Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-06
Barh's Secret.

The Grape had not been removed
from the door of the Lindens, and the
will had not been read. 1t was only
that morning that the body of the mis-
tress had been laid in the tomb. Now
q large party had returned to the house
to dine, and, with few exceptions,
were decorously enjoy ing the choice
repast prepared by Mrs Northrup's
old servants-or "Virginia's servants, y
some said. Since she was an only
child she would inherit the Lindens. of
course.
She sat at the head Of the table now.
q strikipgly handsome girl, though but
sixteen. Barbara Carr sat at the foot.
white as marble. Virginia's face was
suffused from violent weeping, but
Bar bara had not been seen to shed a
tear.
"Strange," more than one OF the
company remarked. Zone would ex.
pect her to show some feeling at the
death of Mrs. Northrup, who was her
best friend; adopted her from found
ling asylum when child, and has al
ways given her good home, treating
her as one of the family. But Barbara
his always been strange girl"
She was not pretty like Virginia, who
resembled her father, the general, with
her handsome eyes, of cobalt-blue and
fluffy golden hair. Barbara was slight
and plain, with thick white skin like
a magnolia leaf and purple. black hair.
always bound tightly away from her
temples. She was the same type of
woman as Mrs. Northrup-quick,
proud, resolute. You could not saw
wherein exactly her charm lay, but she
always impressed you with her indi-
viduality.
A move was made at last to rise from
the table. There was no need for AL.
Ian Neale to speak to the company.
MY friends, we will assemble in the
drawing.room and hear the will read"
Most of the company, having satisfied
their appetites, were ready and eager
for the event.
The drawing-room, with its frescoed
ceiling, black velvet sofas and gilded
chairs, was elegant and costly, like the
rest Of the mansion. It was said that
Mrs. Northrup had brought the general
the money with which it had been pur-
chased. The present guests soon set
tied themselves and subsidized into 81.
lence as Mr.. Allan Neale rose to read
the will.
1t CHANGED that he stood between the
two girls, as ine-looking O young man
as ever did credit to the best of adj.
vantages;; Of fine scholarship, good
family, handsome personal presence,
he had, from boy, been friend Of
Mrs. Northrup, and during the past
tive years had been her lawyer. Some
said that he was engaged TO Barbars
Carr. Certain it was that he made nc
disguise of loving her.
His cultured enunciation broke the
silence as he began to read the will
After making requests to cid servants
and personal friends and dependents
the estate OF the Lindens and all re.
naming property was bequeathed tc
virginia, with the exception of fifteen
hundred dollars bequeathed to Bar
bara, with the proviso that she was al
ways to have home at the Lindens.
There was murmur of approval
through the room. But Allen Neale
who had seemed to read with difficulty
after a little put the paper from him
upon table.
have reason to know" he said
that there was another will thar
this
There was breathless silence in the
room.
II have known Mrs. Northrur
long, continued Allan Neale, land
do not think that this was her final de.
clsion in regard to her property"
AS be finished speaking, he turned
and looked sharply down upon Bar
bara, but she sat unresponsive to his
questioning glance.
In case l AIN mistaken" he said
evidently making an effort to control
his impulsive nature, Il must con.
graduate Miss Virginia upon her am pie
fortune,
The young girl blushed wildly as he
took her hand, and then turned with
quickened breathing to receive the
congratulations of her other friends
After moment, Allan Neale stepped