Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-07

doubtless men under him who. II given
an opportunity. would soon step into
bis shoes.
This is not universally tTuA but 4
proved true In this casA One OF the
heads Of departments was advanced to
the management, and Evan Swift said
goodby to the business and his lady.
love and started for the other side Of
the globe. I put the business before
the ladylove in this case. for It b
quite possible that II Mr.. Swift wefs
called upon to give up one OF the Other
he would retain the business. ~
practical man he would know that no
would not be likely to get another
business, but girls are plenty.
The situation In this quadranguiaf
affair at this time was an old man at
home sinking into bis grave. Q young
man whose practical nature had led
him to break down his health By over
work, seeking to restore It In sunny
Italy; another young man whose i'm.
practical nature was keeping him In
the open air digging for old bones,
thereby rendering him perfect 10
health, and a giri-a cross between the
ideal and the practical-who was walt.
ing for fate to produce what was In
store for her.
The first step fnte took In the mat.
ter was to kill OF the old man. Mr..
Kenwood's death resulted in the dis
covery that he had left all his prop
erty to Evan Swift A cablegram in
formed the latter Of his uncle's be
quest, but fate. which delights IN
complications. entanglements and the
thwarting Of intentions, had sent the
newly made possessor Of q fortune on
to Egypt, and. being some distance mp
the river Nile. he did not receive the
announcement till a week after It was
sent 1t reached him on his return to
Cairo, when his efforts to keep himself
alive were proving useless. BE died
at Cairo Only a few days after bis re
turn there.
An announcement Of bis fathers
death was also sent to Barton Ken
wood, who was in Trieste. having just
returned with a dozen boxes Of bones
and other worthless articles gathered
from a big hole In the ground In Asia
Minor. The cablegram said nothing
about bis fathers will, but as he was
about to take his collection Of exhume,l
articles to q museum In America he
proceeded Immediately homeward- he
arrived at his destination at the same
time that intelligence arrived OF the
death Of his cousin In Egypt
Barton found himself In q peculiar
position. Hs learned at once that his
father had left all his property to Evan
Swift; but. Evan Swift having died
without issue, Barton as heir at law
would possess the property. He also
knew that Grace Bingham was engag'
ed to Swift, and had she been married
to him she. would have Inherited the
Kenwood fortune. In other words. the
quick succession Of events after bis
uncle's death had transferred the prop
erty from Grace To Barton.
Kenwood. who had given up the
profits accruing to q large business
and had expected that hb father
would Ignore him In bis will. found no
difficulty in making up bis mind to 70
linquish his fortune to the girl whom
fate had deprived Of It He called on
his old chum, and he thought she re
ceiyed him with a repressed fervor.
II occurred to him that perhaps since
he had the fortune she had expected
her betrothed would have she might
bring herself to take him instead Of
the man she had lost
Grace" he said. my father did not
intend to leave me his property. II
was Evans by right and had Evan
lived a little longer It would have been
yours. shall assign It to you"
Grace took a good deal OF time IN
which to frame her reply. Indeed. It
seemed hard to make It Finally she
astonished Kenwood BY speaking -
follows:
Barton, II / am not disagreeabls to
you. you may keep your fortune and
do what you think right BY me at the
same time"
"what do you meanr asked Barton.
opening his eyes.
"A marriage between % would right
ALL"
Barton's eyes were hxed on her In.
| tently for some momenta Then b
took her in bis arms.
"It's all right" he said. "but how
could you do itf'
For reply she went to desk. TOOK
up a document lying on II and handed
It to him. saying:
~ received this last evening"
He unfolded and read It II was .
will executed at Cairo three days b.
fore Evan swift's death. leaving hss
bis sole heir.
Had Grace proceeded in the manner
usual In such cases the affair might
have had a different result She real
lied that II It were known TO Barton
she and not he possessed the fortune
he would not have proposed 20 bet.
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