The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-01-24
The Far1shawe
Estates
b. CALVIN HENDRICKS

Copyright. 1879. Western Newspaper Union
Everybody Of consequence In Lon
don had come to know Herbert Fan
shave, the American who was claim.
Ing the Fanshawe estates, covering
thousands and thousands of broad
acres In the most smiling part Of the
Midlands. rH
Brand new evidence had been
brought, to light, and the issue was u
f0regone conclusion. Sir Thomas Fan
Shave was In despair. He was AN old
man, and II he lost, his daughter, his
only heir, born to him when he was
well past fifty, would be turned out
Of her historic home, penniless.
Fanshawe had journeyed to Elms-
dale to meet his solicitor and the de-
PENDANTS. He was shown into
spacious room, where Sir Thomas, a
gray old man, sat toasting his feet
at the fire.
"Mr. Fanshawe," said his lawyer,
"Sir Thomas Fanshawe has made
singular proposal with view to set.
! ting this trouble out Of court. That
Is why I asked you to come down
here"
"Yes," said the young American
briskly. II am in your hands,"
'Not In this instance answered
his lawyer sharply. "Sir Thomas pro-
poses that you drop your suit, leave
him in possession of the estates until
his death, become his heir, and marry
his daughter, Miss Mary, whom you
were kind enough to say you admired
when you saw her in court"
Fanshawe gasped at the cold-blood-
edness Of the proposition.
"What does Miss Fanshawe say?"
asked the young man.
The old man spoke. "Mary!" he
called. The girl glided into the room
and stood looking at Fanshawe with
! out expression. Are you willing to
make this sacrifice, my dear?' her fa.
ther asked.
She nodded, and looked at Fan
Shave as though he were IN inanimate
object.
"Are you willing, Mr. Fanshawe?"
asked his lawyer.
"Tm willing" answered Fanshawe,
thickly.
"Then," said one of the lawyers
"the ceremony may as well take place
now. l am the registrar for this di.
vision.
That was all. They were soon man
and wife.
Faushawe put on his hat. Ten minutes
later he was on his way to London.
i He slept over his problem, and
when he opened his morning paper, he
saw q brief notice that Sir Thomas
had died suddenly the preceding eve
ming. Apoplexy was given as the
cause Of death.
4 Outside in the street he saw, in far
ing letters on huge poster FAN
SHAVE CASE-RESULT He bought
a copy, and then, seized with sudder
thought. instead Of opening the paper
, he put 1t In his pocket unread ant
4 hurried back to Elmsdale. He cou(
gather no impression Of what the yer
dict had been from the buffers i'm
. passive demeanOr.
"May see Mrs. Fanshawe?" asked
the young man.
y "what do you want Of me?' shs
; asked. 4--
: II want to say" said Fanshaw'
J thickly, chow sorry am for the los.
; you have suffered Please do not thlnf
that ] shall intrude upon your grief
But l have to have an explanation
Why did you make this abominabl'
bargain?"
: ITO please my father" she an
swered, showing for the first time /;
!, trace OF emotion. "Now. then, why die
: you make the bargain?"
3 because 1 love you," answere,
!. Fanshawe unsteadlly.
!. "You love me?" she repeated incred
ul0usly,
II love YOU" he answered doggedly
He drew the paper from his pocke
and placed 1t. still folded, upon tn
table.
i "Of course you know the verdict,
r he resumed. "But do not. Strang
aS IL Inuy Sccilp i udNc uOI iOoheu u
o this newspaper. resolved before do
n ing SO to visit you here and say t
you: whatever the verdict has been
whether In my favor or In yours, vii
you give me a chance to win you
lOve?"
The girl had stepped nearer to hin
and was gazing at him In amazement
!. Her face was flushed, her eyes shin
ing.
"You really love me?" she said in
credulously. "And you have reall
not seen the verdict? Suppose-suI
pose that 1t was in your favor!'
r II still hold to my proposition" h
!. answered.
, She was seemingly overwhelmed b.
. his self-revelatiOn. She looked at hir
as though stupefied. Fanshaw
:. stretched out his hand toward the pa
! per, but she anticipated him.
: "No, wait y she said. II accept you