Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-02

told MIN that WASH my hanus
of him, If he adopted the ministry for
profession" he growled. land kept
my word"
but you'll forgive his son" said
Ethel, coaxingly; 30, Uncle Philip!
Youll forgive Walter-I mean Mr..
Clifton-for my sake?"
mo, I will not" replied the old
gentleman, emphatically. The dis.
honorable hound! The miserable
scamp! My money goes to you'll
not leave him cent?"
Ethel drew her graceful figure up to
its full height. Her dark eyes we're
flashing oninously, and her pale face
was full of scorn.
do you think l will take your
money!" she asked. "I-your niece
by adoption-rob your own brothers
sen? If you will not leave it to them,
you cannot leave it to mej for I refuse
to take it. THANK you for all that you
have done for me; but, when you are
dead, will not have your money. I
would sooner die than touch one cent?"
"Ha! ha! hal" laughed the old man.
$50 you will not have my money, won't
you? That is joke. to be sure. ad-
mire your spirit, my dear girl, but you
cannot help yourself. I shall leave it
to you, whether you will or no." And
he INDUCED in another hearty laugh.
That night Uncle Philip died" Of
heart disease" the doctor said, "caused
by too much excitement"
About week after his death, the
chief mourners gathered in the great,
oak-paneled library, to hear the reading
of the will. The lawyer ratified the pa
pers on the desk with nervous fingers,
and dead silence had fallen upon the
anxious-faced group. It was evident
that they were awaiting some one.
Suddenly tall, determined-looking
young man arose. With brief apology
he left the room, and inquired of ser
want for Miss Sherwood. He was told
that she was in her boudoir, and has
tened there, but, for a moment, stood
petri6ed in the doorway. Ethel was
standing, with her face half turned to-
ward him, by secret panel that she
had just slid back from the old, VAIN
scoted wall. In her hand she held
sealed document to which she was
about apI lying lighted match.
+" 1t is the safest way" she muttered.
"He isgone, and they will never know"
Suddenly the already-scorched paper
was snatched from her hand. With
low cry she turned, and saw her false
lover, Walter Clifton. For o moment
he stood looking at her in Mortified ST.
lence, and then he broke out in tor
rent OF passionate, angry words.
$50 this is why you sent me my
ring!" he said, hoarseIy. "You feared
the old man might disinherit me, and
you forgot your honor in your greed for
gold. Take the WILL" and he flung it
at her feet, "and tho gold, if it will
serve to satisfy your false heart"
He turned on his heel and was about
to leave the room, but on second thought
came back.
II came here to make an explanation,
be said. coldly, "and even your false
ness shall not deter me from clearing
my own honor"
He waited moment for her to speak,
but she stood there with still lips and
tightly clasped hands.
Knowing my uncle to be opposed,
for some reason, to my fathers profes-
sion" he continued, " never thought
it necessary to mention the fact that I
was following the same calling. In my
last letter to him I thoughtlessly re-
marked that I had married the daugh-
ter of his old friend, meaning that I
had read the marriage service over her.
l hope you understand"
He would have said more, but the
girls white face alarmed him. This
last startling announcement had been
too much for her; clasping her hands.
she swooned away.
The young man rang peremptorily
for her maid, and then, not daring to
trust himself in her presence longer,
rushed away.
Miss Sherwood is ill.," he explained
to the impatient assembly in the room
below. But a moment later the brisk
little maiden rushed in, her cap all awry,
and the scorched document held tightly
in her hand. The lawyers eyes sparkled
as he took it.
1t is the missing will" he said, and
then he checked himself, and sent or
ders for Miss Sherwood to make her
appearance if it was possible for her to
come. Ten minutes more, and the
trembling, white-faced young girl was
almost carried in.
The lawyer stood up, with prelimi-
nary cough that was echoed by an i'm
patient murmur all through the room.
There were the ordinary clauses and
legal appendages ratified off in the Or
binary legal style, and then tho orator
| came to the pith of the will. The old
gentleman had left all his personal
property, excepting few trifing lega-
cies to distant relatives, to his adopted
niece, Ethel Sherwood.
There was dead silence for q mo-
ment after the sonorous voice of the
lawyer ceased. Then tall young fell
low arose and made his way through
the mourners to the side of the newly.
made heiress.
Ethel" he said, "I've been brute.
Can you ever forgive me?"
And Ethel hid her happy face on his
shoulder; and, not long after, the young
minister was married in reality. So
there were two marriages and o will.
The BILL OF FARE.-Tn the All m NOR