The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-15
M i s. @ elIan @ OUz 9.
FlOra's Fortune.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

Touching his previous history, Dunstan
MacSowens left the good people of New
| bury, when he came to cast his lot among
them, to form their own conjectures. He
was canny, close .mouthed, and rich; and, as
he paid his way promptly, if not literally,
he was looked upon as valued accession
to the solid men Of the place.
His daughter Flora, who was mere
child when they first came, grew in beauty
with her years, and, at the age of eighteen,
was the handsomest girl within a circuit Of
fifty miles. How such homely old fellow
as Duustan MacSowens could have so pref.
| ty a daughter, was wonder which people
explained by supposing she took after her
mother who was said to have died while
| Flora was yet an infant.
Mr.. MacSowens possessed, in an eminent
degree, the disposition to keep his wealth
in the family name, an end which he saw
but one mode of accomplishing. He had
nephew, Ronald, deceased brothers
son and unless II match could be brought
about between Flora and her cousin, it was
plain that on his own death and her mar
riage, the family pelf must pass out Of the
name of MacSowens.
This was calamity to be averted at any
| CbSI dukl III Il lllllCl vi SuCH
Dunstan MacSowens was not Il man to stick
at trifles. Roland, he knew, was wild
young scapegrace, as little attractive in
person as in character; but then he was the
only MacSowens available for a SON in-aw;
so when Flora protested she didn't, couldn't
and wouldn't like him, the old gentleman
pooh-poohed such flummery, saying it was
only fools who insisted on marrying for
love.
There was more at the bottom of Flora g
opposition, her father shrewdly suspected,
than appeared on the surface. Richard
Hartley's attractions, he fancied, had quite
as much to do with the matter as Roland's
defects; and in this, candor compels the adj
mission, Mr.. MacSowens was more than
half right.
His first step, accordingly, was to place
a strict embargo on all further communica-
ton between Flora and Richard "a meas
ure which made them both miserable,
whilst, at the same time. it served to reveal
what they had been unconscious of before
that the tie between them was love not
friendship.
Mr.. MacSowens's next proceeding was
to install Ronald as member of his house
hold. The young man proved entirely tract
able to his uncle's wishes. Indeed, he
would have gladly accepted the latter's for
tune encountered with far less lovely wife
But her cousin didn't improve in Flora's
esteem on closer acquaintance. She fairly
detested him, now that they were daily
thrown together.
"I'll bring the jade to reason !" said Mr.
MacSowens, at last losing patience. And
the way he set about it was this He sent
for Lawyer Feetail and made will, leaving
his whole estate to go at his death to his
"beloved nephew, Ronald MacSowens, and
to his heirs and assigns forever"
"Now," exclaimed the testator, when the
document had been signed sealed, and wit.
messed, "let her marry Dick Hartley as soon
as she likes, and they'll be a pair of beg
gars together! At any rate, the property
will stay in the name of MacSowens."
If Ronald remembered his uncle in his
prayers that night it was probably in the
same spirit in which the Scotch parson did
the "Pretender "Ie cam amang us seekin
an airthly crown may his labor be quickly ne
aoarded aci' a heavenly ane I" Ronald had Al
least two reasons for wishing his uncle to
be the speedy recipient of similar boon
first, it would hasten his own succession
and next, it would avoid all danger of thu
willis being altered.
Ronald" said Mr.. MacSowens, one even
ing, Il wish you'd go over to Gallpot's
and get that prescription filled again.
feel the old rheumatism coming back"
The dutiful youth fastened off on the er
randi and in half an hour was back.
"Are you sure it's the same as the last p
said Mr. MacSowens, opening the pape
4 his nephew brought; it doesn't quite lool
like it."
IL told Gallipots boy, who seems
smart lad" answered Ronald, with som
. hesitation, "to fix it as before, and I've N
: doubt it's all right"
e "Well | suppose it is; my eyes aren't a
good as they used to be. Hand me glas
and spoon"
The request was complied with, an
partly filling the glass with water, Mr.. Mac
Sowens stirred in half the medicine.
t "IIadn't you better take it all, uncle
urged Ronald.