Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-08
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COOLING In VAIN.
BY ALSATIA.

"I don't SEQ why it would be very wrong
for me to know what was in the will.n
The speaker was bright, handsome girl
of seventeen -Rena Crocker-the grand
daughter of old Stephen CroclSer, whose
death day or two before had brought sor-
row TO few hearts. Two grandchildren
Horace Wharton and Rena--were his only
relatives ami constituted his family. Ho-
race was as mean of act and disposition as
the old man himself. Rena was a beauty
and an amiable girl when she chose. There
certainly were intervals when pride and
disdain were her more marked character
istics, but Rena's eyes were her grand ir-
resistibility. Talk of diamonds! The flash
and play of those wondrous living gems Of
fered something infinitely more lustrously
changeable. 1t was, however, brilliancy
as restless, as little to be caught and faith
omed, as the bright vagaries of a .jack-'o-
lantern on a wall Young as she was, Re.
ma was worldly-minded coquette to the
very core already. She had Inherited all
the disposition and qualities of her mother,
q celebrated beauty in her day. In other
respects Rena Crocker was decidedly a
young lady of the period. Very certainly
she belonged to her times in her resolution
to get well married, that is TO say, to some
person of wealth and station. Both to-
gether if possible, but the former prefera-
bly,. And then to enjoy herself at the ut
most swing of fashionable dissipation and
luxury for the remainder of her existence.
II don't see how it would be any HARM"
continued Rena, las Wouldn't do any.
thing but read it, aud there's no knowing
how it might be tampered with by that
rascally cousin Of mine before it is read
next Saturday. l imagine grandfather
left the bulk Of his property to me, but
there's no telling what notion the old fool
may have got into his head"
Rena was alone in her chamber. To
think was to act with her. She knew that
a will, drawn up and signed by the old
man year before his death, was in desk
in the dingy old library. She had often
seen it and wondered what were the con-
tents so closely sealed from her eyes. 1t
was dusk, and as she stole along through
the dreary hall she halfreented, and finally
paused on the very Threshold of the room
she was seeking. Then, chiding herself
of her grandfather's desk, and opened the
drawer. There lay the will, sealed as she
had often seen it.
"But I'm no better off than before" she
muttered. Il can't open it,"
1t was useless to peep into its fold-ouly
detached words could be seen. But Rena
was not inclined to be bafllcd IN her Curl
osity. And she was as fertile in resources
as the widest of her sex. Lighting gas
jet she warmed the large wax seal. Then
with the blade of n pocket knife she care
fully loosened it. IL was done. The doe
ument lay open before her. Her eyes ra-
pidiy devoured it, oontents, and her checks
paled with anger.
The miserable old dotard !" she cried
The cause of her displeasure was the un-
pleasant and surprising fact that her grand
father had not left her solitary cent.
Every particle of his ample fortune went
to Horace Wharton. Her first motive was
to destroy the will; but second thought
detained her. She feared the consequences
of such an act. Again slightly heating the
seal she reatiiXed it in its place, re eplaced
the will in the drawer, and went back to
her ROOM
After the first gust of rage had some
what subsidized she sat down to quietly
think the matter over. There seemed but
one way to retain any portion of the for
tune, and that was marrying her cousin
Horace. She hated him heartily; yet her
vanity had always told her that he ad
| mired her. She knew her beauty, and
overestimated its effect upon her stolid
klnsman.
'But live days remain before the open
| ing of the will,n she mused; before thai
time must lure Horace into an offer o
marrlage.'
| About tine time that Rcna was gaining
her surreptitious knowledge of the contents
of the will, her wealthy cousin Horace was
seeking alter precisely similar information.
Betaking himself 10 the office OF Hartman
| Nesbit, the lawyer who had been intrusteC
mainly with the legal business of his grand
father, he found thai gentleman alone. He
knew something OF the lawyers character,
and at once proceeded 10 business.
You drew up my grandiather's will, did
you not 7" he asked.
"Yes.n
"How long ago ?"
about six months. He had prepared
one Il year ago, but this makes an entirely
different disposition Of the property"
And what is that disposition"
The lawyer SMILED.
Il have no right to tell you," he said
"But you would tell me if sufficient rea
sons were advanced!'
IF the reasons were convincing enough
yes"
Would two hundred dollars conyinc'
your"
No"
"Five hundred?"
"Ies."
Horace counted out the sum from hi
pocket book, which he had filled for ex
actly this contingency, and the lawyer tool
it, carefully counted it, and transferred i
to his own wallet.
Nov lac said, you may prepar
yourself for the worst possible news. You
are, by this will, cut OH from every dola
OF your grandhther's estate"
"You are certain of this?"
4 "Of course am. l drew the will ant
saw 1t signed. The previous will left all u
you, but your grandfather was whimsical
There came change in his feelings, causes
by some real or fincied misconduct c
yours, and SO he left all to your eousi
Rena.n
Horace was angry. He cursed his deaf
relative ruundly, until the lawyer reminde
him that curses were useless.
But what can | do but eurset' h
asked.
"I'll tell you. The will is 10 be read o
Saturday-hve days from this. In tn
meantime ask Rena to marry YOU"
"But she wouldn't do it, she hates me-