The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-07-20
Daily Short Story
THE DELBRIDGE DILEMMA

n DkLbhlD6k DiLktiti}A
sY eGrGe DANE
PRANK D~lbridEe opened the letter
and read n With syes that slowly Sid-
ened With surprise. s0ddsnly he
tossed ~ into his -ifss lap
Rad that. lean.
Mrs. Dsibridse scanned the type
written lines and her cheeks gre
pink
Dear sir n read we are In
closing . copy OF the last will and test
sment Of your Erestaunt. the late Miss
ssrepta DelbridEe. A you nay 70
two months q no will could b. found
but our Mr. simpkins. who has Just re-
turned from In extended trip abroad.
recalls that be drew up a ~tii for Miss
Delbridge before his departure. and a
search Of u vaults has resulted In
ia discovery to-day You Will nots
that the principal clause In this will
snects you very closely. Please call
a. our ofnces at an early date and con
fer With us concerning your compli-
snee with the rather singular demands
OF your aunt
Faithfully yours.
BOND 4 SEARCH.
"AttorneylatIAW"
Jean looked up with sparkling eyes.
oh. Frank. isn't n lovely OF your
Aunt sarepta, OF course You will
Asr.e 70 any conditions she has
Frank held up his hand. ITS too
late. honey he said dismaily. We
Fifty thousand dollars" echoed
Jane: turning pale. What do you
Frank looked Up from the will which
he had been reading.
My Aunt Sarepta left me the sum
OF 10000 In cash. provided that I
married the granddaughter OF an old
sweetheart OF hersi N I fan 20 carry
out her wishes. the dollars 40 20 the
girl what lucki"
Jean began 20 cry.
What Il the matter dear[" he ask.
I'd, coming over 10 comfort her.
Never mind about it-we've been as
happy ae crickets on my twelve hun.
dred a year. and We will continue
Jean lifted a fearful face. I'm
afraid you'll regret having married
would have $50. 900. and now / am
afraid that YOU look on me as a sort
tunel"
Frank threw back his head and
laughed.
"A barrier. indeed" he jibed. "A
H EHHA - - Va ~ ~
ing pink roses-with now and then =
prickly thorn Nv bonny Jean. do
you really believe that ] would marry
AUNT Sarepta's old sweetheart's grand.
dhughter?-ye gods. what a farfetched
connection-because N you do you are
mistaken"
What Is her nance"
blessed n I know" Frank picked
up the will and came II frowning-
~. she doesn't mention any names
save that the name OF the old sweet
heart as well as that OF the grand
daughter are contained in a sealed
envelope In the care of Mr.. Simpkins.
silent partner OF the Law firm of Bond
a Search. She SAYS that Mr.. Simp-
sin will arrange so that I NAV be in
roduced TO the young It's
rather p old-blooded proposition TO
come from such n sentimental woman
as Aunt Sarepta has proved herself
10 be by this will"
This happened at breakfast time.
That same night when Frank Del.
bridge reached his little apartment
In the Bronx. he was disappointed to
Ind the rooms In darkness. Ever
since their marriage. several months
tefore Jean had always me- him at
the hall door. radiant with delight.
He went through the rooms snap
ping On the electric lights until he
reached tho bedroom. Here he was
arm W hlu n uOAt GO~uHDlCuOuElN
placed on the p~incushion.
His finger shook when he opened H.
Darling Hustand-I've been think.
ing about Aunt Sarepta's will all day
and ! have resolTed hat / carr-ot
come between o and your fortune.
So ] am going to leave YOU free TO
marry that girl-and hope h isn't
a tit pretty. know I'm horrid. but
my heart Is breaking.
JEAN.
He left the house and took a sub.
way train to Brooklyn where Jeans
sister lived. He was quite sure that
Mrs. Prescott would be the first one
that lean would think OF.
Mrs. Prescott met him. her fair face
puckered with anxiety.
DO tell me what Is the matter with
Jean" she urged.
Frank related the events OF the
morning and then demanded TO see
his wife.
II was a sorry looking Jean who
came downstairs and stumbled into
his arms with 2 happy sob OF relief.
DO YOU really prefer me 10 the
fortune?f she asked.
Would have come after you other.
Frank took his wife home again
and they settled down 10 their happv
life as II had been before the advent
OF the lawyers letter had darkened
the horizon of their Contentment.
One day Frank came homo. male and
worried. I'm sorry dear" he said,
hut they've reduced expenses at IND
ONCE. and I'm going TO be dropped
On the FIRST OF the month"
Jean turned a smiling face toward
his Misfortune. She drew a cheerful
picture Of long lines OF prospective
employers. all eager TO secure The
services ~ such an expert accountant
a. Mr. Frank DelbridEe. and she