The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13
NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL.

Jared Treat was an eccentric old bachelor
rich reputcdly and the proprietor of aahand
some country cottage where he lived with d
couple Of orphan nicces, cousins Of each other
who composed his household
OF these Fannie White, by far the prettici
and better of the two, was her unclc's favoritc
At least people thought so until his will was
opened
Ehs was not the only ground Nora Lester
Fannie, cousin had for jealousy Willard
Norton was the dashngcst of beauX, and from
aha time Nora met him, while visiting some
city friends, she had marked him for her own
The gentleman seemed quite smittcn with heI
charms at first, and remained as constant rs
majden'- heart could wish till the day he saw
Fanny White
From that day Nora marked Il change in
Mr., Norton. For time his attentions were
pretty evenly divided between her cousin ant
herself, then Fannie received the larger share
AMI very soon the whoc-whiCh filled the sou
n Morn with fury
Now, if Nora had opened her heart to Fan
ny IN cuusinly irankncSs, she would have spar
I'd herself "a deal OF selftormcntng, for Fanny
would have told her first of all how very llttl,
she cared for Mr. Norton, and then, rs a grea,
secret, how very much she did care for Ed
ward Tracey But Nora preferred to brood
over her iancied wrongs, and began to hate hcl
cousin with an intensity which the latter was
alike incapable Of concciving or suspccting.
III is not because she is more beautiful than
|, Int because he thinks she will stand better
N our uncle's WILL shrcwdly reasoned Nora
with herself
The death Of Jared Treat, and the reading
~ his will few days after occasioncd a great
change in the relative positions of the two
cousins.
When old Mr. Gravclkind, in II suit of sol
tmn black, read to the assembled relatives the
document in question, il seemed to sound fair
enough. II gave his house, plate, furniture
money ana stocks, describing all very minute
y 10 his beloved niece, Nora Lester, "and all
he rest and residue of my property" the will
went on, 81 bcqueath 10 my beloved niece
Frances White"
What other property had hcg" inquired a
curious relative
clEild
80 funnic, whom everyone had always look
oa upon rs safe for the lions share though
loimnaily declared residuary legatee wa,
Guy legaiee, II appeared, of nothing
Just Ike the old deceivcr," broke out Ma
llta briggs, when she heard about il. "to de
.u-e i.e giIl with false hopes, and then cut
pr. on Win nothing, pretending that it was
s0methingl"
.h''Iiua Briggs, we should explain, had kept
~ cap 'el lor Mr.. Treat for many years, never
sYln- up TIE purpose till its object took ref
'-c ~ The graye-a species of abscondino
'iich she resented as a fraud on her affections
aAlcA u would be oyertaxing christian charity
70 ask her 10 forgive. N'''''
Nheh Nora Lester heard Mr. Gravelkinds
announcement, there was CLEAN of malig.
hilnt satisfaction in her eyes; and thai ycry
- 1Alhs she gave he cousin to understand tb,;,
5ne c'oid no longer remain guest in her
70 rpof fannie was surprised and shocked
shali expect you 30 find another home IN.
Mprrow, said Nora. '''' W
Iheie was something so hard and cruel in
nc tone and lock that Fannie shrank back