The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-15


BackT
Certainly"
TT il a painful case" said kind
hearted Mr.. Warrington. but I'd best
tell you the particulars shortly and let
you Judge for yourself what's to be
done"
MT. Warrington was ono, Of the
wealthisst and worthiest solicitors in
London. he looked It az he stood
there toying with his heavy gold guard
with his back to his own fireplace.
though 1t Was . suftry evening in early
autumn, A9sd there was no IRE in the
crate.
Mr.. warmleeapn was six feet two Of
solid respeetaDk manhood As rule
he was the heart and soul Of good
fellowship and good humor. But now
. look Of uneastnes sand perpiexity
cloud on tho sun.
You know my brotAer-sn-law. the
Honorable Mr.. Burton7''
Mr.. Beck nodded srfmIy. He had
heard Of tho Honorable Mr.. Burton
not to his advantage.
"Just %. He was always. I am
sorry to say. a trouble to his family
Ny wife-thoush only q child at the
time-remembers some stormy scenes
before he went abroad. After our
marriage I did what I could FOR him.
but was very little use. Though then
well on in his nfties. he was as wild IA
. young -colt-but not vicious. I'm
bound to say. Well eight years age
he married an heiress who was young
beautiful and passionately In love
with the elderly scapegrace. He kept
straight as a die while she livsd. and
A> it,
about a year ago. She beQueathed u
him her whole property. real and per-
sonaI. with perfect confidence as she
wrote, in his loving care for their dear
child. Florence
Tie plainly meant to go right:
must say that for him. Within a fort
night after his wife's death he came
to me to prepare deed. as tight as
they draw Them he said. assigning his
whole property in wiltshire. clea,
hve Thousand q year and a beautiful
house and grounds. to his little daugh-
ter. reserving only q moderate yearly
allowance from his wife's personal
property for himself 7 cannot rust
myself, Warrington he said, that's
the truth of It II I have the money
must splatter it You may be sure
the deed was as stringent as the law
without winking.
He seemed really devoted to the
fttIe girl and took her about with him
everywhere. But, my wife-her aunt,
you know-thought it would be good
for the little one to be with children
of her own age for awhile; SO last
Christmas she had her here for the
Christmas tree. and the pantomime
and all that. with our own youngsters
Tier father brought her up to town
from their place In Wiltshire and left
her with US; but he would not stay
himself.
Then, suppose from loneliness, the
Bohemian broke lose in him again. He
fell into his old ways. went the rounds
Of the theatres andN music halls. more
often behind the scenes than in from,
Of them. In an evil hour-one Of TIE
small hours OF the morning most likely
he fell in with Miss Trixie Mordant
the liveliest young lady that graces
the boards of the Empire
We'll. needn't tell you, when a mar
Of sixty or Whereabouts falls in love he
comes a cropper. The clever youne
girl quickly coaxed him into an offer OF
marriage, and then stood out for hand
some settlements.
He began to regret his 'folly' IN
having assigned to his daughter
leaving himself without the power o,
proving his devotion to the most ador.
able Of her SEX Miss Trixie. But MI:
Trixie consulted solicitors on her owr
account, Sharkey & Snow, sharp feI.
1ows as you'll meet with in the city.
Then the whole truth came out. O,
course. They were not lons, you may
be SURE, putting my precious brother.
in-faw up to his legal rights. They are
now-I have reason to knowAprepar.
ing marriage settlements, and maxim,
over the whole property to Miss Trtxi.
Mordant. in consideration OF her mar.
! riase with the Hon. Pierce Burton
Surely the law won't allow that,
said Mr.. Beck. after he has given +
by deed to his dat rter?"
The solicitor smiled with an air O.
, superiority.
MY dear Mr.. Beck" he said, 'it'.
not for me to speak unexpectedly O
the law. VT 1t does queer things some
times. You see the deed to his daugh
ter was what Is called a VOLUNTARY
deed The law has very little regart
r Tor voluntary deeds Natural low,
and affection Is not Valuable con
liberation in the eyes of the law
Marriage, even with Mics Trixie Nor
dant IL valuable consideration, A,
the law now stands under an old stat
ute Of Queen Elizabeth, IL the wilt
shire property Is granted to Miss Trfxi
In consideration OF her marriage wifi
the grantor. the deed to Florence Is no