Connecticut western news., 1918-01-17
A Matrimonial Coincidence
By RICHARD MARkEY


 alone ill the world 1 resolved to rent my house, spend few months abroad and on my return move into bachelor | quarters. During the preliminary weed ing out of useless accumulatiopi l took from box of old papers a bundle that astonished me. 1t contained documents relating to an estate of which 1 had never heard. They consisted of deeds to houses and lands, also stocks. bonds and other property.
 1 could not have been more surprised if an angel had come down from heav- en and lit on my shoulder. How had these papers come into my possession? had no remembrance of having plac- ed anything in the box for several years. On examining some of them l found the estate to be held in trust for 1 a minor, John Carter Greatrix. 1 had never heard of such person. On fur ther examination l came to the con- clusion that the estate in question must have remained unavailable by any one from the time these papers had been | placed in my box. What should do in the matter? If I advertised them and could give no satisfactory reason for possessing them might be accused ! Of having stclen them. I had engaged my passage on an ocean liner and re- solved to proceed on my journey, which would give me plenty of time to think over the best course to pursue. I sailed the next day.
 During my trip I met in Berlin an American, Miss Eleanor Thurlow, who was there with her mother studying music with view to teaching it on her return. She finished her course about the time met her. and as her mother and she spent the summer in SwitZer-. land 1 was enabled to see a great deal of them, for stayed where they stay | ed, and on our return I engaged pas sage on the same steamer. Before em- ! barking we were engaged. During the voyage thought at inter yals about the estate of young John Carter Greatrix, wondering if he had | come into possession of it and trying 1 to decide what I should do about mak- l ing known that had the papers. Now | that another was the partner of my l joys and sorrows I felt my responsi- bility more keenly. I debated whether | I should confide in Eleanor Thurlow; but, having known me only very short time, she might grow suspicious | If me- No, would wait till she knew | me better. I told her that I had little property and was engaged in | business in which I was doing well. On the whole, we could live comforta- | bly. She maintained a reserve with reference to her own affairs; but, as she was expecting to teach music, | concluded she was possessed of little or nothing. We parted as soon as We reached America to go to our respcc- tive homes. which were days journey | apart.
 Meanwhile l had resolved to refer the matter of the papers to my lawyer and Oe guided by his advice. In relating the circumstance to him I had no soon CT mentioned the rame of the minor for whom the estate was held than he jumped to his feet excitedly and, run nj 1g to his partners, exclaimed:
 The papers in the Greatrix estate .re foundr
 Years before the firm had settled a ease for me out of court and handed a.e the papers concerning it, which tossed unopened in a box at home. Later I was given another bundle con. taining the papers in this same case and, supposing them to be additional documents, tossed them into the same box. One of those bundles contained the Greatrix papers, given me by mis- | take
 Immediately on my return to my rooms wrote my fiancee, unburden- l ing myself to her of the annoyance I { mad suffered. She replied, congrautlat- 1 ing me warmly upon so quick and satis- | factory a solution.
 , 4 few days later I was told by my attorney that during the period the pa- | pers were missing the estate had suf- fered greatly. John Carter Greatrix died before coming of age, and the property had passed to three persons who were next of kin. "One of these i persons" he said, desires to thank you l fO- your return of tho papers that has enabled us to divide the property and will meet you here tomorrow for that purpose. 'T promised to be there"
 The next morning on my arrival at the office I was shown into a private room, where I found the attorney at his desk.
 'I understand" he said, "that you are about to be married to a cl mt of mine."
 'Of yoursp' I exclaimed surprised.
 Yes. Miss Thurlow"
 Miss Thurlowr'
 And now" he added, "I will introduce you to the person who wishes to thank you for ending the tieup of the Great rix estate. Come in here. He flung open a door leading into another room. A lady stood with her back to us, and l suhnr, she tllr-r,nd thnra aa-Elaa |, nr