The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-31
ONE FARTHING DAMAGES,

From Sondon Society.
In adarkened chamber, dark with the
awful shadow still more than with the
lack Of material light, four persons
were gathered round a bed, on which
lay man, bearing on his face the I'M
mistakable signs of the summons which
none can refuse to answer. AWeeping
girl knelt by the sbedside, her head
bent over the nerveless hand which lay
on the coverlet, and which she held as
if by that convulsive grasp she could
hold her father still to life. At table
covered with papers and writing ma
terials, sat the dying mans solicitor
who was engaged in the preparation of
his will.
"What names shall insert as trus-
tees g he said, ''you should have at
least two.''
The dying man paused ere he replied
with an effort:
"Geoffrey Howard, Major l1lth,
now in India. have no other
friend.''
SIN that case may venture to offer
my humble services, subject to the
usual proviso. 1 should be delighted
to be useful to Miss Hope; and if your
friend is abroad there may be difficult
ies.:'
ssTrue, Slythorpe, I thank you.
Make yourself trustee, then, with
Major Howard. Legacy-f200 for
your trouble.''
''Nay, my dear sir, quite unnecessary.
I realty
But again the ready pen travelled
over the paper and quarter of an
1o4o 1r4I,
that the document was ready for exc
cution, and in a low, mechanical mon
otone read over its provisions.
''Yes that will do. Give me the
pen,' he said; and with shaking
hand affixed his signature. s'Thank
God, that's safe!' he gasped: ssMary.
my child. you and Geoffrey-you and
Godfrey! What was I saying? God
bless you, my darling! God bless
These were the last words that Ber-
nard Hope ever spoke.
A year had passed away since Ber-
nard Hopes death, and Mary still re-
manned an inmate of the house OF Mrs.
Murgatroyd, the good woman whom
we had seen in attendance at her faith
er's last illness, and who, to her Occa-
sional occupation as nurse, added the
more permanent one Of letting lodg-
gings. Mary's sweet face and gentle
manner had quite won the heart of her
good-natured landlady, who was un-
ceasilg in her endeavors to soothe her
grief and minister to her comforts. But
she had another trouble-none the less
hard to bear that it was one in which
she could have few cOnfidantes. Mai.
Howard, Of whom mention has already
been made, was not only her fathers
most valued friend, but had insens1bly
grown very dear to herself, and when
six months before Bernard Hopes
death, he was summoned with his reg.
iment to India, he left Mary his prom
ised bride. Twice he had written
within the first few weeks of his de.
parture, since which time there had
been terrible silence, and in the same
week which had left Mary fatherless,
a second blow fell upon her. The lllth
had been engaged in smart skirmish,
the number of dead and wounded being
considerable. Maj. Godfrey Howard
was reported among the fallen, and
Mary had to mourn at once her lover
and her father. s. 49,. .~ .
The death of Maj. Howard left Mr..
Slythorpe sole trustee of Mr.. Hopes
will. This to Mary was a matter of
1.-THE most perfect Indifference. Sus-
pecting evil of no one, she was as will
ING that her little fortune amOnntinr