The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-11-10
THE HIDDEN WILL.

that his days were numbered, the
first thing he said was:
Send FOR Miss Work Imust sec
Miss Work before / die.
Singular as the demand seemed,
no one thought OF Questioning it
Miss Work was sent Tor.
Laura turned quite white when
the strange imperative summons
first came; and then she was told
that he who sent it was diving.
what can lac want? Shall YOU
go. Laura? asked Pauline Ruble
who was visiting her.
"Oh YES, YES, poor Old man |
am sorry Ior him. Certainly | will
20.
Pauline put hcr arm around the
slight figure, and drew the golden
head down on her shoulder.
"Idttle fool, she thought, as she
caressed the fair face with her slim,
white hand. "Of course it is some
thing about Lewis Vanwirt.
Aloud she said insinuatingly: Il
had better 20 with you, dear-don' I
You think so?'
oh, il you only viii" Laura
cried eagerly.
Mrs. Work was quite an invalid,
and could not accompany her daugh-
ter, so she also, was very glad 10
have Pauline to go with her.
As the carriage drove off with the
two girls, she sank back on her
couch with 4 thoughtful look.
1T must be something about his
grandson. l hope Laura won't be
silly"
The ladies were shown at once
into Mr.. Nanwirt's apartment
Il wish to see you alone, Laura,
nay child, he said
IN wait for you in the next
room, darling. Pauline volunteer
ed promptly and departed.
Mr.. Lewis has come, sin the
servant said, as he was leaving the
room, in obedience to an impatient
gesture from his master.
Let him wait, the old man said
gcimly.
Il was an easy thing for Pauline
TO step ont upon the veranda with
out attracting attention, and pass
along to the sick room.
Il want to know what ne wants
of her. she said to herself, ''and
Laura is such an obstinate child
sometimes, as likely as not she would
not tell me
Il have sent for you. Laura
Work" the dying man was saying,
to ask YOU if YOU loved my grand
son.
Ny dear" he said, Il am dying
or / would not ask YOU such ques-
ton. Lewis is my only sons only
child. If / die without a viii, the
whole Nanwirt property will fall to
him as the natural heir; but the
bov has taken to bad courses lately,
| am afraid. He gambles | have
heard. His father did before him.
The taste for il is in the Nanwirt
blood. 1t came near being my ruin
at his verv age. But / promised
the woman / married ! would never
touch a card again, if she would
have me, and l never did.
Laura's pale lips opened, but she
would not utter a word.
Little fool :" thought Pauline.
Listen 70 me y old Ethan Van
writ said. lifting himself upon his
elbow in his excitement. "If you
love Lewis. promise me before you
consent to marry him, you will ex-
act from him the same pledge my
wife did from me He shall be my
heir"
Laura burst into tears.
II do love him ~ she stammered.
Il will promise anything rather
than you'd do such a thing But
what-if he does not care for me az
YOU think?"
y viii rist that ! know he does.
All / ask of you Is to promise not 10
marry him till he has solemnly
sworn he viii never touch card
again. Give me your hand, child,
and say the words over after me.
Laura obeyed him, more calmly
than might have been expected un-
der the circumstances.
God bless YOU J" he said, as he
left her hand 90. You have made
NV diving moments almost happy "
As Laura Quilted the room, sob
hing, Pauline, was about 10 JOIN her,
when she heard the sick man NUT
ter Il am not sure after all, that
q viii would make everything
safer
Then he ordered the attendant
who had Just come in to goand bring
Mr.. Scribe. =
Can he pe gaing 20 make a viii
after all Hh wondered Pauline. III
wait and see
To her amazement she heard the
sick man dictate will TO his Law
l;ol Ia loft ox-ayzrtb bfnU no