South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-11-20

Il mere mas oeen no change made pince
uncle MALCOLM bought and furnished i,
for his bride over thirty years ago. he said,
sand l should like is furnished now a G ER.
TaUDE wishes
Complying With the requests the ladies'
found that there vas . great deal to be done
to The house. Under masculine rule for
macy years it was out Of repair in many
ways; kitchen range and closets, and hun.
dred other detsils needed overhauiny.
Respecting the dead. GERTRUDE proposed
to remove the furniture Of the Iato Mr..
MALcoLMs room rs il was, 10 another a
psrtmen', and Keep il ~ il had been for 30
many years together.
Getting the proprietor's permission to do
just rs she liked about every thing, .he went
ooe morning alone to the house, her mother
promising to jim her later 10 the day
WALTER had spent the previous evening
with her, and half in Jest she said to him !:
Suppose iud your uncle's will WAL
TER
Give il to JoHN IL you do. It's his
And viii you give me upi
No. will work for you until have
earned an income to satisfy your father
l will never give you up, GER
She was thinking of the resolute light
upon his handsome face as he said the
words, when she eutered tho room where
Mr.. MALCOLM had died, followed by q SER
want girl aud two men, who were TO move
the furniture.
Rsverently she touched the or ,icles hal.
lowed by their associations, packing caro-
fully the clothing tina, had never been touch.
ed 'inoe the owner bad worn il, putting g.
side little articles of daily Use so use
less now - the hands that so often touch
ed them. The old man had been fond of
the pretty, bright faced girl his nephew
loved, and GERTRUDE's tears fell fast o.
yer many portions of her mornings duty.
Twelve o'clock struck, aud the servant wen
20 dinner In the kitchen, leaving GER
TRUDE alone 10 the disman,led room. A
bright FIRE burned 10 the CRATE, for the March
day was chilly, but the room looked for
Torn even in the freight. Looking for lost
things GERTRUDE opened q closet whore,
In one corner, pile Of books, newspapers,
and some odds and ends had been thrown
IL heap. S1rtiag these over she found
under all ragged cashmere dressing gown,
that had been handsome in its day.
Il will put this in the trunk Of clothing
she thought, spreading it upon the floor 70
fold 1t. Here nre some things in the pook-
cts A handkerchief, a stuff box, and
her very heart stood still, folded paper,
the will
There was no mistaking tho document
There in her hand lay the will that would
take all his uncles wealth from her lover,
break their engagement, defer her mar
! riau no f.r
could earn fortune, and give to john
LtNNox the money that che thought right
fully belonged to WALTER.
A fierce temptation tugged at GER.
TRUDE's heart. She was alone. Nobody
knew that Mr.. MALCOLM bad not repent.
ed of his act and destroyed the will but
herself A bright fire burned beside her.
just one moment Of fame and sbo could
secure to WALTER his uDcle's fortune and
no one to be the wiser. She should have
scorned the thought, have instantly reject
ed the idos, had she been proper heroine.
But she was not heroine, only a warm
hearted, impulsive girl, who loved her pro-
missed husband very dearly, aud who had
hoped for great happiness IN her marriage
with him. Had the money been hers, had
che alone been the loser, she might not
have hesitsted. But il was WALTER who
was to lose bis fortune. WALTER who
was to lose bis bride.
Twice GERTRUDE stepped towards the
fire, Der h.nd ou,strstcbed to put the will
upon the rudy Goals, and twice conscience
held her back. The second time sho fell
upon her knees upon the bare floor and
prayed softly, God help me to resist this
temptation
Strengthened, hSlf-frightened at the
thought Of tho crime she bad been about
10 commit, che hastily put on her hat aud
shawl, aud the will ia hand, left tie room
Her feet were still upon the upper stairs
when she heard JonN LENNox 10 the hall,
asking for WALTER.
In moment she WAS beside him.
WALTER will not be here till one o'clock
sbe said. He ia coming with mother, end
the upholstsrer IL 10 meet them
Il will return then in twenty minutes, >
be said, wondering IL she hsd worked hard
enough TO make her fsco deadly pale.
mo, come into the psrlor please. / want
TO speak to you
Wondering, be followed her, and when
they we're inside she drew the will from
the folds Of her shawl and pu1 il into bis
hand.
WALTER told mo IL I fouud il tba, /
vas TO hsod tito you, she said. Il found
II 10 tho pocket Of so old dressing gown
this morning
My uncls's Will7 Do you know i,s
value :?
i know that IL takes everything from
WALTER TO give 10 you.
Aud yet you bring IL 70 me ?