The Adair County news., 1914-07-08

Mildred loved Edgar COrneal ana.
even IL she had not. would rather have
married an ogre than Wingate. The
problem was how to force him to re-
lease her. which was the only way by
which she could inherit her property.
She treated him scOrnfully, but did not
secure any response. Wingate bore 1t
without retort. By the terms of the
will if Mildred did not marry him
within two years he was to hold the
property in trust so long as he lived.
to have the income for himself.
One day Mildred disappeared. When
Wingate learned of this move he was
disquieted. He feared some game.
but could think of no way by which
she could secure her fortune. What
he most desired was that she would
withhold her consent to marry him till
the two years grace had elapsed, after
which he would enjoy the income of
the property and manage the business
so long as he lived. The will read
''in case the said Samuel Wingate shall
refuse to marry my daughter Mildred
Winterfield. at any time within the
said two years." etc. Wingate read
this over and considered the matter
safe. The will did not say how he
was to refuse, but this NJ Ide no differ
ence. He would not refuse in any
form.
Wingate had no desire to marry Mil
dred Winterield. Indeed. lie had moth
ing to gain by marriage with her,
for in that case she would inherit the
| property and eight make it unpleas-
! ant for him. He had seen her only
once, when she was about fifteen years
old, an awkward girl. who was chang
ing to wOmanhood. At the time of
her fathers death she was fine looE
ing woman. with golden hair. fair com
| pleXiOn and dark brown eyes.
One day young woman called at
Wingate's Office and applied for a posi-
ton as typewriter and stenOgrapher.
There were no vacancies, and she was
refused. A few days later Wingate
| received a note signed Elizabeth OAR
row, asking him if he would favor her
with a call since she had something to
tell him to his advantage. This re-
4uCSls ldhCh Will NCA SloANCo A41SS
barrow had given him. made him sus-
picious that she had designs upon him.
| Then suddenly he was struck with an
| Idea.
81 do believe" he said to himself.
that she is a decoy of Mildred Win
| terfield and her lover. The object is
| to get me in position where it can
| be proved that | have made love to
| this woman and asked her to marry
me-. That would not be refusing to
marry Mildred, but they doubtless
have hit upon a plan to twist evidence
81 as to make it appear that il making
| love To their decoy l have refused to
marry Mildred. There are plenty of
| lawyers smart enough to do that All
| have to say is if they catch ME nap
ping they must get up early in the
| morning
After considerable deliberation he
determined not to let it appear that he
suspected their game till he had elicit
| ed more of it from the decoy. He
made no reply to Miss Darrow's COM
munication. confident that he would
| hear from her again. He did hear by
| note. in which references were made
| to love passages between them which
| had never occurred. This confirmed
Wingate's suspicious. But be did not
| know what action TO take. or. rather,
| he decided that he had better take no
| action at all.
In time another letter came from
| Miss barrow. limiting at proceedings
| for breach of promise. Wingate con-
| graduated himself on his foresight in
laying down the scheme in advance.
trumped up case of breach of prom
| Use TO Miss barrow was to be turned
into a refusal to marry Miss Winter
field. 1t did not appear to Wingate
that be should pay any attention to
| these notes By doing so he might get
| caught in the trap being laid for him
| Ali be did was to give orders that if
''the barrow woman" came to see him
| she was to be told that she could not
see him. Notwithstanding this order
one day he looked up from his desk
| and saw his unwelcome visitor stand
ing near him.
II have called" she said. Ito ask II
| you intend to do me justice"
II don't know you. madam"
"You do know that you have asked
ine to be your WIFE"
- have not s"