River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-16


riage as he was situated and seemed
fltcd to continue to be.
THE will was made Immediately
after mammals marriage, said Fannie,
standing under the laburnums and
looking up at the great house. Poor
mother says he told her on his death
bed that he made another wlll-per-
haps in her favor. But what she says
goes for little Her state Is very
strange since a fever she had just after
Philip came of age-her talk is so wild
and foolish-and yet she seems to I'M
stand some things in our affairs tnat
we do not see till afterward. 1t is al
most uncannv to think over the strange
knowledge she has had during these
past wears" and Fannie fell into a fit OF
missing.
The9 walked back to the tiny cot
tage Rae's veins thrilled with excite
ment, but Fannie went soberly about
getting tea. They kept no maid, this
poor disinherited family, and Rae
learned that Philips own hands titled
the little kitchen-garden, while every
labor of the household was performed
by Fannie.
She could not sleep that night after
she had gone to her tiny bedroom. The
moonlight seemed to disturb her and
make her brain wildly active. What
influence strung her neryes?-for when
all was still and the night far advanced
she arose, and dressing, donned her
warm sealskin sack and cap, and came
out into the hall. She took bunch
Of KEYS from their nail there, and Sc
lecting one which she had seen Fannie
take held it tightly in her slim, white
fingers as she went out into the night.
in the moons white light she went
steadily through the long lines of labur-
NUNS, across the tiny kitchen-garden,
along the decaying orchard, into the
hollow She stood Il moment before
the great still house, listening to the
roar of the sea Strangely enough, she
did not feel afraid. If she thought of
the presence of an unseen spirit, it
was to appeal to it prayerfully for
help.
Another will. 1t must be- At least
it would do no harm to search, and that
is what she had come for.
she left the hall-door wide open and
1t -trcamed through the chinks of the
shutters, which she opened, one by one,
as She fitted keys to drawers of all
kinds. The task was no light one, for
in every Mich was cabinet or escritoire.
But there was no papers anywhere.
Many things which must have been
the personal property of old Squire
Brldenel she found, but nowhere his
Will
oh. if | only could-if only could
She said, sadly, land it would restore
Philip to his rights
Rat, tat, tat-the sound ola cane on
the Tiled floor. Rae turned for the first
time, her eyes wide with fright. The
enthusiasm with which she had enter
taiaed her generous purpose had made
her utterly forgetful of herself Now
some one was coming.
The door swung slowly on its tar
nishcd silver hinges. A quaint, bent
little figure, leaning ON Il cane, adj
vanccd into the room and paused be-
side handsome carved armchair
which stood before table. Lifting
the cane, the bent little old woman
knocked smartly thrice on the seat of
tins chair, filling the room with Il hol-
low sound, then, resuming her feeble
walk, she passed out of the apartment
by another door.
Tremblingly doubtingly, Rae curious
ly approached the chair. The blows of
the cane seemed to have disturbed or
broken the seat for il was awry, plainly
revealing a cavity beneath. Turning
the chair to the light Rae, looked with
in and saw distinctly a folded paper.
II was large sheet, yellow, and
thick rs vellum. Hec hands trembled
as she unfolded it and read; "My last
viii and testament. Paul Brudenel, .
and it dropped to the floor.
Snatching it up she ran-ran swiftly
out of the house, and flew noiselessly
and shaking to Fannie's door.
Il have found it have found it Y
she cried, flinging her arms around the
amazed, whte-robed figure who add
mitted her to Fannie's chamber.
'Found what? Are you sick? Are
you crazy?' asked gentle Fannie Brude-
mel.
The other will-within Il chair-an
old armchair in the hoase in the hOl-
low \ ghost showed it to me" answer
ed Rae, holding the paper aloft.
There was n knock at the chamber
door
SISTER, what is the matter? What
disturbs the house,
1T was Philips voice.
II have found the will, Come in
and read it," cried Rae dragging him
in
She gave him the paper; she lighted
lamp He was forced to read. Strug-
CLING for calmncss as he proceeded, he
read to the end Yes, late, but not too
late, the precious document was found
tho second will of Paul Brudenel, I'M
conditionally bequeathing all he pos
scsscd 70 these two, his grandchildren.
In the exciting talk which followed
no one heard slender cane go rat-tat-
tat past the door. but when the blue
morning light dawned and Fannie
hcstirred herself to get breakfast, she
went first to her mothers room.
philip" She said, coming back,
mother has had one of her bad nights
again. She has been up and away. |
must have slept much more soundly
than usual; she never eluded me be-
fore. She is very much exhausted" "
Philip went instantly to attend to his
mother When, the next day, she
seemed restored to her wonted condi-
ton. and Rae had infinitely told her
story they closely questioned Mrs.
Brudncl as to her visit to the house in
the hollow, and tried SO discover if she
had any knowledge OF the hiding place
of the will But nothing could be gain
81 from her disordered mind. She
would only shake her head and smile.
How dare you 90 on such an expe-
dition to that lonely place ut such an
uacanny hour, Rae?' asked Philip, the
next evening, when. embraced by his
arm, thcy had talked over the happy
prospect of their immediate union.
IL Was inspired, she answered,
laughingly, but with a look of awe
creeping into her beautiful eyes. Then
rs She reconsidered that strange night,
She gently embraced him:
All for love Philip. 1t was done all
for love
cheap Prices for Wives.
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