Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1912-09-13

ava AAM
ing beaten her at every point In the To-
gal struggle they had bad. She adj
mired him that be had the ability to
DO 80. She ceased to consider him as
her adversary. but the adversary OF
the lawyer who managed her AFFAIRS.
She began to treat Mr.. Peckham with
some GOODNESS. a feeling taking posses
sion OF her that she would rather rely
on Mr.. Faddock's judgment and execu-
tive ability than on Mr.. Peckham's.
Had she possessed the services OF such
a man as the former doubtless her az.
fairs would not have got into such a
distressing condition. e,
The correspondence had resulted so
favorahly that Miss Lnmond began TO
think of u meeting between herself and
her correspondent. She tried to think
Of meeting a repulsive old man, but
pictured an elderly gentleman who
greeted her With a kindly smile.
Thinking he might not consider that
their correspondence had sufficiently
prepared her for the meeting, she de-
termined to inform him that so favor
able had been the impression created
that. sue vas now positively DESTROYS
Of seeing him.
A reply came to this that he was now
suffering from an indispOsltion, but
that as soon as he was In a condition
to go out he would call upon Miss La
mond. but with great trepidaSion lest
upon seeing him she would not be able
to confirm her part of the contract for
which they had been preparing.
So great was the change In Miss La.
mond's sentiments from what they had
been when Mr.. Peckham announced
the matrimonial plan that she was en-
abled to write him a letter in which
she expressed considerable solicitude
for his health and begged that he
would keep her advised of bis condI-
ton. She wrote this letter in the even
ing and 10 the morning was preparing
to carry it to the post when, taking up
the daily paper. she glanced first over
the advertisements of special sales,
then ran her eye down the death and
marriage columns. She started.
Died.-PaddOck. John. at his residence
after a protracted illness. Friends will
kindly omit flowers. Funeral private.
Miss LamOnd could not believe her
eyes; but. turning them to a column
Of obituary notices, she read that John
Paddock vas the wealthy manufacturer
who had made a large fortune. The
notice was very short, and no encomi-
INNS were passed upon the deceased.
She remarked especially that he had
been helpless for several weeks be-
fore his death.
Here was a mystery. She had been
receiving letters with view to a mntri-
moniai arrangement from a man who
was not able to write-in fact. was dy-
Ing. Had she not received one from
him the evening before announcing an
"indlspositionT" There was something
uncanny about the matter. II made
her flesh creep Rushing to the tele-
phone, she called up the office of Peck
ham, futile & Hill, attorneys. Mr.
Peckham was out Of town. and no Que
else OF the firm knew anything about
the LamOnd estates business.
Miss Lam0nd could think of no other
way of getting information as to the
mystery and was obliged to wait The
day after the funeral she received Il
call from a man on whose card was
the name of John Paddock Traver.
She looked at 1t wonderingly; then,
catching an idea that the mystery OF
her aged lover was about to be solved,
she buried downstairs.
A young man was standing in the
drawing room who advanced toward
her with a very singular expression on
his face. 1t was amusement mingled
with embarrassment and a dnge Of
guilt.
miss Lamond. / b~elieve"
IL am."
II have come to enllghten you upon
a matter which | fancy you may wish
to hear explained You know of the
death of John Paddock. | suppose"
II do"
The young man looked hard at a
chair, and Miss Lamond mechanically
asked him to be seated.
MY uncle, Mr.. Paddock, whose sec.
and man Of all work ] have
been. some time ago told me that he
and your attorney, Mr.. Peckham, had
arranged a marriage between himself
you for the purpose Of settling out
Of court the suit between the two es-
tates. Being an old man not fitted to
conduct a courtship with a young wo-
man. he desired me to write you In his
name | continued to conduct the cor
writing the letters you
received from him and informing him
0f the progress Of his suit for your
till a few weeks ago, when he
'ank 30 low In health tina no worldly
interested him"
Mr.. Traver paused. and Miss La
continued to stare at bim. Pres.
emily he continued:
II I'M my uncle's sole heir, and
come to tell you that the suit
against you will be dropped The will
vas opened only this morning, and az
he earliest possible moment l viii
meet your attorney, Mi. Peckham, with
/ view to coming to an arrangement
hat will leave you in the full posses.
lion Of your inheritance"
MIR. Traver paused again. Miss La.
continued her stare. but present.
y the corners Of her mouth began to
Iuirk up and her whole face broke into