The Washington times., 1918-02-14

/ her Life away-and-now-oh, my
God!-now"-she crossed the room
as she spoke, and caught up the
flowers, the flowers she had selected
with such care.
"These were for you, Dora darling,
she whispered, holding them close to
the dead face. ooh. sister mine,
carry them away with you, let them
tell you of my unchanginZ love
Dora, my sister" AS the girl ut
tered the last word one full blown
rose fell in a shower Of leaves over
the bed. The sudden rain Of petals
was too much for Esther's strained
nerves; she began to treble pitt
fully and big tears to run down her
cheeks.
"Blown roses-that's all I've
brought my Dora" she sobbed help
lessly; blown roses-I have sacri-
feed my life for these few blown
rcses-these red petals"
"Oh, this is cruel, cruel" Esther
murmured the words to herself as
she stumbled downstairs. Mrs. Doyle
had sent I'D to say that gentleman
desired to see her on urgent busi-
ness and was waiting in the parlor,
and the poor girl had torn herself re-
luctantly froh her dead. She won
dered vaguely if the mysterious vis-
itor came from the house Of gloom
and misery she had so lately escaped
from, but this thought gave her 10
thrill; Dora's death had surpri.ed
her completely. Had the world rocked
beneath her feet Ether Vassel would
have felt neither excitement nor
alarm.
Meets Mysterious Stranger.
A middle-aged man rose up to
greet her when she entered the little
back parlor. He was a pleasant-faced
man, gray-haired and clan shaven.
neatly and immediately dressed,
a man who inspired confidence.
Pardon my intrusion at such a
sorrowful time, Miss Vassell," he
said in a quiet, clear voice. "The
landlady here has just BEEN telling
me OF your terrible loss, but the mat
ter l have come about is urgent"
Nothing matters or can matter to
me now" interrupted Esther bitterI-'
my sister is dead-wou;c ID God /
was dead, too"
"You are young to say that" re-
marked the other gravely, "and you
have in ali probability q very full
future before you. I have come to
tell you strange news, Miss Vassell-
news that will surprise YOU" He
paused.
"Tell me what you have to say
quickly" murmured Esther, "for you
are keeping me from Dora. Dora al
ways hated to be left alone"
Something in her face, hs- voice,
touched the man, and ne glanced at
Esther with real sympathy. "Do you
remember your uncle, Joshua Hocii-
ing?" he asked; "a stern man. He
qua-rcled with your father. but that
was after your birth. I fancy he was
your godfather"
81 have a vague recollection Of
him." replied Esther, knitting up her
brows. Then her face clouded pain
fully. ooh, 1 can remember moth
ing" she muttered, "and think Of no
one but Dora"
"My poor child! But II must at
tend to me for few seconds longer,
Miss Vassell. / am your uncle'S law
yer, John Graves, and I have come
to tell you that he is dead and you
yes, you. Miss Vassell-are sole
heiress to his enormous fortune, a
fortune close to five millions"
The lawyer spoke with some ex-
but Esther remained calm
and impassive as before. She pazed
at John Graves with her large, sad
eyes, whose depths he could not
fathom.
"What use is this wealth to me?"
she asked slowly; "this fortune that
has coma a day too late"
John Graves rubbed his gold
plasses and surveyed the
heiress thoughtfully. "You must
think of the future" he said, gently,
and possibly Of happy marriage"
Wedding Rings and Collins. |
"a happy marriage" Esther Vas
sell burst into a peal of wild, half
hysterical laughter; then she turned
to the old lawyer. 81 don want this
she cried passionately.
"What use is it to me now? Besides,
hadn't my uncle a son? s he dead.
too? Am 1 to hear talk Of nothing
but wedding rings and coffins ~