The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-08
cHAPrxa vI.-coNrrNuEp.

cHAPrK1 vI.-coNrINuED.
It's curious 10 note, when your minds aux
ious, how very far In the way Of relief very
small Joke will 70. We found fund Of merri-
ment, at the time, In the notion Of making
away with Miss Rachel's lawfsl property, and
getting Mr.. Blake, an executor, into dreadful
trouble-though where the merriment was am
quite at loss to discover now.
Mr.. Franklin was the first to bring the talk
back TO the talk'sproper purpose. He took an
envelope ost Of his picket, opened 10, and hand
I'd 10 me the paper inside.
"Betteredge," he said, Eve must face the
question Of the Colonel's motive In leaving this
legacy, to his niece for my aunt's sake. Bear
In mind how Lady Yerinder treated her brother
from the time when he returned 20 England. 10
the time when he told you he should remember
his nicce's birthday. And read that
He gave me the extract from the Colonel's
Win. have got il by me while write these
words and copy ii. as follows, for your bene-
1T;
"Thirdly, and lastly, give and bequesth to
my niece, Rachel Verinder, daughter and only
child Of my sister, Julia Verinda, widow, the
yellow Diamond belonging TO me, and known In
the East by the name Of The Moonstone-sub-
ject TO this condition, that her mother. the said
Julissyeriuda. shall be living Mt the time. And
hereby desire my executor, in that event, to
give my Diamond, either by his own hands or
by the hands Of some trustworthy representative
whom he shall appoint, into the personal pos
session Of my said neice Rachel, on her next
birthday after my death, and in the presence Of
my sister. the said Julia 'verinda. And fur
thermore, I desire also that my sister, as aiore-
said, NAV be informed, by means a q true copy
of this, the third and hast clause Of my Will,
that give the Diamond TO her daughter Rachel,
In token Of my free forgivness Of the injury
which her conduct toward me has been the
means Of inacting on my reputation in my life
time and especially In proof that pardon, as
becomes dying man, the insult offered TO me
as an officer and gentleman, when her servant
by her orders, closed the door Of her house
against me, on the occasion Of her daughters
birthday"
More words followed these. providing. II my
lady was dead, or n Mrs Rachel was dead, at
the time Of the testator's decease. for the Dis
moud being sent 10 Hollsnd, In accordance With
the sealed instructions originally deposited with
It. The proceeds Of the sale were, In that case,
TO be addei to the money already len by the
Win for the professorship Of chemistry at the
university in the north.
Ihanded the paper back to Mr.. Franklin,
sorely troubled what TO say to him. Up to that
moment my own opinion had been (as YOU
he had lived. don't say the copy from his
only say IL staggered me.
swell, ,"Says Mr.. Franklin, "now 20 have
read the CoYonel's own statement, what do you
To-, h.;, th. Moop.topa to INV m a
house, am serving his vengeance blindfOld, or
am vindicating him in the character Of q PEN
itent and Christian manl''
eft seems hard to say, Sir,"I answered,
'that he died with horrid revenge in his heart
and horrid lie on his lips. God alone knows
the truth. Don't ask me-"
Mr.. Franklin sat twisting and turning the ex-
tract from the Win In his fingers, as II he ex-
pectcd TO sauecsc the truth out Of Il In that man
ner. lie altered quite remarkably at the same
time From being brisk AMI bright. he now be
came, most unaccountably, . slow, solemn, and
pondering young man.
''rhis question has two sides, /" he said. can
Objective side. and Subjective side. Which
are we to tskef"
lie had had German education ss well rs q
French. One Of the two had been in undis-
turbci possession Of him las supposedly up 10
this time. And now the other was taking its
place. Il Is one Of my rules In life never TO no.
ticc what I don't understand. steercd mid
die course between the Objective and the Sub;
jecti,e side. In plain English. stared hard
and said nothing.
"Let's extract the inner meaning Of this,
says Mr.. Franklin. "why did my uncle leave
the Diamond to R,chell Why didn't he leave II
TO my aunt!'
"Tha,'s not beyond guessing, Sir, at any
rate,"I said "Colonel Herncastle knew my
lady well enough to know that she would have
refused to accept any legacy that came to her
from him.
"IIow did he know that Rachel might not re
fuse to accept II. tco'"
els there any young lady in existence, Sir,
Who could resist the temptation Of accepting
such 4 birthday present as The Moons,one''
"That's the Subjective vlew," says Mr..
Franklin. "It does you great credit, Better
edge, TO be able 10 take the Subjective view.
But there's another mystery about the Colo
nel's legacy which Is not accounted for yet.
How are ve to explain his only giving Rachel
her birthday present ooaditionally on her NTH
er being slivef''
..I don Z want TO SANDER dead man, SIR"
answered. "But II he has purposcly left leg
scy Of trouble and danger 10 his sister, by the
means Of her child, Il must be . legacy made
conditional on his sisters being alive to feel the
veIatiou Of It,"
"Oh. That's your Interpretation again
Have you ever been In Germany. Bettercige!'
"No. Sir. What's your Interpretation. II you
P,easei"
81 can see." says Mr.. Franklin. "that the
Colonel's object may, quite possibly. have been
not to benefit his niece. whom he had never
even sccn-but 10 prove 10 his sister that he had
died foryiving her. and 10 prove Il very prettily
by means of q present made TO her child. There
Is totally different explanation from yours,
Bettereige. taking lis riss IN Sabjective-oo-
jcctive point Of view. From all can see, one
Interpretation Is just a. likely 10 Be right as the
other"
Having brought matters to this pleasant and
comforting issue, Mr.. Franklin appeared To
think that he had completed all that was re
quirsd Of him. He laid down fiat on his back
on ths sand. and asked what was TO be done
next.
"Isnt IL your business. Sir" asked. '.to
know what 70 do neItf Surely IL can't be
mine 20
Mr.. Franklin did not appear n see the force
Of INV questicu-not being In position at the
time TO so any think but the sky over his head.
'.I don't want 10 alarm my aunt without rca-
son." he said. Sand I don't want to leave
her without what may Be nssdfal warning. II
you wore In my place, Bettercdge, tell me, In
one wsrd, what 700 would do"
In one word told him /; "wAit"
.swith al my heart. % says Mr.. Franklin.
SLOW long 20
Iprocesded 10 explain myself
Gas undsrytaad it. Sr." sad "sousbody