Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-01-05
afliseella nenus.
From the Lady's Friend
Stephen Wharton's Will.

| EloH tiic
Stephen Wharton's Will.
" GU wished to speak to me, sir"
The speaker, young man of prepos-
sesslng appearance. with a frank, bright
face, and easy, graceful manners, stood at
the door of Stephen Wharton's library
As he spoke. the owner of the room.a tall,
elderly gentleman. whose likeness to the
first speaker told of close relationship,
looked up with smile of welcome.
"Come in want you for a long talk
to day, Raymond. Did YOU remember. he
added as the Young man took seat near
his own, THAT this was your twenty first
birthday -
:. low could forget it, when found so
pleasant reminder in my room this morn
ing ;" said Raymond, touching as he spoke
the pocket in which tickcd a new repeater
watch, his unclo's morning gift.
Tut, trillc 1t is of more serious
things wish to speak to-day. You know
that | have always opposed your entering
upon the study OF any profession or bust
ness, because the cares of my estate will
in the future be amply sufficient to occupy
your time. Nay" he said, as his COM
panion moved. to interrupt hin-''hear me
out | mean to-day that you shall begin
to learn something Of the duties that will
deyolvc npen you at my death"
"Uuclr :" The tone was one Of deep
pain.
II know, my boy, all that you would
say, and III answer, say to gou. that have
no intention of making Your life begin with
waiting for dead mans shoes. have
already spoken to ny lawyer about the
transfer to you of sjich portion of my
property as viii make You independent of
me. Such labor It's y0u give in assisting
me will be voluntary, and eventually end
III your advantage; hut may keep you
many wears ont Of vGur inheritance.
" Heaven grant :" was the earnest re
ply.
for the loss of INV second father Nou
know, do you not haw gladly | viii serve
vou-not for my own future advantage, but
for your present benefit"
~ know; but and there was now
IL marked hesitation in the old gentleman
voicc-..'I have somctlaRg to say 10 you.
What do vou think of Ybla -
"What do | think of lola :" said the
Young man, evidently puzzled at this alb
rupt change of subject
"les;" and the tone now was some
what irritablc-"Nhat do you think of
her !"
"Why think she is a very pretty, well
behaved little girl"
"Pshaw ~
"But what do you want me to say !"
"What kind of wife do you think she
will make J"
IL never gave that idea one thought,
upon nv honor" and merry laugh nc,
compancd the speech.
"Wcll, sir''-and now the voice was one
of ANNOYANCE, "yOu may as well think 1t
over, for when YOU take possession Of the
house and income propose to give you,
lola nayhurst will become Mrs. Raymond
Wharton"
I" Impossible :" The ejaculation sprang
from the lips of Raymond like cry OF
pain.
"Aud why impossible -
She is II mere child"
NEARLY sixteen
| docs not lore me J"
| " Bah :"
Nor her."
"Fiddlcstcks 10
"But, uncle, cOnsdcr--'
~ have considered sir; for two years l
have given the subject the most serious
consideration. and now ! say toyou"-and
here the speakers eyes and tones were
those of resolutc deterlninatiOn-''andy you
will marry lola Hayhurst' or l will disin-
hcrit YOU"
There was a long silence in the luxur-
Gus room alter this threat died away upon
the air; and while Raymond Wharton
weighs his future in the balance, will tell
you something of his past.
Before his baby feet had crossed the
threshold of boyhood, his parents had left
him for another world. Without one dol
lar to call his own, he stood thus bereaved
and before lie could know his loss, his I'm
Gle stephen had taken his fathers place -
For nine years after. Eleanor Wharton.his
unclc's wife, had filled the void his moth
er's death would otherwise have madc.thcn
died chidlcss, knowing that Raymond was
as an own son to her husband.
With every luxury wealth could procure
around him, every talent fostered and cul-
tiyated, every whim humored. the boy
grew to manhood. Two years before the
day when his uncle so suddenly called up
on him to assume a mans highest rcspon-
sibilities, lola Hayhurst had come to share
with him his uncle's home and love.
Who she was, why she had any claim
upon this position, Raymond knew not =
| lie had found her domesticated on his re-
turn from a summer jaunt, and he knew
from her own lips that her mother had
died in New York, and Mr.. Wharton been
with her in her last moments. That she
In l. 1 Al. nf llpNartY.