River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-02-01
ONE FARTHING DAMAGES.


awful shadow still more than with the
lack Of material light, four persons
were gathered round bed, on which
lay a man, bearing on his face the I'M
mistakable signs of the summons which
none can refuse to answer. A weeping
girl knelt by the bedside, her head
bent over the nerveless hand which lay
on the cOverlet, and which she held as
If by that cOnyulsive 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 % he said, ''yOu should have at
least two"
The dying man paused ere he replied
with an effort:
"GeOffrey Howard. Major Nth,
now in India. | have no other
friend"
lin that case may | venture to offer
my humble services, subject to the
usual provisO. should be delighted
to he useful to Miss Hope; and if your
friend is abroad there may be difficult
les
True, SlythOrpe, thank you.
Make yourself trustee, then, with
Major Howard. Legacy-f200 for
your trouble"
NAY, my dear sir, quite unnecessary.
I really"
But again the ready pen travelled
over the paper and quarter of an
hour later Mr.. Slythorpe announced
that the document was ready for exc
cutiOn. and in low, mechanical mon
Otone read over its provisions.
"Yes that will do. Give me the
pen," he said, and with a shaking
hand affixed his signature. THANK
God, that 5 safe y he gasped. MARY.
my child. You and GeoffTey-yOu and
Godfrey, What was | saying God
bless you, my darling God bless
These were the last words that Ber-
nard Hope ever spoke.
4 year had passed away since Der.
naTd Hopes death. and Mary still re-
manned an inmate of the house of Mrs
MurgatTOyd, the good woman whom
we had seen in attendance at her faith
eT's last illness, and who, to her Occa
siOnal occupation rs nurse, added the
more permanent one of letting lOdg
gings. MaTy's sweet face and gentle
manner had quite won the heart of hel
goOd-natured landlady, who was un
ceaSiLg i'm her endeavOTs TO sOOthe hel
grief and minister to her comforts. But
She had another trouble-nOne the less
hard to bear that ii 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 inSenslbly
grown very dear to herself, and when
six months before Bernard Hope:
death, he was summoned with his reg
iment to India. he left Mary his prom
ised bride. Twice he had writer
within the first few weeks of his de
parture, since which time there haC
been a terrible silence, and in the same
week which had left Mary fatheTless
a second blow fell upon her. The lIltl
had been engaged in a smart skiTmiSh
the number of dead and wounded bein!
considerable. Maj. Godfrey Howard
was reported among the fallen, anC
Mary had to mourn 1t once her love
and her father.
The death of Mai Howard left Mr.
SlythOrPe sole trustee of Mr.. Hope
will. This to Mary was a matter o
the most perfect Indifference. Sus
pecting evil Of no one, she was as will
ing that her little fortune, amounting
to some five or six thousand pounds
should rest in Mr.. SlythOrpe's hands a
in those of any other person. But o
late the attorney had begun to peTse
cute her with attentions which. Rnde
existing circumstances, would havt
been diStaSteful from anyone, but wer,
dOubly so from a person whom silt
could not help regarding with an in
Stinctive dislike. And in truth Mr.
SlythOrpe was not precisely the person
10 win fair lady's fancy. UndersiZ
ed. high-shouldered, with blinking
IaShlesS eyes, and a general angularity
not to say knObbiness, of feature, h
might have been expected to rise SUI
periOr to any weakness to personal AZ
pearance, but such was by no mean
the case. Mr.. Slythorpe one mornin
knocked at Mrs. Mursatroyd's door
That good lady was at the moment ca
gagged in busting Miss Hopes room, an
catching sight OF his approach, eN
claimed:
There's that nasty, worriting law
yer again, do declare. SlythoTpe. in
deed I'd SlythOrpe him -
It would be hopeless to endeavGr t
express on paper the intensity o
meaning Mss. Murgatroyd threw int
her newly-cOined verb. Mary smile
ut the good lady vehemence.
My dear Mrs. Murgatroyd yO
shouldn't be so severe. Mr.. Slythorp
is Il little peculiar. but | have n
doubt he means kindly, and you kno'
he is the trustee of poor papa's will.
Il know he is, my dear, and l wis
he wasn't. | know he shouldn't b
trustee to tOmcat of mine, dra
him -
At this point the conversation wa
interrupted by the entrance of tn
gentleman in question, and Mrs. Nun
gatrOyd, passing him with final snii
of adherence, quilted the apartment
Mr.. SlythOrpe. for once in his lif
appeared i'll at ease. lie was got u
with his accustomed care, ana tn
suggestion of scented soap which a,
cOmpanied him was even stronger tina
usual but his usual satisfied air wa
wanting. He evidently had scmethin
Oh his mind.-some piece of TaScality
"My dear Miss Hope, he began,a fte
the first greetings had been exchanged
Il grieve to be the bearer of very III
pleasant intelligence.
Mary looked up with quiet indiffe
ence, scarcely believing that. after a
she had gone through, any news, GOO
or bad. could have for her more tina
the most passing interest. SlythorI
continued
Il am sure that you believe / did
for the best /; but misfOrtGnes wi
happen, You know. even with the u
most care and caution. I am sure
thought the investment was as safe ;
the bank but there's no trusting an,
FL liz. ..E.---nl ..