The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27

hero she was on the verge OF collapse, with every
newspaper man in New Orleans banging on the front
door.
Her mother was quite helpless plunged they we're
into this astounding condition of affairs. She was Oil
invalid and received the news as she did everything
else in her lifc-patiently and swcety. But Eleanor
had been too wholly alive desperately trying for four
wears TO pluck from pervcrse fate enough golden
shcavcs to support her double burden Now when the
burden was so astonishngy lifted she staggered and
went down.
4 The bombshc came in the guisc of long and formal
document from Mrs Mary Hinghain's lawyers in New
York Mrs. Mary bingham was dead and had left her
fortune OF five million dollars to Eleanor, the daughter
OF her old friend Sarah Floyd and to John II Morton
nephew of her deceased husband with the condition that
they were to marry within three months. II they did
not tho money was 90 to orphan asylum She
gave as her reason for desiring this that John and
Eleanor were the two whom she most loved-thereforc
She wanted them love each other Just like all old
woman,
The lawyers letter explained that both were es-
Ipec,cd TO be in New York weeks after the filing
OF the will There they were to be introduced, and
three months allowed for them to decide their fate
and the fate OF the FIVE millions Enclosed with sub
s,antial check for expenses.
Eleanor made determined effort TO bring her
thoughts into normal channel, but they were racing
in such mad tangc that she felt as II she mad peen
taken up in balloon and pushed out INTO space Shc
had known that Aunt Mary rich, butfye millions!
nAnd she had never dreamed OF anything !ike sii'
noniing to her. even with condition
Amt Mary had been liberal TO the Floyds IN some
respects She paid Tor Eleanors education IN schooi
80 superior that thrown in contact with wealthy girls
the economies she had practise were maddenlng.
I'in-rnoney was not supplied.
So when Eleanor out OF school she put her
hand to the plow and for four years had taught little
lodi on
compartment Of "One, two, three, one two, three oc
ras1onaiiv varied by. Wrong finger, dear At homo
.he nractscd hour after hour and dreamed OF Europe
and a career Sometimes she did concert Tor frend
on newspaper, then went back to teaching those wrong
little fingers with lighter heart But she had had no
time to think OF except IN an abstract ilieiuY
Fort of way and TO be thrown at the mead OF ii JONI
r. Morton in this of-hand manner startled her
She knew absolutely nothing about the man Aunt
,,.-v often said John Morton likes this, or, John
Morton once did that but the words had no especial
,.an;nq for her She knew he was civil engineer,
III down in Mexico somewhere, trying to put through
, canal in some absurd little place. It would be
marvellous achicycment-i he did it. but OF his looks
and personality she had never hint She had been
twice to New York to visit Aunt Mary, and Aunt
MARY had been nnurnerabe times to New Orleans 20
.t them hut Iohn Morton had never appeared on the
horizon.
Rut the awful, Overwhelmingly immediate problem
MAS the clarnorous, irssen mob OF newspaper men to
+. disposed Of Mrs Floyd, patiently and swectly,
7cfused to see them. Eleanor simply couldn't FINALLY
she had an inspiration.
She had heard Billy White of the Lexicon tell OF the
ay reporters sometimes clcverl managed to see people
.ho didn't want to be seen. Billy always saw the per-
ron he was sent to sce-hc told her hmself-so she
would send for Billy and let him cope with his kind
He wouldn't up professional conscience and TREND
ship and she needed advice, II he were real good She
would let him print in his paper thoroughly dlgnled
interview with her, in which he could say: am go
ing to New York at the request OF my dear deceased
adopted aunt. Good-by"
At Billys suggestion and with Billys help, she was
sncaking out of New Orleans like criminal at night
She had so far eluded reporters, for Billy managed to
convey the impression to his rivals that Miss Floyd
had already gone to New York. His paper was the
pnly one in town that didn't say So but somehow that
passed unnoticed No doubt he did some tall lying and
although to Eleanor it was "al for friendships sake,
She couldn't but believe that he saw beat for his
paper at the end of his pencil.
"Fair exchange and all that you know, Billy, she
said while they we're waiting for the train I'm not
going to be ridiculous you may call this an inte.
view But do make it dgnfed. Don't say I've gone
10 marry the man-you see don't know whether
shall or not Those five millions awfuly tempting,
but OH he's got to suit me- and starting in to
ret acquainted under such awful conditions m sorry
can't give you his picture but I've never seen one cx
rept painting in Aunt Mary's drawing-room in New
York of fat, very fat baby with his chubby cheek
On his chubby hand. There's OF me there ditto,
md you see how slinky am now so you can't risk
inscription Look after my mother and when decide
she fate of those millions I'll telegraph you
Thanks said Billy. I'D Just like TO add bit Of
advice. If any asks you who you are give wrong
name, you'll get interviewed in spite OF yourself. II
any corners you, say you are Eeanors Floyd's
best friend Hope you get through all right Good-by,"
She awoke the next morning and sat up in her berth