and told him her innermost wish. I'm
going to use some of that money to
find out where John Forbes 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 Lavinia 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 1t was not to the
stores that she made her way, but to
a dusty. musty little office in squalid
street.
"McDermott. private detective" said
the sign.
Miss Layinia was all pink and white
and pretty as she stated her case. But
Mr. MeDermott set her at once at her
ease. He was n brisk little man with
curly white hair and red cheeks.
$50 YOU want TO find John Forbes"
he said. Us he relatiye?o
"Oh. nor And Miss L.avinia blush
ed.
"Owe YOU any money!, McDermott
demanded.
"Oh. no. not" Miss Latimer cried dis
tressfully. 1--WE were engaged fifteen
years ago. and l couldn't marry him,
because / had to stay with my old
father and mother-and he-he went
away-and | promised that when
was free | would let him know.
"Ohp McDermott circulated. and
after a pause. Were You expecting to
find him still single?"
I-I'm not sure"
McDermott tugged at his mustaehe.
"The chances are that he'll be mar
ried."
"Of course" Miss Layinia agreed.
"but l 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."
McDermott reported regularly once
week by letter to Miss Lavinia and
as regularly received her answers.
Miss Layinia wrote ON pale violet
paper that gave forth a perfume of
fresh flowers in the stuffy little office.
McDermott found himself having those
letters In little drawer by themselves,
and one day in early spring. when he
had Travelled out into the country on a
case. he spied some yioIets by the way
side. He picked them and brought
them home and laid them with the let
tiers In the drawer.
McDermott had money of his own.
80 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 If she finds John Forbes single
she will marry him. he would say
with a sigh. and the temptation to
overlook clews was great.
In June he called ON her and found
her in her garden with little low
table in front of her on which was set
forth a lemonade service Miss La
vinia was In pale mauye with a hat
wreathed with violets. "When you
wrote you were coming she said to
McDermott. 81 thought YOU would en-
1oy IL better here I'm the earden-it's
cooler"
"WelI. IL you knew what nice
change it was from that office I'm
fowp ct0had tho littIa man
~" a.. s ,ta. VIC n."e . nua" $40,
,.,,n;. n na ne ."".e o..en' a anu :. az
.ay ~ oe s,, - " rulloieu ~ ,ne
oon,ronn, ,,.ith a ,,on e,o,,, 4h, ~,
"yvou met Co. .hot I,,,o his
,ootsn w. pr,aas to1d ,,,ss au,n;a