Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-07-26
An Unexpected Witness.
BY MARY GRACE HALPINE.


ted ?"
"She ght as we'll be. She gets only
paltry five thousand, and Gilbert
Fairfax all the rest"
at is very queer that his nephew
should have the property instead of his
only, daughters only child. Gilbert
Fairfax has got everything in his own
hands.-.He'll have his own servants,
too, and now that he's master of Wood
lawn. we that have served his uncle so
many years, will be turned adrlft. We
think too much of Miss Lucy to stand
any chance with him."
The above conversation took place
between the gardener and housekeeper
of Woodlawn, who had grown gray in
the service of its late owner.
In the library within, quite differ
ent scene was being enacted, where the
granddaughter and granddaughter of
the deceased confronted each other for
the first time since the funeral.
The latter was young and exceed
ingly lovely girl, attired in deep mourn
ing, whose eyes, dark and wonderfully
expressive, were fixed upon her compan-
ion, man several years her senior, and
whose otherwise handsome face was
marred by its insincere and crafty ex-
preston.
ut is a great grief to me that l did
not see my grandfather before he died.
The post-ofice stamp upon the letter
you wrote me shows that it was mailed
the day of his DEATH"
The willy mans face flushed at all
that this implied, and there was some
haughtiness in the voice that said:
at was written as soon as l saw
that my uncle was not likely to live; L
cannot be responsible for the mistakes
and omissions of Others"
Then a moment later, in a softer
tone:
81 don't wonder, my dear cousin, that
you feel hurt and disappointed at the
tenor of your grandfather's will. 1t
was great surprise to me. This beau
tiful place must seem like home to you.
You need not leave it, unless you choose
to do so. By becoming my wife, you
can be mistress of Woodlawn; for love
you, LUCY have loved you for long
time !'
1t would have been hard to decide
whether there was more surprise or
aversion in Lucy's face, as she heard
this.
"Not even to win the inheritance
that is rightfully mine, can l be your
wife, Mr.. Fairfax. And l beg that you
will consider this answer as final"
A look of sullen anger took the
place of that passionate, appealing
gaze.
Il will pay you your grandfather
legacy, then; that you may not be com
PEELED to remain longer under the root
of man whom you so evidently de.
test p
"By my lawyers advice, l decline t.
receive it."
The face turned toward the speaker
paled, while the eyes had a startled
look
"By your lawyers advice ?" b,
echoed.
| "You intend to dispute the will then:
On what grounds ?'
"By my lawyers advice, refuse t
accept so small a portion of what i
rightfully mine. Also, to answer an,
questions"
| Gilbert Fairfax was evidently dis
turbed, not to say alarmed, though b
made strong effort to repress all sign
of it.
81 wish that l could persuade 20,
not to attempt so foolish thing, cous
IN, he sald after thoughtful pause
l "Of course, you know, if you contest tn
will that there is a strong probabilit
of your losing your legacy"
81 know that there is chance of it.
The mans hands wandered for a mo
ment aimlessly among the papers on tn
desk before him. Then he fixed hi
eyes keenly upon that sweet, ingeniou
face.
= "You don't, you can't think tha
there has been any foul play, Lucy ?"
81 don't know what to think" res
ponded the young girl, turning wearil
towards the door. alt is hard for m
to believe that my grandfather woul,
, leave me so slenderly provided for. A
to the rest | must refer you to MI
Crawford, my lawyer"
When the two met again it was il
crowded courtroom.
Not all Gilbert Fairfax's ingenuit,
was able to discover what course th
| prosecution would take: whether /
Z would dispute the genuineness of tn
| will, or endeavor to prove that the tes
q tator was not in fit state of mind t
make it; so he was obliged to provid
for either contingency.
The legatee, in endeavoring to prov
tho rnl;di4r. &C IL III .1