Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-02-16

said: THAT is exactly what was to
have been expected. The society of
the bosom friend is necessary: that Of
the fance is not"
The two friends one day in January
sailed on a Mediterranean steamer for
Egypt. That is the last any one in
America heard from them for several
months; then one day Agnes returned,
saying that she had left Marcia start
ing for a trip through the Holy Land.
She reported her friend very much i'm
proved in health and not at all averse
to travelling alone. Agnes was tired
of travelling and preferred to go home.
| AS soon as Marcia learned this, which
| Agnes said she had tried to keep a
secret, Marcia would not hear Of her
remaining abroad any longer. Agnes,
after refusing for a long while to re-
| turn, had been literally compelled to
do SO by Marcia.
Since Agnes and Baxter were seen
together a great deal after her return
critical persons said that Agnes had
come home purposely to monopolize
him. The case excited more talk than
any social happening that had been
discussed in the place for years. Every
one wondered that Marcia Egerton
should be so blind. By some she was
blamed for offering inducement for
crime. Here were two lovers between
whom she stood and who, might be
tempted to put her out of the way that
they might be united, each with con-
siderable means, into possession of
which they would come at her death.
Then anne a report that an Ameri-
can lady travelling in the Holy Land
had been robbed and murdered. The
report was confirmed, and the lady's
name was given as Marcia Egerton.
She had gone off on ar excursion to a
lonely place with a single guide where
there was something curious to see,
and he had returned to report that
they had been set upon by thugs, the
lady murdered and her money, includ-
ing travellers checks, taken. He said
that he had buried the body at the
place of the murder.
Baxter cabled and wrote to United
States consuls nearest the scene of the
tragedy asking for information. Moth
ing was adduced except the statement
of Miss Egerton's guide, which was
taken down in writing and sworn to.
After waiting six months for the girl
to turn up, nothing having been heard
from her, the will was admitted to
probate.
The evidence Of the %testator's death
being deficient, the case dragged. Ger
tain relatives who had hoped to bene-
fit by the will opposed a settlement Of
the estate under the plea that there
was not sufficient evidence that Miss
Egerton was dead. 1t was six months
after the reported death that the chan
Gerry court agreed to pay over to bene-
ficiaries the three parts into which the
estate was divided by the will.
About this time the announcement
was made of the engagement Of Cecil
Baxter and Agnes Hart. A statement
had a presentiment that she would be
, summarily cut off and had requested
in the event of her being so that the
lover was to marry her friend. With
! angelic unselfishness she had provided
in her will for their comfort. This
satisfied every Il except certain per
sons who had been watching Mr.. Bax-
ter and Miss Hart. They averred that
though they might state truly Miss Egg
erton's part of the transaction it left
much to be explained on the part OF
the two who were about to be mar
ried and inherit a fortune from hel
who was to have been the bride.
Baxter and Miss Hart were finally
able to count on a date when their in
heritance would be paid oveT to them
and they arranged to be married tn,
day after receiving it. They agreed
that they would place a stained glas!
window in the church they attended t.
y the memory Of the noble girl who hat
left each Of them Il comfortable for
tune, The plan was laid, but the orde
Il for the work was not to be given unit
!. their property had been turned over t.
them. For a wedding trip they wer
g to go to the Holy Land to gather infol
IS nation of the m they loved anG
}. if possible, bring the body home 70
a burial.
One day they received a notice fror
a their attorney that the papers in til
II case Of their inheritance would be e2
/. ecuted the next morning at II O'Clock
e They We're all packed to go away a
G soon as the marriage ceremony ha
been performed the day after comm
into possession Of their property. A
other matters, including the order fo
If the memorial window, had received a
tention.
On the appointed morning they cal
d ed on their lawyer and were taken b
him to the Office whexe1the transfe
was to be made. While they We're 81
o ting there two persons entered, one {
$ whom especially they had not expecte
n to see. They were Edwin Bond an
s Marcia Egerton, now Mrs. Bonds
! There is no record of what we
-ns1 1+,,oo 4I1~ 4o-k,k1. - 80 :.