The Meeker herald., 1919-08-16
The Secret
Room
pep,nsst. 1919. :, w...rs N.v.sss.. us.sa
By EuoENlA wALpRoN

A host of lovers came to pretty das-
xled Festn Brill when II became known
that Albert Winsted, the queer old her
mltllke oddly Of Brompton. had left
her his entire fortune. He had sub.
sisted for ten years alone In an old
mansion still pointed out as the show
place Of the little town.
The strange change In his ways had
come after he had been abroad for
year. Rumor was that he had welded
q native princess In India. She had
died and her loss. Ia was said. had
broken his heart. There was story
afloat that he had brought back from
India a portrait, or statue. depicting
the woman he had loved and lost. and
that one room In the house was de-
voted to her as 4 sort Of shrine.
Alvord Marston, q young lawyer.
was named as the executor Of the es-
tate. II was he who appeared at the
modest, pleasant home Of vesta one
evening and Informed her Of the rare
good fortune she had little expected.
The acquisition Of wealth did not
spoil her simple, wholesome gentle
ness. Her parents. however. becnme
all nfare with ambitious dreams, and
a flock Of fortune-seeking young men
at once became persistent callers at
the Brill home.
One suspicious day the fabric -of
parental ambitions. as Of sutton dreams.
was rent and shattered. Marston ap-
peared at the Brill home grave faced.
for he had disappointing intelligence
to impart. He found vesta alone and
the friendly warmth Of her greeting
stirred him considerably.
"Aiiss Brill" he said. II have news
for you scarcely agreeable, but II Is
necessary that tell you Of the same.
When I went over to the old-home Of
Mr.. Winsted found nothing but q
few worn.out sticks of furniture. In
his safety deposit box at the bank
there was a mass Of papers that turn.
ed out to be mostly receipts for costly
Jewels. draperies and other expensive
oriental fabrics. but no securities or
other resources. There IL apparently
not vestIge left of the large fortune
he was supposed to possess"
"Then ! nm not the rich heiress
have been supposed to BET" said vesta
simply. and actually with smile.
"You seem reconciled." observed
Aarston.
"And relieved" added vesta bright.
ly. 81 shall be glad to get back to my
own humble. ordinary self. 1t will be
a test Of the friendship Of my In
Vulnerable new friends and It will dis
sipate the extravagant visions Of my
parents"
So 1t WAS all over. The bubble Of
wealth had burst and 'vesta was after
all "a nobodyi'' Swiftly her suitors
deserted her. and. although her mother
suffered a severe disappointment.
gradually her dreams Of luxury and
social emlncnce faded away.
To his amazement Marston had dis
covered that the old mansion was
mortgnged for two-thirds Of Its value.
He began negotiations with a city
agent who was looking for building
suitable for small sanitarium. He
called upon vesta frequently to report
progress and the companiOnship be-
came source Of pleasure to both.
At the end Ok two months Marston
told Vesta OF his love for her and
they became engaged. They were tax
Ing q stroll one afternoon when he re-
marked:
II an going to look over the old
mansion. 1t Is all that Is left Of the
estate. l understand that the neigh
borhood boys have been making 1t a
tnrget for the slungshots. and a. you
mey eventually get u few hundred dol.
lars out Of 1t we must keep the prop
erty In rs good condition as possible"
Mnrston let himself into the house.
and as they passed through the chill.
gloomy apartments vesta chung to him
with an eerle sense Of weirdness.
Finally they came to the solitary room
old Albert winsted had occupied for
30 many years.
"Why. that Is strange!" abruptly
exclaimed Marston.
Some missile thrown through the
window Ind struck the wall In one
corner Of the room. It had left gap
ing orlhce. and beyond 1t showed an
open space. and. peering, Marston
made out what suggested a secret
room. Probing. he found that the false
bit Of wall papered over was really
a door. He opened this and he and
vesta stood enthrnlled. gazing upon
presentment that fairly amazed them.
The room had no windows and Its
contents were visible only because Of
the light streaming through the secret
doorway. At one end was dals with
gorgeous draperies. Seated In chair
at for royalty was wax figure, dusty.
but beautiful of face. richly appareled
Before this evident counterfeit pre-
sentiment Of the princess bride Of old
Albert Winsted were vases. salvers,
dishes. filled with gold. diamonds and
gems Of all descriptions.