Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26

Mrs. Payte.
They strolled some time longer
through the gloomy rooms, and by and
by noticed that rain-storm was adding
to the gloom.
"Are we all here p said Mr.. Keith.
"All but Honor, and there she comes,
wet through" said Phebe.
So all fastened into their carriages,
and acknowledge to having had pleas
ant time in spite of the sprinkling of
rain and the acidity of Mrs. Payte's re-
marks.
The weeks sped on, and slowly to
many, but not to Honor, who. in the
house of her guardian, Lawrence Hough-
ton, had always much to do. and who
gradually had assumed more and more
care of Mrs. Payte's friend Mrs. Dis
browe.
A dispatch was finally received say
ing that Lady Lawrence was preparing
to leave Calcutta, and that she hoped
her heirs would meet her in London.
On the day of the dispatch poor Mrs.
Disbrowe died, and Mrs. Payte urged
Honor not to stay with her, but hasten
on with her friends to meet Lady Law
renee.
by staying with me you will lose
every chance of share of Old Middle
tons money; Old Middleton's sister
will be enraged with you, and probably
refuse to see you when you do CO.
Then l shall come back, for shall
certainly not leave you till L see you
you started for your friends.
at IS very thoughtful of you, for
somehow | cannot bear to part with you.
though | fear you will regret it"
So Honor stayed till her friend left,
and then she went to London, where
she found that Lady Lawrence, strange
to say, had not arrived. and all her rel
atives were cross and ill-natured at the
delay. But there was no fear of dis
appointment that day, as Lady Law
renee had promised that she would sure
ly join them, so they were trying to as
sumo a happy, complacent look, and
when the door was thrown and the SER
want announced Lady Lawrence" he
arose with culver and start to meet
the tall advancing figure.
If a thunderbolt had fallen in their
midst, the family of Old Middleton
would have been less surprised. for in
stead of the imposing figure with dark
hair and thoughtful eyes, stood the tiny
one who for months had lived in the
cottage studying their characters, which
before her they had not cared to dis
guise. 1t was strange that now, in her
handsome dress and in her own beauti-
ful rooms, all could detect the Unborn
aristocrat.
A true patrician was Sir Lawrence s
widow; true gentle woman was old
Middleton's sister.
81 see" she said. "that you do not
recognize my face and form with that
portrait of Lady Lawrence which you
all know so we'll. No wonder, for
bought it because it was as little like
me as portrait could be. l meditated
this pious fraud long ago. but it was
with purpose solemn enough to legiti
matize it, l have in trust an enormous
:, sum of money, and this trust is not
lightly to be disposed of. | want 6
pure and generous hand to wipe away
the curse which rests upon Old Middle
tons money, and neither squander mol
selfshly amass it, and will redeem this
wasted time and power abused. Nov
< for items, said the little old lady, 'anc
t if you will excuse me for few minutes
l will write some directions for my law
e yer"
After writing for while she said
"Now let me read you my request, ant
: after that those that care to hear tn
will read may do so, and those that d.
not may bid me farewell. You all know
that my brothers wealth has accummu
: lated to an almost fabulous extent
therefore | was anxious to choose al
s heir in whose hands it would at leas
be safe l would choose man simple
y manly, natural. / knew that two of m
:. relatives were young men, and | mean
if both were generous, upright men. tn
: money should be equally shared. Law
renee Houghton and Hervey Trent, 20
e know whether l found you such mer
One would save and amass. and the 9th
I, er would calmly smile and sleep and le
IS it melt through his idle fingers. Anon
II my women relatives | found all selfish
vain, weak shallow,-all but one.
o saw one who was guided by simple dl
IS ty, one who frightened the dying be
of an old friend. and felt should liB
If to have my bed frightened by the san
loving hands. Old Middleton's none
e. | bequeath entire to Honor Middleto
1t Craven"
is A long and terrible silence fell upc
the room at these works.
ID No need to say the lawyer was new
re called upon to read the will of his cl