The Snowflake herald., 1920-07-09
A SHADOWY
BRIDE.
By CTILLIA C. PFEIFFER


Copyright, 1920, Western Newspaper Union
1he pale, tall and thin young man in
the outer office of Evans. Denton &
Bliss, leading city lawyers, betokened
shadow of anxiety and disappoint.
ment as the head clerk reappeared
a1ter taking from him a package con.
tanning his weeks grist of copied legal
documents.
Sorry Mr.. Trescott," he said. "but
there will be no more work for you."
us there dissatisfaction? interro.
gated Vance Trescott quickly. 81 have
been ill. Perhaps my hand has been
a trif1e unsteady, but l am growing
stronger daily"
Your work has been uniformly
clear and correct, and there is not the
vestige of a fault to find with YOU
Here is your pay for the week. You
see, Mr. Evans has employed a regular
secretary, son of valuable client,
believe, and we will not send any copy
work out of the office hereafter You
might speak to Mr.. Evans, if you like"
Thank yOu," bowed Trescott, but
dispiritedly. He entered the private
office Of Robert Evans. The latter
nodded pleasantly to him.
Il suppose Wilbur has told your" he
spoke. Sorry, for you have a good
record with us.
"a good record and no entangle-
mentS," he murmured thOughtfully
Gould you come here tomorrow at
ten? You need money and a rest, Tres
colt. and | think | can make you a
proposition that will put you in a posi-.
ton where worry and overwork will
disappear"
Vance Trescott slept little that night
He was at a point in his experience
where his resources were drained to
the utmost limit. To be deprived
of work just now, in his weakened con
dition, was to face deprivation and suf
fering. He supported a crippled sister
and, despite restricted earnings, he had
been able to furnish her sufficient to
keep her from want
Trescott was on time to the minute
when he reached the law offices the
next morning. He sat in the outer
room, awaiting the summons from Mr.,
Evans. He was apparently unobserved
by an old gentleman and a yelled com
panion who entered and spoke to the
chief clerk. AS the latter retired. the
young lady removed the veil she wore.
For q fleeting moment her face was
revealed, for an instant only Vance
Trescott viewed the most beautiful
woman he had ever met. The young
lady doubled the veil and replaced it,
and then the chief clerk escorted them
into the private Office of Mr.. Evans
A few minutes later he reappeared
beckoned to TFescott and ushered him
also into the same private sanctum.
81 am engaged for an hour" spoke
Mr.. Evans Gould you return later?"
"Oh. surely" replied Trescott and
bowed himself out, and the pose of the
girl behind the veil suggested that she
was regarding him closely. When he
returned at II o'clock the lawyer was
alone.
''Trescott," he spoke at once, 81 have
q proposition to make to you. l know
you are a man who can keep his own
counsel and that can trust you. The
strange necessity has arisen with
client of mine that his daughter be-
come married. 1t means her protec-
ton and the defiance and defeat of
plotting relatives. l have here five
thousand dollars" and the speaker
placed his hand on sealed envelope
at is yours if you will consent to wed
an estimable young woman, depart,
forget her. and l promise you that
within two years you shall become
legally free"
Vance TrescOtt was spellbound at
the strange proposition. Mr.. Evans
went into no further details, but the
result was that Trescott that evening,
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