The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-07-13
A LEGAL
RUSE
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER


left his fortune TO his daughter sh
would either spend the most of 1t o
give II away. He willed 1t to hel
on condition that she marry Wingate
The only way Mildred could inheri
without fulfilling this condition wa.
that Wingate should refuse to marry
her In this event the fortune woult
belong to Mildred
Mildred loved Edgar Corneal and
even II 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 no!
secure any response. Wingate bore II
without retort. BY the terms of the
will II 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
tisQuieted. 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
80 long as he lived. The will read
sin case the said Samuel Wingate shall
refuse to marry my daughter Mildred
Winterfeld, 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 made no differ
ence He would not refuse in any
form.
Wingate had no desire to marry NIL
dred Winterfleld Indeed, he had moth
ing to gain by a marriage with her,
for in that case she would inherit the
property and might 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 look
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 note signed Elizabeth Oar
row. asking him if he would favor her
with call since she had something to
tell him to his advantage. This re-
quest. taken with certain glances Miss
Darrow had given him, made him sus-
picious that she had designs upon him.
Then suddenly he was struck with an |
idea.
II 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 1t 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 plan to twist evidence
30 as to make It appear that in making
love TO their decoy ! have refused to
marry Mildred There are plenty of
lawyers smart enough to do that. All
have to say Is IL they catch me nap
ping they must get up. early in the
After considerable elaboration be
determined not to let it appear that he
their game till he had elicit
ID more of 1t from the deeoy. He
made no reply to Miss Darrow's com
nunica ton. confident that he would
lear from her again. He did hear by t
tote. in which references were made
o love passages between them which lc
lad never occurred. This confirmed q
vingate's suspicious. But he did not 9
now what action to take. or, rather,
e decided that he had better take no
ction at all.
In time another letter came from >
fiss Darrow, limiting at proceedings q
or breach of promise. Wingate con-
himself on his foresight In
lying down the scheme In advance. s.
trumped up case of breach OF prom s.
10 to Miss Darrow was to be turned el
Ito a refusal to marry Miss Winter
cid. It did not appear to Wingate
lat he should pay any attention TO t,
lese notes. By doing so he might get o.
iught in the trap being laid for him. h
II he did was TO give orders that II o
he barrow woman" came to see him st
lie was to be told that she could not Il
70 him. Notwithstanding this order. e'
le day be looked up from his desk
Id saw his unwelcome visitor stand "a
e near him. ~
II have called" she said, ito ask il I,
~ intend TO do me justice" -
II don't know you. madam"
You do know that you have asked cb
e to be your wife"
II have not" as
Il give you your choice either to tn
AIRY me or stand suit for 100000 III
images" to
Il will neither marry you nor pay a lyo
Mt" sa
desk was at one end OF a tn
lg room. filed with clerks. and he mi
oke the words purposely loud enough o.
r all 20 hear. No sooner were they iol
tered than the woman turned TO al
0se present and said: =,
4 call upon you all to witness that -
Mildred winterheld. have been re- INF
sed In marriage by Samuel Win 70
te= he