The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-01


"Do you know uncle?"
Intimately"
But further words seemed impossible.
It was already June. Only until the
18th was Aida bound by her premise.
Never did sailor wish for fair winds
more ferveHtly than Leon for some de-
lay to the vessel speeding homeward.
Only let the 18th pass and Aida was
free. 1t was evident that Elton was
sinking every day under the burden OF
some fatal illness, and the child could
be Aida's charge, if the date which i'm
periied her fortune were once safely
passed.
80, upon the broad ocean, and IN tfie
lovely home at Eltengiade, anxious
hearts counted TIE sunny June days as
they passed. Twenty hours before
the momentous day, Elton Graham and
Leon Hartzberg stood upon the porch at
Eltonglade. There was no enc WAITING
to welcome them, for they had sent
no word forward, and the ladies had
gone for drive. But, while they wait
eye, said to his friend:
You wondered ct my haste in leav-
ing New York 7"
Not after you told me you were be-
trothed to my Cousin Aida"
yet, could have come here alone,
leaving you to gain the rest you need Sc
much and follow me. It needed some
urgency to persuade you to undertake
another journey
sc ON xyo,.xy ryoo1z onJ III -uoa II. -
gentle apology.
True, and [ seemed needlessly ur.
gent. But you must understand before
night why your interests and those of
your Roy require you to be here to-day.
" You speak solemnlyl Ard yet when
saw Mr.. Wilson in New York he as
sured me that my uncle's will gives Aida
everything"
"They are coming"
And just as Aida said to her aunt:
"Only one more day, Auntie May,
and all this lovely home is NINE" she
looked up and saw Elton Graham stand
ing on the porch, and a lovely boy play
ing horse witha walking stick. Leon had
stepped into the drawing-room through
the low French window, unable fully to
control his agitation.
There was the usual hustle of excite
ment, welcomes spoken, Some tears shed.
and Aida felt Icons arm holding her in
close embrace. But when they were all
quiet once more Aida spoke:
Cousin Elton, have letter in trust
for you. A letter that will be valueless
after tomorrow, but to-day gives you
my uncle's fortune" and in few words
she told her cousin of her uncle's dying
bequest.
"You knew of this ?" Elton asked.
turning to Leon.
&C. did 1t was because knew it
that deprived you of necessary rest in
New York.
"Only one little day." murmured FL
ton. "But Mr.. Wilson told me moth
ing"
"No one living knows of the trust but
Leon and Aunt May, said Aida, 81 will
get you the letter.
She left the room hastily. Now that
the dreaded moment had come, she real
lied bitterly how the loss would torture
her. To leave Eltonglade, to follow Leon
to Brazil, perhaps to die there as Elton's
wife had done. This was the future be-
fore her, instead of the ease and happi-
ness of the past year, the power to let
Leon choose whatever oceupation he
would.
1t needed some moments of struggle
for Aida to summon sufficient self-con-
troll to return to the drawing-room. but
when she did Leon was alone.
Your cousin has gone to the libra
ry, he said, "and will return here. Lit
tie one, did [ do wrong to hasten our
iourney?"
"No, Leon, you could not act dishon-
orably, But" and she drew long,
quivering sigh, cit is hard"
Every hard but I am young and
strong, and in good business. We will
not suffer"
"Not unless" feltered Aida" see
how me climate of Brazil has nl1u1eu
Elton, and his wife died there"
"Then I will take lower position
and salary here. Do not despond,
Aida"
L do not. Love is better than fort
une, and we have each other"
AS she spoke, her cousin Elton entered
the room with an open letter in his hand.
Silently he read his uncle's letter, and
then deliberately and slowly tore it into
minute pieces. Before Aida recovered
from her amazement, he handed her the
paper he held.
trust to your generosity to sign
this" he said, Sand to your kindness to
let mo die at home"
The paper contained written prom
Use binding Aida to support little Frank
Graham till he attained his majority.
and then to give him $40, 900 to start in
life.
ut is all ask, Aida," said Elton,
gently, =" for my uncle's will is only JUS
tlce to you, who never gave him an hours
pain. only hope for myself to see you
happily married before I go to join my
dear Laura"
The hope was granted, and in the soft
air OF Eltonglade, with the kindest of care
lavished upon him, Elton Graham lived
through the summer and fall, sinking to
rest when the first SHOWS covered the
earth.
And Leon and Aida, surrounded by
their children, with Aunt Mary to pet
them all, gave to Frank Graham the love
and care they gave their own boys, and
hold as sacred trust the paper Aida
signed when Elton destroyed his uncle'a
secret trust, never regretting that the
wanderer returned to die at home,