The herald., 1914-02-26
Mrs.
Meriiweather
Bv SADIE OLCOTT

Ltnd worn by gentlemen in LONDON
srtsred the gateway OF couhIs
residence. went up TO the front uoo'
and rang the bell. His summons was
o,srverad bv a maid who took Ms
I'D on s salver and ushered him
INFO drawing room. Presently
rornp woman several years his junior
IN Main apparel. came down the oFoau'
winding staircase and advanced u
ceiye him.
81 have called he said. "as neigh
bor own the property adjoining tnlS
and have learned that a Mrs, MeEI.
weather during my sojourn abroad
has hoUrht this property, and l would
ike 10 welcome her into the LeIsn
borhood. Is she at home:
Now, the properties Of Mrs. Mer-
weather and her caller, Mr.. Hlnchei-
wood. had originally been one tract Oh
land 4 lawsuit had arisen between
Mr.. Hlnchelwood's father and MIS-.
Meriweather's uncle involving the
title 70 Mrs. Meriweather's part OF
the estate. which had become so tor-
midable that II threatened 10 swamp
both sections under load or court
costs and lawyers fees. Finally the
two lawyers representing the Merl-
weather and the Hinchelwood inter
ests got together. and after q confer
ence il was intimated TO Mrs. Merl-
weather. a widow. and MI Hinche!-
wood a bachelor. that II a match
could be made between them II would
make two defective titles perfect, end
litigation and save two valuable prop
critics.
Hinchelwood. who had been sent to
England to be educated and had re-
manned there ever since, concluded
TO come home and look into the mat
ter. He arrived when his attorney
happened TO be out Of town and, with
out waiting 10 learn anything OF the
widow and other features pertaining
TO the case, resolved to make a neigh
borly call with view to informing
himself
she is indispOsed this morning" the
girl finally replied. Il shall tell her
OF the object OF your call. and | am
sure she will appreciate your motive.
Won't you be seated e she added, since
the gentleman remained standing
Thank you: 4 few minutes. Will
you convey 20 Mrs. Meriweather my
regrets at not seeing her and tell her
that ii will give me pleasure TO call
another time"
Mrs. Neriweather would be disap-
pointed II you did not" was the reply.
rs Mrs. iweather-eh-a-an ED
erly LADY,"
'She IS DOT young"
I'm. She has been described to me
as a remarkably fine woman"
This was for pumping purposes. The
lady had not been described to him
at all.
she has friends" was the senten.
tious reply
That is true of all Of u.s."
quite so"
I'm very ignorant" Mr.. Hinchel-
wood proceeded in this unanimated
dialogue. "of everything that has been
going on about here. l haven't been
here for matter Of ten years"
That's a long while for one to be
away from home"
Now. it must not be inferred because
the two confined themselves to these
commonplace remarks that they were
bored with each other. Mr. Hinchel-
wood gathered from the young wo-
mans quiet though impressive de-
meanor that she was a person Of char
acter, and. though he smacked Of Rot.
ten row and Piccadilly. she gathered
that he was nobody's fool. After some
ten or fifteen minutes OF these prelim-
inaries they fell to chatting about
places abroad, and the lady showed
herself as familiar with them as the
man The ice at last broken. they
enjoyed a chat which Mr.. Hinchel-
wood was surprised to notice BY his
watch after leaving had occupied more
than an hour. He would have liked
to ask the lady's position In the house
hold. but was too well bred to do so.
Later a meeting was arranged be-
tween Mr. Hinchelwood and Mrs.
Meriweather to occur in the office Of
her attorney. ostensibly with a view
to making some mutual concessions
that would better the situation as TO
their properties. But the real object
was. and was so understood by both
parties. to give them an opportunity
to have look at each other to deter
mine whether the difficulties might not
be overcome by union Of interests by
marriage.
Mr.. Hinchelwood, remembering the
Few words he had heard about Mrs
Meriweather from the person who had
received him at her house. was indif-
ferent, but consented TO the meeting
When he was confronted by the young
woman be had met before he supposed
she bad come to represent her princi-
pal. When he was introduced to her
as Mrs. Mertweather he stood gaping
at her.
"You are Mrs. MeriweatherT' he
asked
lam"
You told me-
NO falsehoods. I said Mrs. Meu-
weather was at home. but indisposed