Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12


cumulations, would in course of time
have produced such astounding re-
suits. He had been at pains to explain to
Timothy how, owing to that law, what
Timothy intended would not come about; but
Timothy had merely stared at him very hard
and said: "Fsubbage! Make it sol" And Soames
had mace it. In any case the legal limit of
accumulation would be reached, and that was
as near to what the old chap wanted as could
be-.
When, as executor, he came to the exami-
nation of the papers left behind by Timothy,
he had fresh confirmation of his uncles life
long passion for safety. Practically nothing
had been destroyed. Seventy years and more
of receipted bills and check books with the
paid-out check forms carefully returned to
them in order of date were found and-since
Timothy had been spoon-fed and incapable of
paying bill since before the war-burned out
of hand. There was a mass of papers refer
ring to the publishing business, which he had
abandoned for consols in 1879 and which had
died, very fortunately for Soames, natural
death not long after. All these were commit
ted to the fire.
But them far more serious matter-there
were whole drawers full of private letters and
odds and ends, not only Timothy's, but Of the
three sisters who had made house with him
since their fathers death, in 1850. And with
that conscientiousness which ever distinguished
him in an unconscientious world, Soames had
decided to 60 through them first and destroy
them afterward. 1t was no mean task. He
sneezed his way through 1t doggedly, reading
the spidery calligraphy of the Victorian era, in
bundle after dirty bundle Of yellowed letters.
THE fifteenth evening of his perusal, for he
had had the lot conveyed by motor lorry
down to Mapledurham, he came on the letter
which forms the starting point of this MARIA
II n14 to
bearing the address, Miss Hatty Beecher," was
in Timothy's handwriting, bore the date, May
the twenty-seventh, 1851" and had obviously
never been posted
Hatty Beecher! Why, that had been the
maiden name of Hatty Chessman, the lively,
elderly, somewhat raddled widow and friend
of the family in his youth. He remembered
her death in the Spring of 1899 She had left
his aunts juicy and Hester $500 apiece.
Soames began to read the letter with an
ashamed curiosity, though it was nearly TO
years old and everybody dead; he continued
to read it With a sort of emotion, as Of one
coming on blood in the tissue of mummy.
MY dear Hatty,' it began.
IT hope it will not surprise you TO receive
from me" ("obviously she never did," thought
Soames) "this missive which has caused me
much anxiety, for am not one of those light
hearted gentry who take the gravest steps in
life without due consideration. Only the con-
viction that my best interests, indeed my hap
piness, and, I trust, your happiness are in
volved, have caused me to write this letter.
II have not, I hope, obtruded my attentions
upon you, but you will not, equally hope, have
failed to notice that the charms of your per-
son and your character have made a great
impression upon me and that I seek your COM
pany with ever growing ardor. I cannot,
then think that 1t will be in the nature Of a
shock to you when, with all the gravity born
of long consideration and many heart search
tngs, ask for the honor of your hand.
IF I am so fortunate as to meet with your
approval as suitor 1t will be my earnest en-
deavor to provide for you a happy and pros
porous home, TO surround you with every at
tention and to make you good husband AS
you know, think, am 81 years old, and my
business is increasing I am, indeed, slowly,
am happy to say, becoming warm man; so
that in material matters you will have all the
comfort and, indeed luxury with which feel
you should be surrounded. In the words Of
think, the Marquis of Montrose:
"He either fears his fate too much
Or his deserts are small
Who ddres not put 1t to the touch
To min or lose 1t an"
"As say, have not taken this step lightly
and If, my dear Hatty, 1t pleases you to crown
my aspirations with success think you may
rely on me to make you happy. I shall be on
tenter-hooks until have your reply, which I
hope will not be delayed beyond the morrow.
I express to you my devoted admiration and
am, my dear Hatty,
"Your faithful and attached suitor,
TIMOTHY FORSYTH"