Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-27

-'OQ pooh ! LILY uOoA PcOA' hOUAluS "
the kind. My opinion on that point ha
never changed, and never will. No, no
it is something infinitely better than that
Old Hatton died suddenly last night before
making the proposed new will, and all il
Harry's,"
Katherine Englehart uttered a fgint
startled exclamation.
'.And the old will leaving all to Ha ry
stands, and his only daughter is disin
herited and left out. Left without
a silver, my dear, and serves her
lriglt, say l. She ran away with {
worthless scamp, against her father
will, and, like all fools, has paid the penal
ty of her folly. She supports herself and
her five children by sewing, so have been
told, and " know what kind Of sup.
port that means. Serves her right; l say
again. John Hatton has done what il
was his duty to do-what I would have
done in his place-cast her off, and left
her to starve with the pauper she chose
In the moonlight the face of Miss En-.
gleLart grows white as the snow itself, but
but she walks on and does not say word.
However" cries her father, cheerfully
''that is not what want to say. Rose
| Hatton's case need never Re yours. All is
J Harry's, and, except his poverty, never
had any objection to Harry as son-ln-law.
So when he comes to wish you marry
Christmas, my dear Katie, I give you leave
to name the day."
A strange light came into the brown
eyes, a strangely resolute expression sets
| the pretty, soft-cut mouth.
SIS he coming tonight, papa ?'
'You will find him, | have not the
slightest uoubt; at the house before you.
1t would be hypocricy for him to profess
any grief for that old skinflint uncle, and
Harry is no hYpocrlte."
You have seen him since his uncle's
death Pr
Certainly, Katie, and was the first to
congratulate him. 4 trustyou withdraw
your objections to my suit now, sir? p he
says to me, in his naughty way. Il am John
Hatton's heir, after all A trife hot
headed is Harry, but good fellow in the
main-oh very good fellow! have no
doubt, Katie, he will make an excellent
husband
''He means to keep this fortune, them"
his daughter says, and says it in so odd a
voice that her father looks at her, puzzled.
keep it ! What do you mean? What
should he do but keep it !? By George! I
should think he did mean to keep it ! A
cool hundred thousand if shilling! May
l ask what you mean by the question p
Not now, papa, please. | will see Har-
ry. first" she answers. in the same strange
vcice-a very quiet voice, though it star
ties her father.
''Look here, my girl" he says, sternly,
II know you Of old know your high
flown, Quixotic notions about things in
general, and points of honor and con-
science in particular. / warn you, don't
let US have any of them here, if you want
to be Harry Hattons wife. The lai has
come fairly by his fortune; let him keep it
IN peace"
They are at the house with the last
words-words harshly and menacingly spo
ken. They go together into the drawing
room, and there, as Mr.. Englehart had
predicted. they find young Hatton alone.
A tall and proper fellow, this Harry Hat
ton, with handsome face and eager, hap
py eyes.
Sat last,'' he cries, coming forward,
both hands outstretched, "just as patience
Was ceaslng to be virtue. Thank you
for bringing her, Mr.. Englehart. Come to
the Preside, Katie, and warm those cold
little paws. Has our stately papa been
telling you the good news? p
He draws her forward, eyes, smile, all
alight with love and joy. Last night he
was in despair; last night this cozy room
had been forbidden ground. Sorrow and
weeping had endured for tha night, but
joy had come with the morning. This
time yesterday he had been beggar; and
Katie had been refused him; tonight he
was rich man, and Katie might be his
for the asking.
And Papa Englehart, after genial
father-ln-law sort of nod, had slipped away
leaving them together.
"Why don't you speak, little girl ~
cries jubilant Harry. ''Or has the power
Of speech been frozen within you? Wish
me merry Christmas, Katie, and con-
gratualate me on my capital fortune"
She looks up at him with eyes full of
wistful love.
81 wish you merry Christmas with all
my heart, Harry; but congratulate you on
what?"
'Why, hasn't the dear old dad been tel
ling you? Then wonders never will cease.
On, shaw! OF course he has told you that
my uncle is dead ?"
"Poor old Mr.. Hatton! yes, know he
is dead"
''And all is mine, Katie, all. And next
April the old house shall have a new mis-
tress, and Harry Hatton shall have wife.
Why don't you speak? Why don't you
smile? What is the matter with you to-
night?"
Harry, you mean to keep this inheri-
tance?"
keep it!'' Harry looks at her in won
der s'By Jove! what question. What
should do with it but keep it?"
Resign it to Rose Hatton--Mrs. An
drews now-to whom it rightfully be
longs"
"A most likely idea, and quite worthy
of Katie Englehart. l have had poverty
and hard work for seven and twenty
years, and now, when the golden shower
falls into my arms, | am to resign it to
Rose Andrews and her drunken brute of
husband! No, no, Katie; in the nine
teenth century. men keep all they get, and