Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-05
MARGARET VANCE,
OR
The RenOunced inheritance.
BY ETHELIN BRANDE.

''Margaret Vance, are you in your
right mind?"
1I think so, Cousin Eleanore. j
feel no premonitions of insanity"
Miss Eleanore Hastings, of Hast
ing Hall, leaned back in her velvet
cushioned armchair, and applied her
vinaigrette to her nose. 1t was
more than she could comprehend
this unheard of conduct in her cous-
in and ward. The fashionable wo-
man of the world could have no un-
derstanding Of it.
SIT is incredible, Margaret l al
ways thought you were girl of
good sense"
"Thank you, Cousin Eleanore, l
claim to be-"
"But you have no right to the
claim! Such an absurd thingi You
viii not persist in doing it, viii you,
dear?" coaxingly.
Margaret Vance lifted her hand
some head with air of quiet pride.
Her cheeks glowed, and her black
eyes shone with a calm and steady
light. There was determination,
like iron, in thecurve of the scarlet
lips.
81 shall do it. 1t is my dutyi
shrink from thatl And / should be
doubly a coward, if refuse to walk
in the path of justice, now that it
lies SO plainly and clearly before me.
Should do otherwise than l pro-
pose to do, should despise myself
foreverl"
ssHow foolishl How ridiculous
The property is yours. No person
in the world would doubt that fact
for q moment. Jobson Peck was of
sound sense, and in full possession
of his faculties, when he made the
will which gives you everything OF
which he died possessed"
"Granted. lido not dispute that.
But when the will was made, he was
under the influence of an angry pas
sion; and no man can be perfectly
sane when passion sways him utter
ly. Youknow the circumstance as
well as / do. He had set his heart
on his sons marriage with Miss
Marshall-a lady of wealth and so
cial position, and that son refused
to obey him, choosing rather TO fol-
low the dictates of his own inclina-
ton. He married q poor curate's
daughter; and from that day TO the
day sof his death, his father never
saw his face. He disowned him
nay, more, he cursed him-cursed
him and his innocent children; and
wlsen Robbie Peck died, his own
father turned from his door the
messenger who came to bring the
melancholy tidings. You know how
it has been since. The widow ofhis
son has supported his two children
by her own industry, and brought
them up rightly; son and a daugh-
ter, so / have been told, that any
mother might be proud of. The
property OF Jobson Peck belongs
not to me, but to those children" I"
margaret, you are over-conscien-
tious. Mr.. Peck gave it to you of
his own free viii. You saved his
life, and he loved you better than he
loved any other person."
81 was fortunate enough to rem
der him a service"
"a service? You speak lightly.
The dog would have killed him but
for your'
to me. Fido knew me, and desisted
from his attack on the helpless, old
man, because called to him. There
was no sacrifice on my part. But
for this Mr.. Peck felt grateful; and
during the time that / visited the
Sunday School near his home, l fire.
quently went in to read to him, or
tell him the news of the day. l new
er dreamed of being rewarded for
it. He was a hard, stern, old man;
but 1 enjoy his society, and l have
been happiest, always, while doing
right"
"And you are resolved?"
eyes, l am resolved, Cousin Flea
rore."
A bitter smile wreathed the hand
some, aristocratic face of Miss Flea.
more Hastings.
every well, Margaret, hope you
will not repent your decision.
have tried hard to do by you as j
should, during the few months you
have been with me. You know
that l do not approve of voluntary
poverty. l was greatly opposed to
your mothers marriage with Rom
ney Braithe. Not that l have any
thing to bring against your fathers
character-buth he was poor. Well,
he is dead, and so is Mary; 1 viii let
them rest. But hoped to have
made their child understand what
was for her good. / have failed, ii
seems Ihope you know that you
can have no expectations from me-
Margaret's face flushed-a scornful
blaze in her magnificent eyes,
s'I have four hundred dollars a
year of my own, and would live on
it easily, without help from any one.
l did so for two years, after my
mothers death, before / came to
stay with you. Therefore / think
you need be under no apprehen-
sionsv Then, her face softening q
little, she added: s"True, 1 have nc
| expectations, save for your love