Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-01-20
THE HIDDEN WILL.

When they told old Ethan Vanwirt
that his davs were numbered, the
first thing he said was:
Send for Miss Work; l must gee
Miss ~ ork before 1 die
Singular as this demand seemed,
no one thought of questioning it..
Miss Work was sent for.
Laura turned quite white when the
strange imperative summons first
came: and she was told that he who
sent was dying.
"N hat can he want? Shall you
go?' asked Pauline Ribble, who
was visiting her.
"Oh, yes, yes, poor old man! /
am sorry for him. Certainly l will
go"
Pauline put her arm around the
slight figure, and drew the golden
head dowE upon her shoulder.
Little FOOL" she thought. as she
caressed the fair face with her slim,
white hand. ''Of course it Is some
thing about Lewis Vanwirt -
Aloud she said, lnsinuatingly: 81
had better go with you, dear-con't
you think so?"
ooh, if you only WILL" Laura cried
eagerly.
Mrs. Work was qnite an invalid.
and could not accompany her daugh'
ter. so she, also, was very glad tc
have Pauline go with her.
AS the carriage drove off with the
two girls, she sank back upon hel
couch with thoughtful look.
"It must be something about his
grandson. 1 hope Laura wont be
silly.
II wish to see you alone, Laura
my child" lie said.
"Ill wait for you in the next room
darling. 'Pauline volunteered pro ompt
ly and departed.
"Mr. Lewis has come, sir,' tht
servant said, as he was leaving ,h'
room, in obedience TO an impalien
gesture from his master.
LET him watt the old man sale
grimly.
II was an easy thing for Paulin'
to step out upon the reranda withou
attracting attention, and pass alon:
to the window of the sick room.
81 want to know what he wants o
her," she said to herself, land Laur
Is such all obstinate little child some
times, as likely as not she would nc
tell me-"
IL have sent for you, Laura" tn
dying man WAS saying, Ito ask yo
if you love my grandson
my DEAR he said, II am dying
or would not ask you such ques
tiun. Lew is my only sons child.
| die without will. the whole Van
writ property will fall to him as TIL
natural heir; but the boy has take
to bad courses lately, | am afrai'
He CANDLES, | have heard. His fail
er did before him. The taste of it
in our blood. 1t came near hem
my ruin at his age. But l promise
the woman | married l would new
touch card again, if she would ha,
me, ard | never did
!, Laura's pale lips opened, but 81
would not utter word.
Little fool!" thought Pauline.
"Listen to mel" old Ethan Va
writ said, lifting himself upon his c
bow in his excitement. "If you To-
Lewis, promise me that before yt
consent to marry him, you will exa
from him the same pledge my wi
did from me. He shall be my heir
II Laura burst into tears.
y ~ do love mimi" she stammere
Il will promise anything rather TIL
you'd do suck dreadful thing. B
-what-if he does not care for me
YOU think p
Il will risk that: / know he doe
All ask of you Is to promise not
: marry him Till he has solemnly swo
y he will never touch card aga
Give me your hand. child, and s
the words over after me-
,F Laura obeyed him, more calm
- than might have been expected und
the circumstances.
''God hless you!" he said. as
let her hand go. "You have ma
Il my dying moments almost happy ,
- As Laura quilted the r ,om, sc
bing. Pauline was about to join h
when she heard the sick man MUTE
~ am not sure, after all, but tha
will would make everything safer
Then be ordered the attendant W
had just come in to go and bring n
- Sciihe.
Scan he be going to make a v
after all 2" wondered Pauline. 81
wait and see.'
To her amazement, size heard
sick man debating will to his IL
yer, in which he left everything
possessed to Laura Work absolute
Mr.. Scribe venlured 10 REM
- strate, but it was no use.
III II know what l am about"
i'll imptrious old man said, and wo
hear nothing.
The will duly signed, witness
and sealed he told the lawyer VIII
to put it in his desk, which stt
within view.
''Is it safe here?" Mr.. Scr
v, asked. II see no key
!! Who would touch it?' the S
man asked, irritahly. ''It wo
heneft no one but Lewis, and
Vanwirts are not thieves, whate
else they may ne. Go, now, pie
and tell some one to send my gra
son to me-
Pauline would liked to have sta
Il: and listened to this interview a
- but she did not dare. Laura n
be wondering greatly now where
'oe was.
She found that Laura had ct
out of the sick room SO agitated
Mrs Beckett, the housekeeper,
made her lie down, and was now
ting with her.
Pauline took the housekeep
place beside her friend, and IN 81
time Laura fell asleep. AS Pau
be sat there watching the white chii'
face of the girl she pretended to |,
or her brain was full of wicked and
vious thoughts.
Laura was already rich, she