The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-22
VOL. ".

No fAosc ycH dOa'LN y growled the doc-
teys With side glance sc his ft4cnds pie
tAoric ropoFtions, ss they made thSlc way
cut of che steay
f'her caNversation had net been IL
whispers, and John Grapley had lost none
Of IL since be took his stand by abe win,
dow, Nos was IL many minutes after chs
departure oi bis steptAther before John
with an uuaec0antSble p&llcr la his face
and hesitating step was passing through
The house from room 60 nom. All Was
deserted. solitary. Even the sSir face OF
Alice Ovingtaa was frightening some more
distant corner cf the mansion,
The sV,Nhg mans step became even more
stcalthy, and his thin, white lips shut more
closely ON each other, as he laid his hand
at last on the knob vi the study door IL
turned in his grasp, and he stepped within.
The room was emptv of human iorms,
and John Grapleys eyes wandered In vain
search around the room-not finding some
thing thcy expected. A few loose papers
on the table were hurriedly turned over,
and aS hastily thrown down. with sharp
exclamation of angry dissatisfaction.
The KEY was In the secretary, but John
Grapley's hand shock more than little AS
he turned II In the lock. He did turn il,
however, and then at least his search
secmed TO be successful for from one OF
the littlc piseon-hoies he drew and opened
long yellow envelope
John gave the paper which he held in
his hand bat one swift, keen, eager glance,
and then thrust il into an inside pocket Of
his coat, muttering:
Al all events, be shall Hct destroy this.
He has GOT the other with him now, and
l must trust TO luck to get il out Of the
way. Now, must get out OF this"
He put the empty envelope back in the
pigeon-hole, locked the secretary, leit tho
key aShe found il, and fastened away.
fie dhinOt make his appearance near his
home again until the next day at noon.
IL was late that evening before old Mr..
0vington returned from town. weary with
his unAccnstomed walk, and anxious emily
to get strSightway 20 bed. Ii was late IN
the morning when he arose, and then hts
Deycns and his other mute iavorltes kept
him Tor time from hs cosy study.
Alicc 0Tington bad looked at the cattle
with him, and Martin had cawed gracious
! ly about them a. IL he considered himself
good judge Uf both brutes and human
beings; but John Grapley did not put m
lis customary appearance.
When he did return, however, halt an
hour later, he was 4 Ct in the gateway by
the form OF his steptather, looking foot
taller than usual. being, literally, IN q
- towering - iit OF anger.
John Grapley, do you know where
they are-do you
"Where what are What ON earth's
the matter ~ gasped John, with a we'll
assumed look Of bewildered innocence.
The win, you scoundrel, the viii
Both Of them! Give them up or pll---n
Alas for swollen veins and hasty pas
sions! For, rs John Grapley quailed and
trembled before the wrathful face Of his
stepfather, suddenly the old man put on =
strange and set expression, his tongue ceas-
ed 20 OBJ his angry win his limbs failed un-
der him, and the old gentleman sank help
less ON the grass.
John Grapley's face wore for q moment
the look Of repfieved criminal but he
rettH ned his self possession, and no alarm
could have been more prompt and loud
than thar which he sounded.
Mr.. Uvinston was borne into the house,
and medical aid was summoned.
John went himself for DIR. Prindle; but
could hardly even simulate vGxntion on
learning that that gentleman had been
called awag 10 an important consultation,
and would not be homo under two days.
Physicians were 10 be Ind in abundance
however, and they came; but they came
too late 90 do anything helpful for Mr.
Ovington. The silver cord was lc0sed,
and his pitcher was utterly shattered at
the fountain Of life.
Great was the CONSERVATION OF poor
Alice Oviugton, and il was great help 10
her that her brother George came home
next day, in the midst OF the funeral pre-
partitions. Still, both George and Alice
found themselves of snail account in the
house OF their grandfather, for George
Grapley had taken all matters in charge
al once. and issued his orders with the alr
and manner Of well-assured proprietor.
At first they did not mind il much, though
Ge1r9c 0yfngton, more selfish than bis
sister; remarked 90 himself that Ii augured
little OF good for theis future prospects.
Poor Martin had not seemed q COM
prehend the terrible change TN the house
hold affairs. and perhaps his instincts OF
seIf-preservation taught him TO do his al
lownnca of discuntented caFing nc safe
distance from the spirited hands OF John
Grapley.
The succeeding day had been set for the
funeral. and the coffin lay in the old, deep
windowed drawing room, which was, per-
fhrcc, an thrown open for the circulation
OF tue warm Summer air, and the entrance
.vf the unsympathising sunlight.
More than IN hour before the time fixed
for the funeral, DIR. Prindle drove up TO
the gate, threw bis rrtns ON his horse, and
strobe into the house. He gave George
Dyingtcn hasty graspof the hand, spoke
tu Alice a few kindly words, and then
went on iHt5 che parlor.
Here he was standing in Sorrowful A.
Fence, bis usually firm features working
slowly as h < gaZed down upon the IA OF
bis old friend, when he heard step beside
him, and the voice OF John Grapley said
"Ah, doctor, | nm NO sorry you were
not here. fear you could have done
nothing for him, but just before he was
taken he was wishing TO see you.'
% To zee me What for ~
Something about new will. He said
he had made one, but destroyed IL, and he
wanted your help in framing another. He
led me TO believe that he intended making
some liberal provision Efor George and
Alice"
" That, indeed, be did" replied the doc
tor. bat somehow he did not feel called
upon to say any more.
= Ca-a-caw, added hoarse, complaining
voice ne the window but the Gap OF de-
parting wings told that Martins policy
was still one OF doubt aud prudence.
Here" said John, is an envelope ad-
dressed to yourself, which have taken the
liberty to open, as it is unseAled, and as |
have long known ID contained my step
fathers win.
aYou know it's contents, then Z"
nOh, yes, OF course. They are in nc
cordance with bis repeated assurances to
INV sainted mother aud myself As it Is
in your own handwriting, 1 can tell you
nothing. except that shall take pleasure
In carving out what 1 believe 10 have
been Mr.. Ovington's intentions toward the
children OF his disinhcrited son. They
shall always have home and good provi-
sion while live"
" "Ah-yes, indeed, i hope so, abstracted-
ly returned the doctor. Are you sure
there il no other will 2'
Quite sure. 7 have searched every
where, p replied John.
nWell, us | am named mn executor under