Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23

a
n rived and Margaret and Stanley
"A took the child to see him. Mar
4 "a garet, on a warm May day, was
in frail and lacy BLACK, and
her blue eyes were shaded under wide
black hat. She wore a great bunch OF
fragrant violetS at her breast, and STAN
ley caught the delicious breath of them
as he led her and the child into the
cool shadows of the old palace.
They went up in the elevator and
were shown to the lawyers rooms
John Trowbridge was an old man, sill
ver-headed, lean, sharp-eyed. There
was a younger man, evidently q Secre-
tary, In the room with him, and this
man opened the door. But Immediately
the lawyer came forward and Stan
heard Margaret called by the name
that she was to wear for so short a
time.
Mrs. Theobald," old TTowbridge said,
taking her hand. 'T am glad to see you,
madam. I am relieved to see you look
ing so well"
This is the little boy" Margaret said
with some emotion, presenting the
child.
The lawyer turned and looked keenly
at the rudy little friendly face and the
barred, cropped yellow head and the
blue, shining eyes. And Margaret looked
with sort of timid and anxious pride
ct the lawyer.
Stanley, studying the group, thought
he had never seen anything more
touching and more dramatic than the
picture they made-the old lawyer with
his concerned and kindly face, the
ddently appraised, and the slender
eager woman in her black, with NO.
lets at her breast and an expression
Of such tender, anxious interest upon
her thin brown face.
About them, for a setting. was the
big room, lighted by the softly moving
shadow that crept in from the not
ait-of-doors. The shades were drawn
and the tempered golden light, touch
ing Margaret's warm colortng ano
cloudy, dark hair, made her, Stanley
thought, more beautiful than ne had
ever seen her.
'This is the baby2" the lawyer said.
Margaret nodded.
mot nlotnerless, after all" added the
old man, smiling, although II seemed
for awhile that he was worse than or.
phaned. You know the story?" he asked
Stan, half turning.
1T am in Mrs. Theobalds confidence,
There need be no fight. Mr.. Trow-
bridge?" Margaret asked.
what about?" he asked, smiling
uuizzically. There may be a fight be-
tween the other heirs Of Madison Rich
ards. nepheWs and grandnephews, anC
the lady who calls herself the second
Mrs. Theobald," he added, but witt
that you will have nothing to do. Some
share of the estate may not be Gov
cred by the will--there was a viii made
a month ago; I don't know anything
about It." said the old man, indiffer
emily. But of course your interest II
the community property could not b
affected in any way by that. And I
is entirely possible that this child vii
inherit the bulk of the remaining prop
erty-he must inherit something, a
the only direct heir, In any case"
'It is a responsibility" Margaret said
grayely. .n,
T-rowbridge echoed. But" he added
with an old-fashioned bow, 1T Is ii
safe hands. am to see this other Mrs
Theobald at O'Clock this afternoon,
he added. And I shall satisfy her tina
she is at least TO inherit some persona
possessions and proportion OF MI
Theobalds estate-waich was. OF course
largely dissipated. II you viii authoriz
me to handle your own claims, Mrs
Theobald," he was beginning, whel
Margaret interrupted quickly with
smile.
'They are entirely in your hands
This Is hardly the time, she added
smiling, TO tell you what my plan
are. But at least want you TO knoV
that Mr.. Crittenden and ="
Her color had come flooding up "a
diantly and her blue eyes shone hk
stars. Stanley felt his heart give
great plunge of Joy and humility an
pride as he saw the lawyers face bright
en- and felt the grip Of the friendly oil
hand
Il am glad to hear it." TTowbrids
sa,d heartily. "She has had more tina
her share Of suffering and responsibl
itv. Mr.. Crittenden. See to It now tbs
she gets back some Of these lost years
81 shall" Stanley said, smiling wit
his usual wide grin, but feeling n
throat thicken, nevertheless, ana wit
the red blood burning In his browne
face. And he put his arm about n
shoulder and drew her to him as II /
could never let her go.
So there were no more secrets be
tween them. And whether MaTgart
(yittenden really was the most fortu
nate and beloved woman IN the worl'
or whether she only imagined herse
so. because OF the dark waters throug
which she had sailed TO happiness
concerned her only as an abstrus
sMy last trouble Is oyerl" she tol
RtanleR On . certain glowing Angw