The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-29

George Atwood was an orphan VINO
did not remember father or mother.
lie lived with an uncle till that uncle
died At this time George was seven
teen years old and wished to go TO col
lege. but. not knowing OF any means
to pay his way, was about to give 1t
up when. the day after his uncle's
funeral. be received notice from law
6rm that they would pay him 81 200 a
year until he was twenty-one.
This surprised him. He visited the
lawyers In question. but they gave him
10 satisfaction concerning the source
Of the money they paid him except
that It came from a fund left by his
father for his education. He went to
college and graduated when he was
within n few months OF coming Of age.
The day he left college. while won
dering what work TO take up, he re-
ceived letter from an aunt whom he
had never seen or heard OF. telling him
that he was to come to live with her.
Here was another surprise. II seemed
that fate was ready to take care or
him. but was not inclined to give him
any information ahead as to what
would be done with him. He had now
reached an age when he felt compe-
tent to take care OF himself, but he did
not have any profession or position.
So he concluded TO call on this aunt.
He did so and found her sister OF
his mother.
Where is your baggageT she asked.
AT my lodgings"
Send for It,"
See here. aunt I'm getting tired OF
being provided for in this mysterious
fashion. Tell me all about IT,"
Certainly. Your mother died when
you were In infancy. and your father
soon followed her. They arranged for
your future the day you were born.
All the steps have been provided for
even as to wife"
"A wife. Well. I like that! ! SHAH
marry whom choose
THAT remains to be seen. II Is the
AFFAIR OF your parents and OF yourself.
IL does not concern me whom you
marry except as regards one person.
have living with me an adopted
daughter You VIII be under the same
roof with her and will consequently
see n great deal OF her Therefore /
warn you 10 be careful not to fall In
love with her.
is she OF royal bloodY'
ASK no questions. but do as say.
George met Miss HarwOOd the same
evening al dinner She was dressed
i'm mourning. which was very becoming
10 a fair complexion and hair 50 light
That II was almost white. Her eye
was liquid brown.
Fate" George remarked TO himself.
has been kind 10 me. but | fear that
la throwing me In the way OF this girl,
whom / am not 10 love. she has done
me sufficient harm TO make up for all
her benefits suppose | shall con
ceive craze for her simply because
/ am forbidden to do 50. wonder
who has been provided for me. Ten
to one she is homely and otherwise
unattractive.'
What was his surprise to find after
becoming on intimate terms with Re
becca Harwood to hear from her that
her aunt before his arrival had warn
cd her against him as she had warned
him against her His aunt had told
her that there was n business in which
she Miss IlarwOOdl was half owner
and the owner OF the other half was
the son of her fathers partner. Her
father, who had recently died, had ar
ranged that she should marry this
son and that he should conduct the
business owned by the two.
So that was the reason why George
was not to fall In love with Rebecca.
What the deuce did bis aunt mean
such being the case-by bringing him
under the same roof with the young
heiress: Not only did she do this. but
he had not been In the house three
days before she took herself OF some
where, leaving him and Rebecca alone
in the house. chaperoned by an old
woman hocsekeeper. He bad nothing
to do, no ca to talk to but Rebecca.
One might as well have put a savory
dish before hungry man and tell him
not to eat II.
The result was that Rebecca and
George fell desperately In love with
each other and the day his aunt was
TO return walked off together and were
married. They sent her telegram an
nouncing that they had spoiled the
plans fate had laid for Hebecca and
wished to know what next they should
do. George certainly did not expect bis
aunt to have any consideration for
him thereafter.
An answer to the dispatch was re-
ceived as follows
Come home"
They took the next train, and when
they arrived the aunt met them In the
hall.
ITS all your fault. aunt" George
hurried to say. "You had no business
to throw us together"
"Of course it's my fault, and took
pains that It should be my fault. Now
listen. You are the children OF two
partners who wished you TO marry
and selected me 10 make match be-
tween you. How could I do so better
than by leaving you together and tell
ing you that you were each destined
for some one else? George. you will be
.: age in a few weeks. when you are
to begin to learn the business you are
to conduct"
Considering that ! was left an or
phan think my affairs were well
managed for me by my parents. En-
forts to produce such results are usual
ly failures.