Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-05-13
HisreHang,
THE STOLEN WILL.

When they told Ethan Vauwirt that his
days were numbered, the first thing ht
said was:
"Scnl for Miss Work; must see Miss
Work before die"
Singular as the demand seemed, no one
thought of questioning 1t. Miss Work
was sent for.
Laura turned quite white when the
strange imperative summons first came tc
her. and then she was told he who sent il
was dying.
"Dying!" she whispered, her blue eyes
filled with tears.
"What can he want? Shall you 90,
Laura?" asked Pauline Rublc, who was
visiting her.
"Oh, yes, yes, poor old man! | am
sorry for him. Certainly will go. But
| am frightened, Pauline, for never saw
any one die.
The pretty, childish creature was tremb-
ling from head to foot
Pauline put her arm around the slight
figure, and drew the golden head down
upon her shoulder. She was several
inches taller than Laura and far hand
somer, in her own opinion.
Little fool, she thought, as she car.
ressed the fair, nower-hke face with her
slim white hand. "Of course it is some
thing about Lewis Vanwirt."
Aloud she said, insultingly: 81 had bet
ter go with you, dear; don't you think
SOP"
"0h, if you only will" Laura cried,
eagerly.
Mrs. Work was quite an invalid, and
could not accompany her daughter, so she
also was very glad to have Pauline 60 with
her.
As the carriage drove off with the two
girls she sank back upon the couch with a
thoughtful look.
at must be something about his grand.
son. | hope Laura won't be silly"
The ladies were at once shown into Mr.
Vanwirt's apartment.
The sick man frowned at the sight of
Pauline.
81 wish to see you alone, Laura, my
child" he said.
"Ill wait for you in the next room,
darling, Pauline volunteered promptly,
anu ueparteu.
"Mr. Lewis has come, sir" the servant
said as he was leaving the room in obedi-
ence to an impatient gesture from his
master.
"Let him watt" said the old man
grimly.
The night was warm, and the windows
were all open. The sick room and the
next one to it both looked upon wide
eranda, which ran across the entire front
the grand old mansion.
1t was an easy thing for Pauling to step
out upon this veranda without attracting
attention, and pass along to the window
Of the sick room.
81 want to know what he wants of her."
she said to herself, "and Laura is such an
obstinate little child, sometimes, as likely
as not she would not tell me-"
81 have sent for you, Laura Work." the
dying man was saying, ito ask you if you
love my grandson. "
Laura's sweet face clouded with Grim.
son, and then grew white again. She was
trembling so, poor child, she could hardly
stand.
"My dear" he said, 81 am dying, or l
would not ask you such a question. Lew
is my only sons only child. If | die
without will, the whole Vanwirt prop
erty will fall to him as the natural heir;
but the boy has taken to bad courses
lately, am afraid. He CANDLES have
heard. His father did before him. The
taste Of it is in the Vanwirt blood. 1t
came near being my ruin at his very age.
But promised the woman | married |
would never touch a card again, if she
would have me, and | never did. My
grandson loves you as only yanwirt can.
1t is my only hope for him. Am | wrong,
my cchtlld, in believing that you care ior
Laura's pale lips opened, but she would
not utter word.
Little fool!" thought Pauline.
Listen to mel" old Ethan Vanwirt
said, lifting himself upon his elbow, in
his excitement. ''if you love Lewis,
promise me that before you consent to
marry him, you will exact from him the
same pledge my wife did from me, and he
shall be my heir. If not, my money goes
away from him. Speak, my child! My
lawyer waits now to make my will"
Laura burst into tears.
II do love himl" she stammersd. ~