The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-01

on Beechwood street Philadelphia, on Mon.
day, the 2lst instant. at ten o'clock a. M,
with reference to the legacies due them
under her will.--Willard Pratt. Executor.
81 think that will reawaken popular
interest" said the old lawyer dryly.
And so It did. Seven days later.
when the hour appointed for the re.
ception of Miss Stevens rejected suit
ors drew near, the street in the vicin.
ity of her late residence was lined
with an eager multitude of men and
women. From behind the curtains OF
every window within block, unseen
spectators awaited the mornings de.
yelopments; while people who would
not acknowledge their curiosity by
Joining the crowd of confessed sight
seers made convenient errands which
took them through Beechwood street
at 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 neat
in which they were to stand confessed
as members of Miss Eleapor's army
of martyrs" several of the intended
claimants had found themselves weak
ening i'm 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 we're burning
incense at new shrines, seriously con
sidered renouncing q 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 $25, 900; while
hardly one but felt some qualms at the
thought of openly profting by an ex.
perience that most men hide in the
deepest recesses of the heart.
1t was a 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 this eveatful morning, he
found the room crowded with body
of men clad in mourning garb and sol.
emnly waiting in various stages of
uneasiness for the approach of the
long.expected moment.
AS the lawyer silently took his seat
behind a baize-covered table, the
troubled faces grew visibly more
troubled; and as he produced sundry
important-looking documents and laid
them on the table, each countenance
was stamped with mingled emotions,
eager expectancy in many cases being
linked with shame and avarice.
Gentlemen" began the old law.
yer 81 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.
pccted words the emotion that
marked the faces of the strange as.
sembly changed to unmistakable con.
cern. Was this some dsagreeable
joke? No, the old lawyers waited with
unmoyed face for the fulfilment of his
demand There was a momentary
hesitation. Then, filing up in due or.
der the applicants one by one, seated
fhnn1gn1Nng ~ tho N q a.. 4
attorney and wrote the account de.
manded
As the last statement was signed,
the portieres of the library were sud.
denly drawn back, and a tall heavily.
veiled 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.
cry Of terror echoed through the
house.
The woman was Eleanor Stevens!
Wait" she commanded. Don't be
alarmed; | AN no ghost. The Miss
Stevens who died a 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
an invalid girl whom / had befrlend.
ed; so that when she died, her death
certificate was issued under the name
of Eleanor Stevens.
Some weeks earlier / had been in.
fuenced by daily contact with one
whose life was fading rapidly away
to draw up my will in legal form and
10 send it home to my lawyer.
when left so suddenly for Eu.
rope year and half ago it was be.
cause Of conversation overheard be.
tween several Of my seeming admir-
ers which changed all my ideas of
manly chiyalry in affairs of the heart,
and which drove me abroad, as | 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.
Now, gentlemen, my will, I'm which
you have shown so deep an interest
stipulates that each OF my rejected
suitors shall receive $4,000 after my
death That beuuest will lie carriad