The Van Buren press., 1874-12-22

tation was established in business circles
a, that Of an upright. honorable man
Then too, he was over thirty, while she
was but eighteen--four years younger
than Wolter Malcolm.
When the wedding day was fixed for
the middle Of April, Walter proposed to
Mrs. Faushaw and Gertrude, that they
should superintend the refuanishing and
undermining his uncle's house before he
,ook h::s bride home
There has been no change made there
since Uncle Malcolm bought aud fur-
nshed it for his bride over thirty years
ago." he said, land should like 1t FUR
nished as Gertrude wishes"
Complying with this request, the Ia
dies found that there was q great deal TO
be done to the house. Under masculine
rule for so many yeaas, twas out OF re
pairs in many ways, kitchen, range and
closets, and a hundred other details,
needing overhauling. Respecting the
dead, Gertrude proposed to remove the
furniture Of the late Mr. Mscom's ON,
as it was, to another apartment, and keep
it, a. it had been for so many years, all
together
Getting the proprietor's permission to
do just as she liked about everything she
went, one morning alone, to the house,
her mothar promising to join her later
in the day Walter had spent the previ-
ous evening with her, and, half in jest, she
had said to him:
Suppose l find your uncle's will,
Walter2'
"Give it to John, if you do. II is
his"
"And you will give me upp"
mo; will work for you until l have
earned an income to satisfy your father.
l will never give youup Ger"
She was thinking Of the resolute light
upon his handsome face, as he said the
words. when she entered the room where
Mr.. Malcolm had died, followed by ser
yant-pirl anil two men who were to move
the furniture.
Reverently she touched the articles
hallowed by their associations, packing
carefully the clothing that had never been
touched since the owner wore it, putting
aside little articles Of daily use so useless
now to the hands that so oft had touched
them. The old man had been fond OF
the pretty, bright faced girl his nephew
loved, and Gertrude's tears fell fast over
many portions OF her mornings duty
Twelve o clock struck, and the servants
went to dinner in the kitchen, leaving
Gertrude alone in the dismantled room
A bright fire burned in the CRATE, for the
March day was chilly but the room looked
forlorn. even in the hrclight Looking
for lost things, Gertrude opened closet
where, in one corner, q pile Of books,
newspapers, and some odds and ends had
been thrown in heap. Sorting these all
over, she found underneath them rag.
ged cashmere dressing gown. that had
been very handsome in its day.
81 will put this in the trunk OF clio
thing" she thought, spreading it upon
the floor to fold it, Here are some
things in the pocket! A handkerchief, a
snuff. box, and" her very heart stood
still" a folded paper--the will |"
There was no mistaking the document
There in her hand lay the will tnat would
take all his uncies wealth from her lover
break their engagement, defer her mar
riage to the r-away time, when Walter
could earn fortune, give to John Len
nox the money that she thought right
fully. belonged to Walter.
A nerce temptation tugged at Ger
trude's heart. She was alone. Nobody
knew that Mr.. Malcolm had not repentcd
of his act and destroyed the will, INT
herself. A bright fire burned beside aer.
Just one moment OF fame. aud she could
secure to Walter his uncle's fortune, and
no one be the wiser. She should have
scorned the thought, have instantly re-
iected the idea, had she been a proper
heroine. But she was not heroine,
only A warm hearted, impulsive gill, who
loved her promised husband very dearly
and who had hoped for great happiness
in her marriage with him. Had the
money been hers, had she alone been the
loser, she mi. hi not have hesitated Bu,
it was Walter who was to lose his fortune
Walter, who was to lose his bride!
Twice Gertrude stepped toward the
fire, her hand outstretched to put the
will on the ruddy Goals, and twice con
science held her back. The second time
she fell on ner knees upon the bare Hoo
and prayed softly: "God help me to re
sist this temptation"
Strengthened, half frightened at thu
thought Of the crime she was about tc
commit, she hastily put on her hat ant
shawl, and taking the will in hand, lef
the room.
Her foot was still upon the upper stai
when she heard Jonn Lennox in the hall
asking for Walter
"Walter will not be here till on
o'clock" she said. lie 10 coming will
mother and the upholsterer is to NEE
them"
81 will return, then, in twenty min
ctes," he said, wondering if she ha'
worked hard enough to make her fac
so deadly pale.
mo, come into the parlor, please.
want to speak to you"
Wondering. he followed her, and wheI
they we're inside, she drew the will frou
the folds Of her shawl, aud put it into
his hand.
"Waltcr told me if found it that
was to hand it to you she said
found it in the pocket Of an old dressing
gown. this morning"
my uncle's will9 Do you know ~
value ?"
81 know that it takes everything from