Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-04-17

grandfather, he found that gentleman
alone. He knew something of the law
yer's character, and at once proceeded
to business.
"You drew up my grandfather's will,
did. you not?" he asked.
eyes"
elbow long ago?'
"About six months, He had prepar-
ed one year ago, but this makes an
entirely different disposition of the pro-
perty.
"And what is that disposition?'
The lawyer smiled.
81 have no right to tell you," he
said.
sBut you would tell me if sufficient
reasons were advanced?'
IF the reasons are convincing en-
ough, yes.
"Would two hundred dollars con
vince '!s!ye your
olive hundred"
eyes" H..
Horace counted out the sum from
his pocket book, which he had filed
exactly for this contingency, and the
lawyer took it, carefully counted it,
and transferred it to his own pocket
"Now," he said, ''you may prepar
yourself for the worst possible news
You are, by this will, cut off from eve
ry dollar Of your grandfather's estate.
"You are certain of this"
"Of course l am; l drew the will
and saw it signed. The previous will
left all to you, but your grandfather
was whimsical. There came change in
his feelings, caused by some real or
fancied misconduct of yours and so he
left all to your cousin Rena.
Horace was angry; he cursed his dead
relative ro,mdly; until the lawyer re,
minded him that curses were useless.
"But what can / do but cmse?" he
asked. ;.
an tell you; the will is to be read on
Saturday-fve days from this. In the
meantime ask Rena to marry you"
s'I5ut she wouldn't do it, she hates
me-"
"Couldn't YOU destroy this last will 2
"No; it is not in my possession. The
old man had it among his papers some
where; and, beside, there are two honest
witnesses. Has your cousin a lover?"
'sNo, | think not. " 4-..
CITIZEN, believe me, your best and
only chance is to play for the fortune
through marrying her"
"Well," said Horace, with very little
hope in his tone, cts 9 mighty dim
chance, but I'll try it" and away.
That afternoon the cousins met in the
parlor. Each greeted the other with a
cordiality long unknown in their cousin
ily intercourse. They even chatted
pleasantly, congratulating themselves
upon the manner in which they were
iopening the game.
"You must be quite oppressed with
the gloom in this old house, said Hor-
ace, as he was about to go, "and I think
a ride might do you good. | will be
pleased to take you this afternoon, if
you would do me the honor"
'Nothing would please me better"
replied the beauty, with winning
smile.
The ride was had Each ofthe plot
tiers endeavored to be agreeable. Hor-
ace was bland and attentive Rena sat
distractingly close to him, was as anna
BILE as woman knows how to be when
she tries, and used her matchless eyes
with killing effect. They dined on the
road, and returned in the evening; and
when they parted for the night, Rena
allowed Horace, for the first time in her
lite. to kiss her.
!, The great change in their demeanor
towards each other should have aroused
mutual suspicion, but it didn't. They
were blinded by the glitter of the
golden stake.
During the next day Horace remain
ed nearly all day in the house, and in
the, society of his cousin. He proposed
going to The theater III the evening, but
iReha urged the. irpropriety Of SO do
ing. Their gandfather's recent death
would make it highly improper in the
eyes OF the friends.
'But we can 60 to Brooklyn, sug-
gested Horace; NOBODY WIN Aho" Us
there" ,.s;
To which the beauty assented' ana
Horace kissed her. She didn't resent
his lmpudence; on the contrary, ~, her
lips chung to his IN gentle thr'lllng
rejoinder.
They went to the theatef, grew con,
idsntial and loving; and supplemented
their goodnight kisses with a mug.
"Im progressing tremendously