The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-16
PART |.
PRINCES GATE.

PRINCE 5 GATE.
The funeral WAS over: the great mourn
ing coaches had deposited their highly
respectahl" burdens nj the door of the
large house Ill Prince s Gate, and people,
standing IN little groups about hall and
dining-rnom, were beginning Ia grow
quite conversational, and To- forget, i'll
the light from the freshly unshuttered
windows, what cause had brought them
together.
When a man gets beyond portion of
life allotted To him 10y public opinion and
the bible, he must not expect la br very
deeply mmrned when he docs die: and
Mr.. Pierrepoint, ut whose last rites his
friends had Just assisted, had outliyed by
two wears those "thrCcscore and ten
years of scripture. Under the circum-
stances immoderate grief at his loss was
not 10 be expected; il WAS reserved for
disappointed legatees Ia moura, as II
waggish cousin, "brieiless haIriStcr,"
whispered To his neighhor.
Up stairs the newly made widow was
sitting. with claspcd hands and pcnsive
ewes, alone III her dainty houduir. The
sunlight, falling upon her, called up
points of gold III the rich brown Of her
thick, cooled hair, and put Ia severe test
the delicate purenesS of her skin. There
Was a tap on the door, and i'll answer -
her subdued "comc i'll atall gentleman
entered, whose stout proportions and
sleek gray head seemed thoroughly III
keeping with his clerical coat and CATERS.
Mrs. Pirrepoiut rose and stood gravely
before HIM. do you want mc, uncle? q
she said.
"Iou had better go down STAIRS. my
dear" he answered: Mr.. Wurmit is
about 10 read the will.
"Do you think il better that should
Ike present"
YES, do, said the Dean. Deliberate
ly, lit was your husbands special wish.
Now, my dear Minnie, if You are ready,
We will go n once" and. taking her on
his arm, he led his nice, to the drawing
room, where the people, including Law
yer Wormit, had assembled. There was
"A little hush rs the widow came into the
room; naturally enough. she WAS was the
subject of 40 small amount Of speculation
and curiosity. When IMAM dies pos
sessed of something like E2O, 900 Il year,
his possible inheritors acquire an impor-
lance which they have never hal before
All eyes turned openly or furtivrly Oh IL
the young figure sitting near the Dean,
looking very pale and pathetic III the
heavy Grape dress.
Then the first tones Of the lawyer
voice directed every ones thoughts t.
the matter in hand.
Ii WAS not n long will; i'll spite Of legal
intricacies and repetitions, 1t took hardly
ten minutes to read. There were "a few
legacirs 10 relatives, few To servants
Int the. testator had Internationally be.
queathed the bulk Of his huge property
t. his wife-Mrs. Minnie PierrcpoInt.
There was hush, IL pause; if the
widow had been an object Of interest he
fore. she was one Of something like awe
now: and all eyes were turned upon her
Her face was very pale; her full, red lip,
pressed tightly together; her bosom ross
and fell; for moment she closed he
eyes-that was all She turned to tn,
Dean and spoke i'll a low, tremulou
voice:
please, uncle, would you see to al
these people? | have ordered Dime
for them at SIX: should like to go III
stairs.
Certainly, my dear, said the cler
gyman, Offering her his arm, and look
ing at her with no little respect-he ha'
had no expectations from the dead man
and consequently could rejoice the NOR
thoroughly i'll his niece's good fortune
Certainly. | suppose you will dine II
your own room
"No, thank yOu, uncle. JenkInsO
will bring Inc up some tea presently.
am not hungry"
Mrs. Picrrepoint went back to he
bOudUir, which led into the great empt
bedroom. She would stay there alon
that evening, and would not dine. NJ
that, as "A rule, she was Indifferent
delicate cUOkery-On the contrary, theI
was Il good deal of the cpicure i'll h,
nature; it was tins very epicureanisl
which kept her fasting tonight. 81
had ..subtler, more exquisite feast
store for herself; she would not spoil Il
effect Of either banquet 10y indulging
both nj the same time. There was
soft. golden light in the little room,
soft breath Of summer blowing
through the open window, beyond Il
roofs of the houses she could see Il
trees in Kensington gardens, standiI
ont against sky bright with all Il
glory of the declining day. Mrs. Pierr
point drew IA low chair to the open wi
dow, and lay back with closed eyes. 81
could not believe it, could not realize
that for which she had given up
much was hers at last, her very own, II
held at the caprice of II sIckly, JealO
old man. Only six months, and she W
free; long, dreary months Of self-reprt
sion they hal been; but they were Ov
and her reward was greater than she Ia
ever dared to hope, Though, to do Il
Justice, she had never much Occupi
herself with unworthy speculation s
clasped her hands tightly together, a
the fingers Of her right hand came
contact with her wedding ring. Pc
Mr.. PierrepOint. He must have low
her very much to have made such a w
She really did feel sorry for him, that
had died SO suddenly. No one shOr
ever he able to say that she had not
spectcd lIis memory. She rose and, Il
ing key from her watch-chain, WI
toward an cscrtOire standing Ill
corner Of the room. On the way 4
paused before tall mirror let into
wall, and stood pensively observing
OWE reflection.
Minnie PlerrcpOint was not tall '
man, but the cxquislteness Of her p
portions made up for any deficiency
height; nor was she very slight for
twenty-five years; indeed, kind friel
were fond Of prophesying for her
obese middle age, grounding their pro-
estes on certain, by no means I'M
coming, fullness and rOundness in
form.
She stood for u few minutes peer
grnvely into her own large gray ey
critically observing the curves OF
short nose and red lips, which lat
some one had often told her, looked
though "s0me bee had newly ST.
them" Perhaps it was this thou
which brought the flush toher pale fl
and sent her into the corner where st'
the escritoire. She Eat down on the flo
and unlocking it, pulled out little dir
cr whence came II faint scent Of I
leaves, from which she took a packe
letters tied together with blue ribb
She took 1t out carefully, tenderly,
let 1t lie On her lap, with her hands liz
~ crossed abuye 1t. Thep her thong
wander far away, beyond the room,
yond Kensington, beyond great, SIN
London. She is wandering down a d
Deyonshire lane, with its Struggling -,
citation growing up the sides Of its
dish banks. Some one il by her 3
and they are laughing and talking 81
together. As they emerge from