Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-01-16

gal struggle they had had. She adj
mired him that be had the ability TO
do so. She ceased to consider him as
her adversary. but the adversary OF
the lawyer who managed her afrairs-
She began 10 treat Mr.. Peekham with
some GOODNESS, q feeling taking posses
sion OF her that she would rather rely
on Dir. Paddock's judgment and execu-
tive ability than on Mr.. Peckham's,
Had she possessed the services Of such
q man as the former doubtless her az
fairs would not have got into such
distressing condition.
The correspondence had resulted 90
fayorably that Miss Lamond began to
think of a meeting between herself and
her correspondent She tried to think
of meeting a repulsiye old man. but
pictured an elderly gentleman VINO
greeted her with 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 she was now positively DESTROYS
OF seeing him.
4 reply came TO this that he was now
suffering from an indisposition, but
that as soon as he was in q condition
10 20 out he would call upon Miss La
mond. but with great trepidation lest
upon seeing him she would not be Nble
10 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 his condi-
ton She wrote this letter In the even
ing and In the morning was preparing
to carry II to the post when, taking up
the daily paper. she glanced lrst over
the advertisements of special sales,
then ran her eye down the death and
marriage columns. She started.
Dled.-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 column
of obituary notices, she read that John
Paddock was the wealthy manufacturer
who had made a large fortune. The
notice was very short. and no encomi-
ums 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 matri-
monlal 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
"indisposition" 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, Tuttle & Hill. attorneys. Mr..
Peckham was out OF town. and no one
else of the firm knew anything about
the Lamond estates business.
Miss Lamond 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 a
call from a man on whose card was
She looked at 1t wonderingly; then.
catching an idea that the mystery Of
her aged lover was about to be solved.
she hurried 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 tnge of
guilt.
Miss Lamond. | believer
Il am"
81 have come to enlghten you upon
matter which | fancy you may wish
to hear explained You know Of the
death Of John Paddock, / suppose"
Il do"
The young man looked hard at a
chair, and Miss Lamond mechanically
asked him to be seated.
MY uncle. MT. PADDOCK, whose sec
rotary and man of all work l have
been, some time ago told zoe that he
and your attorney Mr. Peckham. had
arranged n marriage between himself
and 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
respondence, writing the letters you
received from him and informing him
Of the progress of his suit for your
hand till few weeks ago, when he
sank so low in health that no worldly
matters interested him"
Mr.. Trayer paused and Miss La
mond continued to stare at him Pres.
emily he continued
Il am my uncle's sole heir, and
have come to tell you that the suit
against you viii be dropped. The will
was opened only this morning. and at
the earliest possible moment l will
meet your attorney, Mr. Peckham. with