The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-04-10

winch is IN reality Tie library, Dut Wlllcl
Mr.. Roy, he being literary man, choos
es to call his study. He is sitting at hi
table, with Nell's letter spread out befor
time. There is nothing very remarkabl
about it; it is not what one would styl
a love-letter, and yet Dick would not 70
all the world have his sister get glimps
of it.
"DEAR DICK,-I have been looking fo
you to- call, as you promised, and an
much surprised at not having seen you
Your birthday, think you told me, j
about this time. Did you have a party
and are you so elated at having ATTAINED
your majority that you are above visit
ing your friendsp l cannot think tha
because you are now a man you hav,
given up all the friends of your childhood
Please call soon, and tell me all about
your presents. Ever your friend, NELL
That is it; and in it Dick is trying t.
find traces Of something more thar
friendship.
"Nell is an awfully jolly girl" he says
to himself, leaning back in his chair ant
thrusting his hands into his pockets
"just as full of fun as ever she can be.
wonder whether she really does care any.
thing for me? I'm not altogethera bad.
| LOOKING lellOW. IL w BAY IL III ysell, aIlO
/ fancy | can talk quite as well as the
most of 'em. How is one to tell whether
girl cares more for him than for
another, when she persists in being jolly
| with every one?" e.. -.-r.. d. r-'
Then he gets to thinking of. some
means to solve the problem. How shall
he prove herr Presently an idea comes
to him. first family, indistinctly; then
more plainly and more vividly. until a
plan--an excellent plan, he thinks
stands out before him in beautiful SYM
metry. Everything seems to have work
ed in favor of it, and he is naturally Joy
Gus over his discovery. -,
He opens one of the drawers in his
| writing-table and takes out r. packet of
letters. Through them he searches until
he finds two that Janet wrote him while
he was away on his midsummer vaca-
ton. These hespreads open before him,
and taking sheet of note-papcr he be-
gins to write, now closely studying his
sisters letters, now slowly putting words
has finished. He folds the sheet, inclosos
carefully rs he has written it. Then he
rises, and, unlocking the door, meets
Janet in the hall. She sees him take
down his hat to go out.
Had you not better wear your over
coat?" she asks. I'm afraid you might
take cold again"
I'm not going far" he answers {;
"only to post letter"
"To Nell?" she asks, teasingly. Are
you not rather prompt in answering your
correspondents"
Dick, making no reply, goes out, while
she, laughing to herself, hurries away to
her numerous household duties.
The next morning is the lst of April
All-fool's Day, with its temptations to
practical jokes and its myriads of little
innocent lies, when every one does his
best to make a fool of his dearest friend
sunny morning, that swells the buds to
fresh young grass as Il magnet draws steel.
Dick Roy is in the very best of spirits;
he has persuaded Janet into believing
that he has taken fresh cold; has as
sumed n voice as hoarse as a veteran bull
frog; and has been looking the very pic
ture of distress, until the arrival of the
pOstman-, just as he is creeping in to
breakfast and adding to his sisters anX-
iety by his distressed countenance-
causes him to brighten up, and in the
clearest tone remark, "'Pon my word,
Jean, my colds gone. Did it strike you
this was the first day of April?" -
An expression of relief mingled with
annoyance mounts Miss Roy's counte-
nance.
you awful boyr' she cxclaims. you
should be ashamed of yourself, trying to
fool your own sister"
And succeeding, too" laughs Dick.
The only letter this morning is one for
bt ,t,h l,-n
velope, and addressed in bold heavy
hand that gives one an impression of inn,
portant business at once. As Dick opens
it and catches sight of the heading, his
face brightens in expectation, and con-
tinues Frightening until he has read it
quite through, when he is wearing the
broadest of smiles.
"Hurrah !" he shouts, his boyishness
making its appearance through his new
ly acquired manhood" hurrah for Uncle
Arthur Hurrah Jean, we've been
left fortune ~
Janet looks at him unbeievingly.
She has been fooled once this morning,
and does not intend to submit tamely to
what she considers her brothers second
attempt.
"If you must joke, Dick" she says,
calmly, her voice and manner strangely
with his excitement, pray
don't take such subject. You are play
ing your part very well, ] admit; but
still | remember now what day it is"
But I'm not joking; it's fact. Here
is letter from the dear old boys lawyer.
Look at the postmark; look at the
letter-head; read the message" he goes
on, eXcitedly, running around to his sis
ter's side of the table and spreading the
envelope and its contents before her.
He is certainly not fooling her now, as
she is compelled to admit when she is
thus presented with the evidence. The
same heavy style Of writing that was
without is within.
" Richard Roy, Esq:
DEAR SIX" Gt begins),-"I have
pleasure in informing you that the will
of the late Arthur Roy, Esq, of this city,
bequeaths to his great-nephew and create
niece, Richard and Janet Roy (yoursel'
and sister,, each the sum of fifty thou
sand dollars. These amounts are in
vested in United States government
bonds, and shall be forwarded to you in
due course.
- have the honor to be your obedi-
ent servant,
-. MADISON PERRY, Executor"
The effect of the reading on Janet is
quite the reverse of that on her brother.
Instead of breaking forth into joyous
shouts, her sensitive nature causes her to
burst into a flood of tears.
Dick looks at her in astonishment.
What can she be crying for he thinks.
A legacy of fifty thousand dollars. he
L.. r.. ~rt.af