The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-03

property was left to Charles, and he was
sole Executor. / was sssdumfounded., and
at last exclaimed:
"That can not be the true will. have
seen another, the real will, and it is just
the reverse of that. Let me see Ut my
self"
'Not so fast, if you please" interposed
Charles. at seems that ap sole Exec
utor; that will therefore belongs to me,
and do not intend that you shall have
it in your hands,"
"But," l contended, "that can not be
the true will, as l have seen another"
''Then perhaps you will produce the
other which you pretend to have seen.
You can not, of course, because there is
no other, and this gentleman"-turning
to Mr.. Benson-"will bear witness that
the seal was unbroken. Perhaps you
know Mr.. RussePs seal, sir, and hand
writingY
eyes" replied Mr.. Benson; "as it hap
pens, | know both, as ! have had many
dealings with him."
"Then what is your opinion of its gen
uineness of the will which this gentle
man"-with sneer at me-"seems to
question:
"Oh as to that, I can not see the shad-
ow OF doubt. At the same time, know
ing what l do"-with a significant look
at Charles-'I confess / am somewhat
surprised"
"Indeedl Well, don't see anything
surprising init. Ny uncle probably dis
covered that was innocent of the crime
laid to my charge, and took this method
OF making amends; but l must say it
was very handsome of him. Besides
am the son of his brother, and of the
same name as himself, and he no doubt
wished to keep everything in the fam
ily."
All this sounded very plausible; but
it was to me only the more aggravating,
as knew perfectly we'll that his uncle
was as bitter against him at the end as
he ever was, and l said SO.
At this Charles lost his temper, or pre-
tended to do so, and exclaimed:
Look here, sir; don't know who you
are, and l don't want to know. | only
know that you are not one of the family,
nor is your name mentioned in the will.
1t seems to me that you have meddled
in this affair long enough. Let me re-
mind you that this house is now mine
mine, sir; mark that; and I must request
you to take your departure at once. If
uncle's will is not made as, I dare say
you would have made it, and you think
you can upset it, I can only say, you
know your course; the law is equally
open to you as to me. l tell you plainly
| shall take the will to a solicitor ut
kinton tomorrow and get it proved at
once; and you can take whatever steps
may seem to your fitting. At present l
decline to hold any further communica-
tion with you"
was almost speechless, as much with
rage at the cool way in which was
turned out as at the disappointment
felt both for Ellen and myself; but see
ing nothing could be done, I left the
room, beckoning Ellen to follow me.
"This is very severe blow" I said,
when we were alone, "and am very
sorry for you"
"Don't say that, dear; I, too, am sor-
ry; for it is a severe and totally unex-
pected blow; 80 inexplicable, too. But
my sorrow is more for you than myself.
You will have to take me now as an al
most portionless girl, instead of the rich
heiress you were led to expect"
"Oh, my darling, you know shall be
only too pleased to have you, rich or
poor; but do you not think it would be
we'll for you to leave this house and take
apartments in the village, until l can
arrange for our marriage? 1t is not
likely you will be very comfortable
here"
"Nay; I do not quite'see the necessity
for that. Charles will not turn me out;
he was never unkind, though wild and,
l am afraid, wicked. But dear, is it not
too soon after uncle's death to talk of
our marriagew
'I know what you mean, Ellen; you
think, What will the world sayY Well,
under ordinary circumstances, should
not urge it; but these are not ordinary
circumstances. You have no home here
but on sutfrance, and so the sooner you
come to mine the better"
"Well, we will. talk of that tomorrow,
when we have had a little time to
think"
ITO BE Continued