Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-02-02

1
was too restless for continued reading,
but she found such evident satisfaction in
tie young girls presence that the latter
/ finally, with some hesitation, offered to
come and nurse her This, however, the
old lady would not hear Of
"No, no." she said. Best let well
alone I'm not denying it's comfort to
hear and see you, but I've got too set IN
my ways to 90 out of EN- al the last
and, after all, it's as easy diving as living
alone; Ell, lassie: No, you'll JUST come
for your bit hour or two daily, as we
agreed, till time saves us both the trouble. .
| Time was not long in doing that Mrs.
Macdonald tailed SO; fapidly that before
many days all was over. Janet, as she
was hidden, attended the funeral remain
| ing likewise to hear the reading of the
will. The great, gloomy parlor, old-fash-
Toned and set As its late mistress, was
| sprinkled about with Macdonalds, rela-
| tivcs in every degree OF Scotch cousinship,
who looked cautiously at each other and
coldly at Janet, subduing to a decent sad
ness the eager glances that sought the
man ot-law in whose hands the will had
| been placed.
| II was decent sadness, however, that
was unteigned when the testament had
| been read. For not one was satisfied,
though not one was forgotten. All Jared
| exactly alike, even to the a" beloved
cousin Janet Macdonald HOLSTER To
her own amazement and that Of the
others The last, indeed, was so un-
| pleasantly evident that sensitive Janet,
| although aware that her claim deirauded
no one, was considering how to Withdraw
| it when the lawyers voice broke the NO
mentary pause.
There are two codicilS" said Mr..
| Rand. The first provides that if the
| will be not carried out TO the letter in ev-
cry point the whole bcquest shall lapse to
the asylum fund for poor widows already
named in the WILL"
Mr.. Rand lifted his eyes and glanced
keenly over the surrounding faces. which
had suddenly exchanged angry protest
for acquiescence. For each, in his own
interest, must now support the interest OF
| the others.
Codicil second, resumed the lawyer
"relates to the watch worn by the deceased
the only piece of property excepted from
| the general sale. 1t is an old-fashioned
| article, of no very great intrinsic worth
and valuable to the deceaseds friends
| chiefly rs IA souvenir, having on the two
cases miniatures of the late Mrs Macdon-
aid and her husband. The will provides
that whoever may take it shall forfeit
$500 OF his legacy--in consideratio. that
the watch will serve mostly as a souvenir
and il is only fair the fool should pay
for his folly. Moreover, on pain of
fOrielting it, lie shall carry il every
three months to Mr.. Sandman, who has
regulated it for years. If there is no
body cares to indulge in 50 expensive a
piece of sentiment, it shall be sold for
what it will bring, and the proceeds given
to the poor of st. Leonard's parish >
and gentlemen" concluded the lawyer,
land here is the article in question. -
The late Mrs. Macdonald's relatives
gathered around for examination, but all.
with shake of the head and curl Of
the lips, turned away again, beginning in
low tone to converse among themselves,
as il the days business were closed.
The property proves considerably less
than | supposed said one.
"Well, yes; bat | know she had some
rather heavy losses few years ago. Then
that asylum iund-"
II am to understand then" interposed
Mr. Rand's quiet voice, - that the watch
will be sold as undesirable"
"Oh, no." here interrupted Janet, with
timid earnestnesS, drawing near, and re-
garding through n grateful, pititul mist
the pictured face Of her benctactress, the
unwept old woman whom careless hands
had just carried ont from that very room
to her hardly more lonely tomb. II
VIII take it If no one else"
There seems To De little objection on
that score" remarked the lawyer. with Il
slight smile following her doubtful glance
al the others
SO the numbering, old-fashioned thing
became JanetS undlsputed property.
She thoughtoi il, rather apprehensively,
II must be owned, all the way home.
What would Angie say 10 it-Angie 10
whom that forfeited money would have
meant SO much Of ease aud comforts
What Angie would say TO it soon ceased
TO h~ doubtful, for she grew almost clio.
queht over her sisters folly
The idea ut throwing away all that
money or course, in our circumstances.
you can afford to waste 5000 Il will
grow again IN your pocket, suppose"
" Don't, Angie dear pleaded Janet
" Only think how much we have left still,
| have only given back -"
Just one-quaner, Five into twenv's
four, nought's a uought." put in Harry,
who sat twiring his Slate pencil over nm
unfinished sum. which he found much
less interesting than this example NOT
down in the book
Angie gave little treble scream. "A
quarter! You hear. Janet: One whole
quarter, and my back So bad, aud Harry
wearing out shoe, at the rate he docs, l
do wonder you could be so thoughtlcss.
Janetr"
Janet did not answer for moment. Her
Overlooking gratitude had hiuGertd her
peyhap, from measuring this unexpected
bounty exactly, and Haryy's glib calcu-