The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-14
SheOverreached
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
man Of whom her father did not ap-
prove.
When Hester Deane married George
Martindale without her fathers con-
sent Mr.. Deane took into his home
Edna Tiernan, niece Of his wife's
about his daughters age. and turned
over to her bis 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 q man
who was paying her a great deal Of
attention, but had not proposed to her.
II 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 we'll
to do and could give her a good home
But from all appearance he had no
intention Of making her his wife.
! Edna endeavored to steer middle
course between the two men, but one
evening Mr.. Deane, entering a room
suddenly where she and Thorne were
together found them locked in each
others arms. ThOrne in order to pro-
tect the girl told Deane that she was
his wife.
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
consent. bring her back with her hus-
band and still give her the care Of his
household. He said nothing to Edna
about this, but when she saw a letter
he had written to Hester on his desk
she surmised what 1t meant. Seeing
him commit the letter to maid to
be mailed Edna took it from the maids
hand, saying that she would attend to
Its posting. The letter never reached
its destination, but In due time q reply
hxy III
| daughter stating that she would not
i forgive her father for his treatment
, 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
ing his illness he was obliged to rely
upon her for assistance in the execu-
tion of certain papers, whereby it be-
| came evident that he possessed a con-
siderable property
At once 1t became Edna's object to
induce him to make her his heir. He
was gradually sinking, and she dom
mated him in his weakness. A few
days before his death she induced him
to permit her to send for a lawyer to
make will. Mr.. Deane gave orders
when the man arrived that he be
shown to the sickroom and no one else
be admitted. The will was executed
and Edna Informed that all the prop
ery had been willed to her. But the
attorney was instructed to retain pos
session Of the document. Being as
sured by both men of the truth of this
statement, Edna was satisfied and
content to wait for the end, which was
matter of only few days.
After the death of Mr.. Deane Edna
called on the lawyer who had drawn
the will and asked to see 1t. 1t was
shown her, and she read that all the
testators property was wiled to Edna |
Herman Thorne.
Edna was not so dull as to suppose |
she could inherit under this will un. |
less married to Thorne, and even then.
the property having been left to her |
as Edna Thorne when she was Edna |
Herman, she doubted If the will would ,
hold good Without q word to the |
lawyer she went away to find Thorne. |
On meeting him she told him of the |
situation. On hearing IL his face fell. /
He had married another woman, keep
ing his marriage a secret from Edna.
fearing that she would make trouble
for him. Being grasping man, he re-
GREETED his marriage, for Edna now
gave him to understand that the
Deane property was considerable.
Edna was crushed at the failure of |
her efforts. She confessed to the at.
torney for the estate that she was |
Edna Tiernan, but not Edna Herman
Thorne. He told her at once that the
will was void and that if no valid will
was found Hester Deane Martindale
being heir at law, would come into
possession of the estate.
No other will was found, but Hester
had no difficulty in proving her claim
to her fathers fortune as his only
child. 1t turned out surprise to ev-
cry one, 1t having been supposed that
Mr.. Deane was in very moderate cir
cumstances
The only Offset to Edna's crime was
her confession to Hester that she had