The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-10-22
VOLUME XIII.


Ehc cught ofquestioning IL. Miss work WAS
sent for.
L,ura turned white when tho strange. |
imperative summons at first came and |
then she was uold he who sent it was dy- |
tng
"what can he want Shall you 60, |
Laura P'' asked Pauline Ruble, who was
visiting her.
"Oh, yes, yes, poor old man l am
sorry for him. Certainly 1 will GO"
Pauline put her arm around the slight
figure. and drew the GOLDEN head down
upon her shoulder.
''Litt fool" SIS; .'t. as she Ca
ressed the fair face ws-.l her slim, white
hand. LOT course 1t is something about
Lewis Vanwirt.''
aloud she said insultIngly: 81 had
better go with you, dear-don't you think
SO ?''
'.oh. if you only will 80 Laura cried,
eagerly.
Mrs. Work was quite and invalid, snd
corid not accompany her daughter. so she,
also. very glad to have Pauline go
with her.
As the carria drove off Wit: ., 'wo
girls, she sank back upon her couch with
- thoughtful look.
t-It NUT be thin. bout his grand
sou. h"v,.. Laura won't he siiiy.''
Tl,e. 'atIIe> wer shown at once into Mr.
Vanwirt's apartment.
II wish to see you alone, Laura, my
cl,ih!.' he said.
''I'il wait for you in the next room.
'Isriing.'' Pauline volunteered promptly
ami departed.
MIR. Lewis has come. SIR the servant
said, a. he was leaving the rnon. in ol'e-
di@nce TO an impatient gesture from his
master.
'-T.et him wait, the Oil man said grim
".
It wSs an easy thing for Pauline to stri,
Out upon the vcIand.: without attracting
attention. and pass along to The window
of he <ick-rnom.
II wan tn know what lie wants of her =
she said TO herself. land Laura is such an
obstinatp little cl.iId sometimes. as likely
as not size would not tell me.'
II have sent for you. Laura Work. = the
dying man saying, ITO ask you if
you love my grandson
My dear he said. II am dying. or
would rot ask you such question. Lew
Is my only sons only child. If die
without a will, the whole Vanwirt prop
ertv vii. fan tn him as the natural heir;
fdit the hoy has taken tn bad courses late
iy, am afraid. He gambIrs. have
heard. His father dill before him. The
taste of it is in the Vauwirt blood. 1t
came near being my ruin ut his very Sge.
But promised the woman I married
wouli never touch a card again. If she
wOuid have me, and never dit. =
Laura's pale lips opened, but she would
not utter a word.
Little fool - tho~g!ft- -
F'I-isten to me - old Ethan Vanwirt
said. lifting himself upon his elbow il his
excitement. .If you love Lewis. promise.
me that before you consent to mary him.
ynu will exact from him tile same pledge
that my wife did from me. lie shall be
my herr
Laura burst into tears.
II do love him 80 she stammpretl. ~
will promise you anything rather than
you'd do such dreadful thing. But
wI.st-If ne does not care for me as you
think 20
''I will risk that I know he does. All
L ask of you is to promise not TO marry
him till he has solemnly sworn he will
never touch another card. Give me your
hand, child, and say the words over after
me-"
Laura obeyed him. more calmly than
might have been expected under the cir
cumstances.
s-God bless you .'' he said. az he let her
hand go. "YoH have made my dying
moments almost happy"
As Laura quilted the room, sobbing.
Pauline WAS about to join her when she
heard the sick man utter: II am not
sure after all. that will would make
e.Reryfling safer
Then ile ordered the attenslanr who
had just come ia 10 go aud bring Mr..
Scribe.
.-Can he be going to make will after
all s.' wondered Pauline. I'm wait and
see. IS
10 ner aHGBazeintnC she neaFU Ine SICK
man debating a will to his lawyer. IN
which he left everything he possessed to
Laura Work, absolutely.
Mr.. Scribe yentured to remonstrs;e, bat
IL Sas Of 40 use.
ii know what am about ,l,e imperi-
GUS old man said, and would hear nothing.
The win duly signed witnessed aud
sealed he told the iawyer where t" put it
ln his desk, wi,icli stored hin his view.
s.Is it safe here - NJ. Scribe asked.
III see no key
..wbo wonld torch it - the sick man
asked irritably. ut woi'l benefit no one
but Lewis, and the Naawirrs are rot
thieves. whatever else they nlay he Gn,
nov. please aud tell some one to send ms
grandson TO me.''
PanIlne would have liked to stay and
witnessed this Interview also, but she did
not dare. Laura must be wondering