The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-04

az she entered his room. She looked
paler than ever in her black dress, but
Gerald thought he had never seen SO
sweet and noble n face.
GLOW 7 would like TO 90 down, Miss
Williams" no said, "and enjoy the
surprise of the good people below I'd
like TO see them bow and smile TO the
heiress of my aunt's fortune. I'm as
bad MS the rest of them, ] suppose, for
I feel like making all sorts OF pretty
speeches" Gerald paused, and his face
grow suddenly grave and tender. "Go
now" he added, "and kiss my aunt
good.by for me tell her I am quite
satisfied with everything"
Luane went from the room and down
the stairs. For the last three days she
had been like one in n dream. II
seemed awful TO be warm md happy
even after she entered the dark, gloomy
drawing-room, even after she had bent
and kissed the cold, stern face for Ger
aid and for herself.
81 will mt take it," she whispered,
hot tears raining on the dead woman's
FACET will not take a cent Of it, but
it has given me such a CLEAN Of happi-
ness. God forever bless you for 1t"
Then the people began to pour in,
and the ceremony commenced. Llanos
were the only tears that were shed, and
the most of the guests came from civil
ity or curiosity. Miss Erism had taken
but little active pnrt in the world for
many n year, and the poor lady was very
soon put away and forgotten.
The most important part of the pro-
ceedings was when they returned from
the burial TO hear the reading Of the will.
Luane trembled when tho pompous
lawyer unrolled tho parchment, and be
gan in a voice "In the
name Of God, amen !"
What would they think Of her-what
would they say Of her? Oh, how glad
she was that the only one she cared for
in the world knew all about it How
innocent she was, and how ignorant
But even while she thought thus she
heard tho lawyer read "To my be
loved nephew, Gerald Erism, | give
and bequeath all my property, personal
and otherwise" Luano could scarcely
believe her ears. She listened to the
end, and heard at last "To Luane
Williams, my faithful nurse, | give a
mourning ring and the sum Of $50"
Then she went up stairs to Gerald.
"The King shall have his own p she
said.
"Onlyon n condition, "said Gerald.
"lll take your money only on n con
dition."
"Youll take my money ?" echoed
Luane-"my poor little fifty dollarsF'
Luane's face shone with aprofound Joy.
Your aunt left her money where it be-
longs, Mr.. Eri'm. / have just heard
you declared her sole surviving heir"
Gerald remained stunned aud be-
wildered.
Where is the codicil ?" he cried to
the lawyer, who stood at the door. "My
aunt LETT her money to Miss Williams.
She told me so when she was dying !"
ooh, that vas when you bought the
horse | was afraid there would be
trouble then !; but, bless your soul, she
got all over that"
"And the money is mine? ?" cried
Gerald.
"Of course %it'syours," and the lawyer
went down the stairs chuckling at his
i%ncredulity.
Then Gerald held ont his hands to
Luanc.
81 was going to be magnanimous
enough to marry you despite your
money" he said "now there is no oh
stacle to our happiness. Come, my
sweet Luane, and bless the life you
have given me p
L,ane became his wife. Mrs. Grundy
said that he married her to spite Emily
Thorpe. The lawyer chuckled still
more, and thought of the codicil. But
we know that it was love, and for love
alone.