The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-02
marry him, when he himself was pen.

had hesitated to credit the stories that
had come to his ears-and then he
had died
Lily, disillusioned, had ceased to
care for her cousin, but she shrank
from the gossip of the small town that
she knew would follow the breach of
their engagement She knew that Fer.
rand was infatuated with vaudeville
actress of the neighboring city; let
tiers had been placed before her, and,
rather than tax Mervyn with their au-
thorship. she had waited quietly.
She could not tax a man whose de-
votion to her had never actually taken
the form of marriage proposal
AS the weeks went by Mervyn's Wis.
its became fewer in number and fire.
quency. Lily ignored Mervyn more
openly. She all but cut him on the
street. He ceased to come to the
house at last. And then it was that
Charles fremont began to be a fire.
quent guest
Miss Norton" he said one day,
excuse me if | seem impertinent. but
It is being said that an estrangement
has arisen between you and Mr.. Fer.
rand"
Lily bowed her head quietly
Then do you intend to marry him?"
asked the young lawyer
Never" said the girl impulsively.
IN that case. Miss Norton" pur-
sued fremont, Il am privileged to
speak to you in my professional ca
pacity AS you know, your GRANDPA
Their was the soul of honor He was
certain that you and Mr.. Ferrand
meant to marry; otherwise he would
undoubtedly have willed everything
to you. Now-what will you do when
your year is ended? For then Mr..
Ferrand will acquire the ownership
of this house, you know, and all the
income"
Subject to a condition. suggested
Lily.
Yes. But that is probably merely
formality. | fancy your grandpa
Their had heard some things about him.
and that the condition hinges upon the
use he makes of his share OF the
property during these - months"
Il have thought over the matter"
answered the girl, and | intend to
so into the hospital and study to be
a nurse
The thought of the girl losing every.
thing emboldened the young man to
make an appeal to Ferrand, hopeless
as he knew the result likely to be.
He sent him a letter asking him to
call at his Office.
Yes, it was lucky the old man left
everything to me" said Ferrand. after
fremont had brought up the matter of
the will Lily won't have a penny.
except what she has managed to save
this year. IT. hard, but that's the
way the world wags.'
Mr.. Ferrand." said fremont. has
1t ever occurred to you that you will
inherit this property owing to mis-
conception on the part of old Mr..
Norton, and that it might be only fair
to make settlement on your cousin?'
Ferrand laughed uneasily.
I'm no philanthropst." he an.
swered. mo, sir. What | get | hold.
Why. there isn't man in town would
do such a crazy thing
Perhaps-perhaps not" answered
fremont. However. since you take
that point of view, there is no more
to be said. l wish you good day, sir. )"
The months sped by, and, before the
year was ended, the day came when
fremont asked Lily Norton to be his
wife.
II can't take care of you in the
toned" he said, but love you with
all my heart, and if you will be my
wife l will love you all my life. And
later we will be rich"
They were such dreams as lovers
have, those visions that he recounted
And Lily, who had become as deeply
attached to the young lawyer as he
was to her. agreed to marry him on
the day when the year came to a
close.
There was another formality to be
gone through. and that was the open
ing of the sealed paper. Farrand.
Lily, and the other legatees to small
sums assembled at the young law
yer's office and watched him break the
seal
The condition upon which the
aforesaid Mervyn Ferrand becomes
my heir" he read, lis that he mar
ries my granddaughter, Lily Norton.
within one year from the date of my
death. Failing which the property
shall become the possession of my
said granddaughter. Lily Norton"
For a moment Mervyn Ferrand
stared at fremont incredulously.
Then he snatched at the paper and
read it. Suddenly an inspiration came
to him.
when does the year end?" he de-
manded.
AT seven o'clock this evening" an
swered fremont.
"Then there's still time" babbled
Ferrand, and turning to Lily. will
you-wont you" he began.
TOO late" said fremont quietly.
Miss Norton became my wife at ten
o'clock this morning"
FURTHER TALK NOT NEEDED