The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-01-12

three days after, INNS Minton called
gaardediy over the phone: I'VE have
! strange visitoi, rather mysterious,
II you care to ssss him come quickly.'ii
Exactly An hour later he stepped
through the door Of the library ct
Estwold. Clara sat ct .thi table, ia.
front Of the nrs. her head in her
hands. her eyes downcast The VII.
flor stood beside the mantsl, thus IL
most directly beneath the portrait 81
the dead owner of Estwold. Eldridge
ptaftsd at sight Of the strangtf-who
s1as not After ill strange. A. liksnsss.
subtle. elusive, IN 4 -senss ghostiy, to
The pictured isoS made him feel that
here vas the beginning of possible
traSedt. ssssl1
Clara looked up ct his. entrance.
lie this telspathy!" she asked. smil.
tng family. Il was on the point Of
sending for you-yet could not quite
decide to do it."
well. am here" Eldridge said
stihhy.
The stranger glowered at him.
Neither man had made the least ac-
knowledgment Of the others presence.
Clara rose. You are in time" she
said. her head high, ito help me in
the righting of wrong"
Il don't understand" Eldridze
began.
She held up her hand, saying:
Wait! You will. Let me present you
to-Mr. Marshall Estes. owner Of this
house-of everything-as soon as you
can legally transfer 1t to him."
Are you mad-love mad?" Eldridge
sneered. Remember your husband q
wildly remarriage you forfeit con-
troll Of the estate. It vests instead in
me-be sure shall assert my rights. y
You have none-because have
none," Clara said, her head still high.
Let me explain. You know how the
fortune came to my, husband-from
his fathers half sister, Maria, who
died unmarried"
"Her mother was a great heiress. !"
Eldridge interrupted. Therefore, her
son riEhtfully inherits the money
whatever the law may be-"
Clara said: Yes, Marshall Estes IL
her son. ten years older than his
cousin, my husband His mother
never knew that he lived-they told
her cruelty that she had borne a dead
child. Family pride. you see. Her
father made some provision for the
lad"
you surely take no stock in such
q threadbare invention? Eldridge
cried. "Why, 1t would disgrace q
dime novel. Let this impostor out,
neck and crop!"
HE 10 no impostor-I have the
clearest proofs" Clara said with dig.
nifty. Shame to me that. after seeing
them. understanding. believing them,
let myself hesitate. knew the
right, but there was so much in, the
way Of doing 1t. Charley had been 20
proud Of his name. He would have
died rather than stain it. Hours and
hours walked and walked. praying
to him all the time. praying. too. to
God for light. It has worn me thin,
but at last I see the light. I should
be thief and worse II I chung to this
money, keeping It away from Maria
Estes son.
'It is plot. l see through It,"
Eldridge begun passionately. This
Is some old lover of yours-you have
trumpet up this tale to cheat me Of
my due"
He stopped short there-a heavy
hand was on his shoulder, a dark,
strong face bent menacingly above
him. Not an old lover, but a new
one-if only she will let me be-" said
the man. Il have loved you, Clara,
from the hour l saw you. You haunt
me. sleeping and waking. have hat.
ed women-ever since knew-you
have brought me back to sanity. I
will not take the money-not ond
penny of it-unless along with 1t |
may take YOU"
$50 that is your camel" Eldridga
began to sheer.
Marshall Estes led him strongly but
not roughly to the door, thrust him
through it, then turned to Clara, say.
ing: Il dare not ask you to forgive
but that cur forced me to speak"
There is nothing to forgive" Clara
said. signing softly, but with divine
blush. 1T will be a fair exchange-
you take the money. and give me
back love-