The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-06-29

} When she lay down to sleep that
night the lost will lay under her pill
low, and sealed letter beside it,
addressed to Robert Rushford;
t Marian kissed that name before she
: went to sleep.
''He will forgive my sin when he
reads this letter." she thought. Il
do but obey thee" .-
And all next day the will lay
warm in her bosom, while Robert
and Mr.. Wilde searched carefully
and YEARLY through all the house.
1t was hard to see his disappointed
: face, and feel that she could make
; all well so easily,
; Il must obey the dead" she told
herself. 81 must obey the deadr'
At last they gave up all hope of
the lost will. Robert resigned him
self to what seemed hard fate, and
Miss Gray was declared Gerald
Rushford's lawful heiress.
Mr. Wilde made no secret of his
disgust.
"There,might be some arrangement
ment made which you could fulfill
the wishes of the dead, Miss Gray"
he said. Il judge you are hardly
one to play the cuckoo by pushing
the true bird out of the nest in or
der to occupy it yourself. 1 can
remember the terms of the second
will
To this broad hint she answered
quietly: The will may yet be
found, sir. Excuse me if 1 hesitate
to tax your memory while that |
chance remains. Believe me, my
most earnest wish and endeavor is |
to obey the dead"
He did not understand.
"She puzzles me-" he said to
Robert, ''but somehow fancy she'll
give you your money after all; yes
L do believe it."
$50 do not l." replied Robert.
women are mercenary. See how
quickly Florence Huntly has thrown
me over. 1t was worth the loss of
the fortune to find her out. Fancy
marrying a girl in the belief that
she really loved you, and afterward
discovering that she only wanted
your purse. That would have been
my fate if I'd got the fortune. l
was hard hit, too, while l thought
her a woman with u loving heart,
but 1 shall survive my disappoint-
meut. If thought there was any
danger of Miss Gray's Including
in any QuiXotic acts Of renuncia-
ton should take measures to pre-
vent it; but you won't find much of
such among women, believe me-"
And Mr.. Wilde began to think
the same as time went on. For six
months Marian went quietly on her
way, obeying-while the lawyer ac-
cused her of ignoring-the wishes
of the dead.
Robert was an apt writer and had
obtained employment ON the press,
whereby he made a living. Marian
rolled by him in his uncle's car
riage in the street. 1t seemed as if
the ungrateful cuckoo had pushed
the true bird out of the nest after
all. - nIa....
''Mercenary-mercenary to the
corew was Roberts reflection, as he
lifted his hat to his uncle's heiress
as she rode by, and admired, in
spite of himself, her sweet, pale
face. Looks as if there might be a
heart and soul behind those soft
dark eyes-looks like a woman to
love and be loved, but they're all I
alike mercenary to the very core!
And he was sensible of feeling
of disappointment over Marian.
"She should be a higher, truer,
better type of woman than Florence
was, if appearance go for anything
at all. She should have been will
ing to give up TO me the fortune. |
wouldn't have accepted the sacri ?
flee; but / could have admired and
respected her for being ready to !
make it. But they're all alike"
Reaching his lodgings he found
Mr.. Wilde waiting for him in ire
mendous state Of excitement, and |
holding an open letter in his hand.
Look here! just received this. /
Listenw
DEAR SIR: BE good enough TO /
call upon me at o'clock p. IN. ,
and bring Mr. Rushford with you. I
The will is found. l have sincere :
pleasure in placing the true heir IN
possession of his own at last. Very !
respectfully.
MARIAN GRAY.
"Where was it found2 Where was {
it foundS' cried Mr. Wilde, as Ma '
rian gave the document into his j
hands. Where on earth was 1t !
found my, dearr
ut was never lost" said Marian,
quietly.
And then she told them all.
"Old Mr.. Rushford knew Of his
nephews love for Miss Huntley, /
and did not approve it. Yet he
feared that to oppose it would only
confirm the fancy. He had great
confidence i'm me, gentlemen, and re-
vealed TO me his plans. knew the
contents of both the wills. During
his last illness he gave the trne one
into my care, with instructions TO
conceal it six months. by that
time my nephew will be thought OF
as a poor man, said be, and the
girl who fools him with a pretense
of love will show herself in her true
colors. This letter Mr.. Rushford,
will confirm my words; and it," she
added, timidly, III have sinned in
parting you from your love, oh, par
don mel Perhaps she may yet be
won, now you are rich again, and
Il but obeyed the wishes OF the
dead.
And in so doing earned my last
ing gratitude" cried Robert, warm
~. 'Florenceis not worth winning
can imagine no more miserable
life than that which must fall TO the
lot Of her husband. And 1t IS
worth more than the fortune to
know that in you i find a true wo-
man at last, whose heart and mind
do not belle her face, but one is as
| iovaiv "a the other