Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-05
The Daily Story
A VACANT LOFTY MARJORIE CROUCH.


had been educated for "A physician. He
had located in Chicago to take up the
practice of his profession Mrs. Brown
was mOtherly person and treated
Edith as a companion as well as
hireling. 1t was not long before Edith
told the lady of the position she occu-
pied as a probable heiress and of her
suspense lest another should be found
who was entitled to the property.
Mrs. Brown listened to she story with
evident interest and said what she
could TO give the girl hope that she
would receive the inheritance Mean
while she often invited Edith to re-
main for dinner and for the evening.
In this way David Brown. the son.
came to know Edith and offered her
the same sympathy as his mother con
corning the fortune she hoped for AS
time went on the girl became more
and more necessary TO Mrs. Browns
comfort. and by and by Edith noticed
that occasionally when she had been
invited to spend an evening in the
house the hostess, pleading indsposi-
ton, would leave her son and the
seamstress together.
David Brown was sufficiently attraC-
tive to win most any girl not other
wise Interested, and he had very little
trouble in attracting Edith TO himself
The girl was puzzled. for the Browns
seemed to have plenty OF money and
would hardly want to get her into the
family for her fortune. even II she pos
NJ ha
possibly would not But matters CON
corning the lot finally came TO a crisis
by note Edith received from Mr.
Ellison stating that he had learned
that the unmarried member OF the
owners of the lot had married and had
had one or more children. But he did
not know If either of the children was
living.
This was a bitter disappointment to
Edith. but she went to her work at
Mrs. Browns as usual. and so great
was her self control that she had been
in the house an hour before Mrs.
Brown asked her If anything unfortu-
nate had happened TO her. Then she
told the lady OF the information she
had received.
Mrs. Brown embraced her, saying at
the same time that she was a wonder
to be able TO keep up under such a
setback and that evening kept her for
dinner David Brown on learning of
the information she had received was
also sympathetic and when left alone
with her by his mother was more
loverlike than usual. This was a great
comfort even to Edith. since it indicat-
ed that she was not courted for her
expectations.
Then came another note from the
trustee informing Edith that he had
received more definite information
that Parkinson had been married soon
after the trust deed had been executed
and had had two children born 10 him
and that the oldest of these children
was living.
Edith found II impossible to bear
this blow with the same fOrtitude as
before. and arriving nj the house where
she worked. finding the widow and her
son together. on communicating the
news TO them she burst into tears. The
mother put her arms about her and
soothed her then left her with David.
Taking her hand, he said to her:
Il have story to tell you. My
mother and while living in Colorado
heard OF this vacant lot and having
known Of it from my father. concluded
to come east and look into the matter.
l being the grandson of one OF the
makers OF the trust deed. Besides,
desired to settle here to practice my
profession. My mother. having inves-
tigated the matter of the lot and hear
ing that you were expecting 10 be the
owner Of 1t. in order to learn some
thing OF you brought you here TO sew.
But before doing so she had proved
my claim TO the lot. She did not tell
me who You were till you had been
here some time, having taken fancy
to you and being DESTROYS TO give you
an interest in the property through me-
In this she has succeeded by your love
Illness. My father was interested in
mines in Colorado and left us for
: tune. On receiving this lot | shall at
once deed 1t to You And II you will st
the same time deed yourself TO me you
will make me happy man"
had revealed this little plot to her with
too much establishment to reply a once.
z Had he not come TO love her possibly
he might have estimated somewhat cor
rectly the emotions under which she
was moved. With loyer-like impa-
thence he expected her TO see at once
/ what he had been planning for months
and interpreted what he saw in her
expression for an inability to surrender
her heart with herself
II am disappointed. he said My
mother and ]. having already all the in
come we need. simply brought Won into
our home TO learn II you were worthy
and II you were we intended to offer
to resign this additional fortune TO you
Then | discovered that | wanted yOu
| needed you and | was in hopes
that
She interrupted him. hut not with
words There were no words 20 ex
press what she felt. He caught her n
his arms.