The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-30

Herself
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

When Thomas Deane was an old
man his wife died, and he became de-
pendent upon his daughter, Hester. for
care and companionship. Unluckily at
this very time Hester fell in love with
a man of whom her father did not APP
prove.
When Hester Deane married George |
Martindale without her fathers con-
sent Mr.. Deane took into his home |
Edna Tiernan, a niece of his wife's |
about his daughters age, and turned |
over to her his household affairs. Mr.. |
Deane. soon became so dependent upon |
Edna that dispite the fact of his being
| three times her age he wanted her to
marry him, for he was a widower and
Hester was his only child.
Now, Edna was in love with a man
who was paying her great deal of
attention, but had not proposed to her.
If he would marry her she might tell
her aged lover that she was already
spoken for, but if she told him that
she was free, but would not marry
him, she might lose her home, and she
had nothing to live upon. The man
she wanted. Edgar Thorne. was well
to do and could give her good home
But from all appearance he had no
intention of making her his wife.
Edna endeavored to. steer a middle
course between the two men, but one
evening Mr. Deane, entering room
suddenly where she and Thorne We're
together found them locked in each
others arms Thorne in order to pro-
; tect the girl told Deane that she was
his wife.
J Deane, after Thorne had left the
house, questioned Edna about the sit
uation. She confirmed Thorne's state
ment, claiming that Thorne was not
, able to support her, and they were
waiting till he was in better financial
condition to acknowledge the marriage
and live together.
Deane was perplexed to know what
; to do. He was inclined to forgive his
daughter for marrying without his
band and still give her the care Of his
!, household. He said nothing to Edna
I about this, but when she saw letter
s he had written to Hester on his desk
she surmised what it meant. Seeing
him commit the letter to maid to
g be mailed Edna took 1t from the maids
=, hand, saying that she would attend to
its posting. The letter never reached
its destination, but in due time a reply
,. was received by Mr. Deane from his
n daughter stating that she would not
forgive her father for his treatment
n Of her and she and her husband would
;, continue to live where they were. This
letter was forged by Edna.
% Deane fell sick after this, and Edna
took care of him, he being entirely de
pendent upon her ministrations. Dur
q. ing his illness he was obliged to rely
n upon her for assistance in the eXecu
ton of certain papers, whereby 1t be
> came evident that he possessed con
X siderable property.
At once it became Ednas object t.
r. induce him to make her his heir. He
:, was gradually sinking, and she dom
mated hirl in his weakness. a few
III days before his death she induced hin
ss to permit her to send for lawyer t.
lg make a will. Mr.. Deane gave orders
err when the man arrived that he D'
shown to the sickroom and no one els'
be admitted. The will was execute,
and Edna informed that all the prop
erty had been 'willed to her. But tn
at attorney was instructed to retain pos
session of the document. Being as
PC sured by both men of the truth of thi
statement, Edna was satisfied an
no. content to wait for the end, which wa
an a matter of only few days.
to After the death of Mr.. Deane Edn
lis called on the lawyer who had draw
ye the will and asked to see 1t. 1t wa
shown her. and she read that all tn
testator's property was wlled to Edn
VIZ Herman Thorne,
be- Edna was not so dull as to suppos
she could inherit under this will vi
For less married to Thorne, and even thel
=, the property having been left to III
as Edna Thorne when she was Edl
Herman, she doubted if the will wouI
DIS. hold good. Without word to Il
me LAWYER she went away to find Thorn
,ys On meeting him she told him or tl
situation. On hearing 1t his face re
He had married another woman, kee
iai ing his marriage a secret from Edn
'ut- fearing that she would make troup
for him. Being a grasping man, he
4 srettei his marriage, for Edna no
gave him to understand that G
Deane property was considerable.
Edna was crushed at the faliure
wn' her efforts She confessed to the
the torney for the estate that she W
nto Edna Tternan, but not Edna Iiern'
a Thorne. He told her at once that |
!, - will was void and that II no valld
was found Hester Deane Martinda
being heir at law, would come IL
10 possession of the estate.
of No other will was found, but hes
had no difficulty in proving her Gu
|, 70 TO her fathers fortune as ms OF
child. 1t turned out surprise 10
an cry one. 1t having been supposed u
pay. Mr.. Deane was in very moderate