The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-06-30

But Maggie, you know now Mr..
Burman's dead you won't have such
prospects as you thought. He took 4
fancy to You, but his head man dis
likes You, you told me-. and l guess
you'll find the future won't he so bright
as you hoped. Come. throw it up and
let's get married"
She would not give him her decision.
She would let him know the next Sum
day, she said. H.
Left alone. Maggie pulled out the
letter again and began studying it. 1t
was from Mr.. Burman's lawyer and II
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.
j., The next morning, a few minutes be-
fore the appointed hour, Maggie Dur
ham was shown into the 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
Burman. The lawyer, Henry Altemus,
rose nervously out Of his chair to
meet her. When he presented her the
women made only the slightest inclina-
ton Of their heads.
"Ahem! Miss Durham, it is my
duty to give you some very painful in
formation" the lawyer began.
sN~s--. ~--r-- u - A--- x11---
long have you worked in Mr.. Burman's
storeQ'
Three years" said Maggie.
"You began as a cash girl and had
a phenomenally rapid rise, l believer
Maggie nodded. taught myself
stenography and worked up" she an.
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 So" interposed the widow.
"And, to be brief, that you are Mr..
Buyman's daughter.
Maggie looked at the lawyer and al
the widow and at the prim faces OF
the two gffls.
why didn't he recognize met" she
asked. s#
Because" said the lawyer, "Mr
Burman had . position in life which
had to be maintained. And you were
the fruit Of 4 mesalliance, a Juvenile
lndiscretion.
II see" said Maggie. $50 he put the
responsibility on my mother. Where
Is she?" ,
"She died when you were born. And
now the point Is this: Mr.. Burman
has left you an annual income Of seven
thousand dollars, to be held in trust
for you, upon two conditions. First
that you agree to 60 to a school in Paris
which has been selected for you, and
to remain there two years. Secondly
that. after you have been polished
you will reside with Mrs. Burman az
her niece, and that no hint of the sc.
cret yer passes your lips, under pen
atty Of FORGETTING your income. All, by
the way, there is q third condition, but
IL 10 tOO uL1kkAYO1 tuuI " lay IuuSl
stress upon 1t. I believe you have
considered yourself engaged to 8
worthy young man by the name Of
Mansfield? A mere clerk, I think. o.
course that episode is ended now ant
forever. All that is now requisite /,
that You sign g document which I have
here ~embodylng these terms. Here Il
the paper" He began shufflini
among the sheets upon the table. '
Maggie ISL up.
Goodbye, Mr.. Altemus," she ssi,:
She bowed to the widow and he1
daughters.
"Eh?" said the lawyer.
Declined with thanks" said Mag
gle. "Do you think I'd sell myself
into slavery for the pleasure Of mix
ing with your crowd7" she demanded
"'Why, there isn't a drop Of real BLOOD
in your VEINS"
Mercy" calculated the widow
tanning herself briskly. do you think
you can get the release signed fol
certain, Mr.. Altemus?"
IF she doesn't change her mind
murmured the lawyer. I'm afraid
But he had nothing to be afraid Of
for Maggie was at that moment tele
phoning to Dick Mansfield in a public
booth.
"Dick! Hello, Dick she called
"It's all right. N'"', tf4a,r III make II
Friday ~. e.