The Little River news., 1921-12-07
Maggie's Inherit
 dnCc By KATE EDMONDS
Co, 1921, Western Newspaper Uniono

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 When the boarding house servant announced Dick Mansfield, Maggie put aside the letter over which she hat. been puzzling and went to the door of her hall bedroom. Next moment she was in Dicks arms.
 "Heigho Same old hall room y" said Dick, taking his seat beside her. "Say, Maggie, how would you like to come west with me next Friday"
 West, Dick?" Maggie Durham ex- claimed.
 "West's what I said," Dick an- swered. Eve got a chance to buy a farm in Texas-five hundred down and the rest on mortgage. Then we can get married and start out to make a home for ourselves. You know Mag 1 gie. dear," he continued, in whisper of exultation, i've got twelve hundred dollars saved now" They had been engaged two years. Maggie earned eighteen dollars week as stenoerapher to MT. Burman, of the great department store, and Dick twenty as a clerk in the iron works corporation. And they had been sav- ing ever since they were engaged. "I mean, Maggie, with your five hun dred," Dick volunteered. And we can start in on that and make our way. Is it all right?" But Dick, T."
 But Maggie, you know now MT. Burmans dead you won't have such prospects as you thought He took a fancy to you, but his head man dis likes you, you told Tie, and l guess you'll find the future won't be 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 Sun day. she said.
 Left alone, Maggie pulled out the letter again and began studying it. It was from Mir. Burman's lawyer and 1t hinted at something that she had nev- CT 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- forekthe appointed hour, Maggie Dur hal4 was shown into the splendidly furnished drawing room. Mrs. Bur- manNvas seated in an arm chair, her handkerchief to her eyes. Upon the sofaMsde by side, were the Misses BuI11hn. The lawyer, Henry Altemus, of I,i oh t, mestSher. When he presented her the women made only the slightest inclina- tion of their heads.
 "Ahem! Miss Durham, it is my dutyto give you some very painful in- formation" the lawyer began.
 Miss Durham" he began, "how long have you worked in MT. Rurmans store?"
 "Three years," said Maggie.
 You began as a cash girl and had a phenomenally rapid rise, believer"
 Maggie nodded. Taught myself stenography and worked up," she an- swered.
 Miss Durham" said Mir. Altemus, Ion going through MT. Burman's priv. ate papers we find that he was-er- married before."
 "We hope so," interposed the widow.
 And. to be brief, that you are MT. Burman's daughter. Maggie looked at the lawyer and at tho widow and at the prim faces of theftwo girls.
 # hy didn't he recognize me?' she ecause," said the lawyer, "Mr. Rul hn had a position in life which had 10 be maintained. And you were | the fruit of a mesaliance, a juvenile ihdkcreton.
 | NJ see," said Maggie. "So he put the responsibility on my mother. Where i isS she?"
 1 She died when you were born. And l now the point is this: MT. Burman | has1 left you an annual income of seven Thousand dollars, to be held in trust for you, upon two conditions. First, tl0st you agree to go to a school in Paris l (Which has been selected for you, and tO remain there two years. Secondly, | Ktldt, dlLcT you nave Deeu pOllSueU, 3yOu will reside with Mrs. Burman as her niece, and that no hint of the se- cret ever passes your lips, under pen ally of fOrfeiting your income An, by K tAe way, there is a third condition, but
 t is too unimportant to lay much stress upon 1t. I believe you have Considered yourself engaged to a worthy young man by the name of Nansfield? A mere clerk, I think. Of course that episode is ended now and forever. All that is now requisite is that you sign document which have I bere embOdying these terms. Here is the paper" He began shuffliny l among the sheets upon the table. I Maggie rose up.
 Goodbye, MT. Altemus," she said. l She bowed to the widow and her daughters.
 'E "Eh?' said the lawyer. ! Declined with thanks" said Mag