Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-03-01
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THE RENoUNcED INHERITANCE
FROM CoDEy 5 LADYs BOOK.

"Magdalene Ross, are you in your right
mind ~
II think So aunt Harriet l feel no premo,
n.tions OF insanity"
Mrs, Harriel Hereford, Of Hereford Hall
aned back in her velvet cushioned arm hair.
aud applied ler vinaigrclte 10 her nose Il,
vas more than sic could comprehend-this
unhea,d Of coaduc, in her neice The fash>
ionable woman Of the world could have no
understanding Of it,
1T is incredible, Magdalcne! always
thought you wee a girl Of cool sense"
"Thank you. auntie | claim 10 b,.'
'Bnt you have no rich, 10 the claim Such
an absurd thing! You will not persist in
doing it, will you. Maggie, dear?' coaxingly
Mag lifted her handsome head with
an air of quiet pride Her cheeks clowea
her hazel eyes slone with calm and steady
light. There was determ nation like iron in
tn. curve of the rcd lips
Il shall do it, 1t is my duty! God help
ing me, | will never shrink from tha,l And
should be doubly coward. If | refused to
walk in the path Of justice, now iha, ii lies SO
plainly and clearly before me. Should l do
otherwise than propose to 90, should tles-
pise myself foreverl'
"liow foolish, how ridiculous, The pro.
perty is .soursl No person in i he world would
doubt that fact for n moment. John Green,
ough was OF sound mind, and in full posses
81 n of his faculties, when he made the will
that gives you everything of which he died
possessed
'Gran,ed. | did not dispute that But
when The will was made he was under the in
fuencc of an angry passion, and no man can
be perfectly sane when passion swnys lin
utterly. You know the circumstances as wei,
MS | do lie had set his heart On his sons
marriage with Miss Vane-a lady of wesIih
and social position--ana that son refused to
obey him, choosing rather to follow the die
tates Of his own inclination. He married
poor farmer daughter, and from that day to
the day Of his death, his father never saw bis
face He disowned him--nay, more, he cursed
him cursed him and his innocent children.
and when Charles Greenough died, his own
father turned from hi door the messenger
who came to bring the melancholy tidngs-
You know how it has been since. The widow
OF his son has supported her two children by
her own in.usiry, and brought them up right
ly; son aad daughter, so have been told,
that any mother might be p, oud of. The prop
erty Of john Gresnougf belongs not to me
but to those children"
"Magdalene, You are over conscientious =
Mr.. Greenough gave it to you of his own free
will. You saved his life, and he loved YOU
better than he loved any other person.
II was tprtunate enough to render him
service.
"A service? You speak lightly. The dog
would have killed him but for your
"Annt Harriet, no credit is due to me. Hero
knew me, and desistcd from his attack on the
helpless old man because l called to him
There was no sacrifice my part. But for
this Mr., Greenough felt grateful, and during
the time that taught school near his house
frequently went in to read TO him, or tel, him
the news ofthe day. never dreamed of be.
ing rewarded Tor 1t. He was har.l, stern
old man, but enjoyed his society. and have
been happiest always while doing right"
sand you are resolved?'
"fes, am resolved aunt Harriet"
bitter smile wreathed he handsome, aris-
tocratic face of Mrs. Hereford.
Very WELL Magdalcne. hope YOU will
not repent your decision. hav. tried ha,
to do by You as should, during the few
months you have been with me- You know
that do no. approve Of voluntary poverty
! was greatly opposed to your mothers mar,
riage with Arthur Ross Not that I have
anything to bring against your fathers charac
ter-but he was poor. Well, he is de d. and
so is Helen--I will let them rest. But hoped
10 have madc their child understand what
was for her own good. have failed il seems
hope you know that you can have no cxpec
'ations from me2'
Magdaicnes check 1ushcd--a scornful
blaze in her dark eyes. y have taken care
IT. myself for three years. j think YOU need
be under no aprr,hcnsions." Then, her face
'oftcnins litsle, she added No cxrcc,a-