The state herald., 1921-07-01
Mageie's Inherit
ance
By KATE EDMoNDs
). lg2l. Western Newspaper unIonl

aside the letter over which she had
been puzzling and went to the door of
her hall bedroom. Next moment she
was In Dicks arms.
"Heigho! Same old hall room!"
said Dick, taking his seat beside her.
"Say. Maggie, how would you like to
come west with me next Frldny?"
"West, Dick?" Maggie Durham ex-
claimed. A
"West's what said" Dick IN.
swered. 1--WE got chance to buy a
farm In Texas-five hundred down and
the rest on mortgage. Then w0zGau
get married and start out to make q
home for ourselves. You know Mag
gle. dear" he continued In u whisper
of exultation, "r*e got twelve hundred
dollars saved now"
They had been engaged two years.
Maggie earned eighteen dollars a week
as stenogrepher to Mr.. Burnan. OF the
great department store, and Dick
twenty us a clerk In the iron works
corporation. And they had been sav.
Ing ever since they were engaged.
~ mean, Maggies with your five hun
dred," Dick volunteered. "And We
can start in on that and make our
way. Is 1t all rightly"
"But Dick. ="
"But Maggie, you know now Mr..
Burman's dead you won't have such
prospects as you thought. He took Z
fancy to you. but his head man dis
likes you. you told me. and I guess
you'll find the future won't b. % bright
as you hoped. Come, throw II up and
let's get married"
She would not give him her decision.
She would let him know the next Sum
day. she said.
Left alone, Maggie pulled out the
iettsr again and began studying It. II
was from Mr.. Burman's lawyer and Il
limited at something that she had new
er Imagined in her widest dreams.
And she was to be at the Burman
mansion on Madison avenue at noon
the following day.
The next morning. few minutes be
fore the appointed hour, Maggie Dur
ham was shown into tue splendidly
furnished drawing room. Mrs. Bur
man was seated In an arm chair. her
handkerchief to her eyes. Upon the
sofa. side by side. were the Misses
Burmsn. The lawyer, Henry Altemus.
rose nervously out OF his chair to
meet her. When he presented her the
women made only the slightest inciina.
tion Of their heads.
"Ahem! Miss Durham. It Is ~
duty 10 give you some very painful n.
formation" the lawyer begun. y
Miss Durham" he began. 'how
long have you worked In Mr.. Bui1nan's
store:"
"Three years." said Maggie.
'You began us cash girl and had
pbenomenally rapid rise. bellcveT
Maggie nodded. Taught myself
stenography md worked up" she mn.
swered
"MIss Durham" said Mr.. Altemus.
ION going through Mr.. Burman's priv.
ate papers we find that he was--er--
married before"
I'VE hope 80" interposed the widow.
And, to be brief. that you are Mr..
Burman's daughter.
Maggie looked ut the lawyer and at
the widow and at the prim faces OF
the two girls
"Why didn't he recognize mei" she
asked.
"Becnuse," said the lawyer, "Mr.
Burman had position In life which
Ind TO be maintained. And you were
the fruit OF mesalliance, a juvenile
indiscret!on.
Il see." said Maggie. $50 he put the
responsibility on my mother. Where
In shei"
''she died when you were born. And
now the point Is this: Mr.. Burman
has left you an annual income OF seven
Thousand dollars. 10 he held In trust
for you. upon two conditions. First.
thu, You agree to go To II school In Paris
which has been selected for you. and
to remain there fwo years. Secondly.
TINT. after you have been polished.
ypu VIII tt'iuf WIN siTr. buTIflhU WS
her niece, and that no hint OF the va.
cret ever passes your lips, under pen.
atty OF forfeiting your Income. All. by
the way. there Is u third condition. bui
II Is too unimportant 10 lny much
stress upon Il. ! believe you have
considered yourself engaged to n
worthy young man by the name OF
Msnsiieldf 4 mere clerk. l think. or
course TINT episode Is ended now und
forever. All that Is now requisite II
that you sign n document which have
here embodying these terms. llcra In
the paper" He began shurlng
among the sheets upon the table.
Maggie rose up.
Goodbye, Mr.. Altcmus." she said
She bowed to the widow mud hnr
daughters
"Ehf" snid the lawyer.
Declined with thanks" suid Mag
gle. DO you think I'd sell myHrl.
into slavery for the pleasure ~ mit
Ing with your crowdf" she denmnhud
"Why, there Isn't n drOp of trli blnr,l