Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-03

faction Their acquaintance was entirely a
chance one, made through the medium Of
the advertising columns. Janet, left with
the charge Of sickly half-sister aud young
brother, looked about for something tn help
herself out, and thought she might satisfy
the requirements Of an old lady who did not
expect 10 secure finished professor in mu.
sic, art and languages. for o smaller stipend
than she would have paid her cook. The re-.
suit was a coll on Mrs. Macdonald, and an
engagement which had lasted ever since II
was not likely 10 last much longer now, for
IL had grown but too plain 10 Janet that her
employers days were numbered. Her warm
heart could not help thrill Of pity some
times, at thought Of the stoical old woman,
dying by inches alone IN the midst Of her
riches. Not, indeed that She need have been
alone. as she grimly remarked 10 Janet one
day when she had been amusing herself by
tracing out relationship through twists and
turns too intricate for any hut Scotch head
I've relations enough, eau assure ye,
Miss Janet; fond ones, too, that would make
nanght of giving mp the pleasures Of this
world 10 smooth my path into another. But
I'd rather take the will for the deed you see 4;
they're welcome to my old shoes when I'm
done with 'em, but so long AZ do stand in
]
Now, its different with YOU; Won re one of
the clan, to be sure, but then you weren't
brought up 10 look upon your rich old cousin
as your natural prey. Now dare say If We're
TO take a notion to leave you enough TO buy
some sort Of mourning fol-de-rol, YOU are
just silly enough TO let It give You kindly
thought Of me, instead of hating my memory
/ because 'twasn't more hey. child ?"
And the old lady tapped her companion
on the shoulder, whereat Janet turned her
face upward with snch ray Of wondering
| pity in the soft. deep gray eyes, as pierced
straight through the customary mask on the
| cynical old face, which responded for mo-
! mcnt with the womanly trust and tender
ness latent now beneath crust Of many
years, She did not speak word, but let
! her hand rest again on the young girls
shoulder. looking down into her eyes the
while with look half sad, half comfortcd
And always after that, Janet felt that there
was a stronger bond between them than the
mere give aud take of convenience.
| The end seemed very near TO Janet this
morning, as she stood by the sick woman
and looked down into the ashy, wrinkled
| face, out Of which the eyes cleaned with a
! keen contrasting FIRE It was little she
could do to-day for her employer who was
| too restless for continued reading, but she
| found such evident satisfaction in the young
| girls presence, that the latter finally, with
some hesitation, offered 10 come aud nurse
her This, however, the old lady would net
hear Of.
"No no." she said " Rest 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 'em Mt the last--and after all, its
as easy dying as living alone eh lassie
/ No, you'll Just come for your bit hour or two
daily, as we agreed, till time saves MS both
the trouble
Time was not long in doing that. Mrs.
Macdonald failed 50 rapidly that before
many days all was over Janet rs she was
/ bidden attended the funeral, remaining like
wise TO hear the reading of the will. The
| great, gloomy parlor, old-lashioned and set
as its late mistress, was sprinkled about with
! AlacdOualds, relatives in every degree of
| Scotch cousinshp, who looked cautiously at
each other aud coldly at Janet, subduing TO
a decent sadness the eager glances that
sought the man-of-law in whose hands the
will had been placed
II was a decent sadness, however. that was
unfeigned when the testament had been read.
for not one was satisfied though not one
was forgotten. Al Jared exactly alike. even
to the beloved cousin Janet Macdonald
lIolister," to her own amazement and that
Of the Others The last, indeed. was so
unpleasantly evident that sensitive Janet,
although aware that her claim defrauded no
one, was considering how TO withdraw it,
when the lawyers voice broke the moment
airy pause.
There are two codicls," said Mr.. Rand
" The first provides that If the will be not
carried ont to the letter, in every point, the
whole Request 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 interests Of the others.
"Codicil second" resumed the lawyer,
"relates to the watch worn by the deceased,
| the only piece of property excepted from the
/ gen ,ral sale. II is an old fashioned article,
Of no very great intrinsic worth, and yalu-
able to the deceased's friends chiefly as a
souvenir having ON the two cases miniatures
of the late Mrs. Macdonald and her husband.
The will provides that whoever may take it
shall forfeit five hundred dollars Of his legacy
- in consideration that the watch will serve
mostly as a souvenir, and it is only fair the
fool should pay for his folly. Moreover on
pain of forfeiting it, he shall carry it every
three months to Mr. Sandman, who has reg
ulated it for years II there is nobody cares
to indulge IN SO expensive a piece OF senti-
ment, II snail DE sold tor what IL VIII bring,
and the proceeds given to the poor of st.
Leonard's parish. These are the words OF
the will ladies aud gentlemen, concluded
the lawyer, "and here is the article in qnes-
ton.
The late Mrs. Macdonald's relatives gath
cred around for examination, but all, with a
shake OF the head and curl OF the lips,
turned away again, beginning in a low tone
to converse among themselves, as II the day
business were closed.
"The property proves considerably less
than | supposed, said one
Well yesi but ! know she had some
rather heavy losses lew years ago Then
that asylum fund -
81 am to understand, then, interposed
MIR. Rand's quiet voice, " that the watch viii
be sold as undesirable"
"Oh, no. here interrupted Janet, with
timid eagerness, drawing near and regard
ing through grateful, pitfu mist, the pic
tured face of her beneiactress, the unwept
old woman whom careless hands had just
carried out from that very room to her
hardly more lonely tomb. will take il II
no one else
"1here seems to be little objection on that