The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-06
THE LOST WILL.
A STORY OF LOVE.

and all the dear five hundred friends were IL
a state ofastonishment and CONSERVATION ove
his will, for 1t named his pet and protege
Marian Gray, his sole helress, while hi:
nephew, Robert Rushtord, was not even men
/ toned.
"There Is some strange mistake" Mr.. Wilde
the lawyer, said There was a later viii
than this drawn up after MIR. Robert came
home, and leaving the bulk of the property
to him. In it Miss Gray was generously re
, membercd, too but this one, which makes
her heiress, was made while Mr. Rushtord
was ignorant that his nephew had escaped
| supposed that this will had long since been
destroyed"
what caused HIM to suppose so?" was
Robert Rushlord's very natural question to
which his lawyer replied that his client had
told him-on the occasion Of his drawing up
the second will--that 1t was his intention to
put the first one in the fire.
And | thought he had done 3d. | never
doubted but that this was the latest will 1t
ssems, however, that we have got hold OF the
wrong document the other Is still in eyis.
tence somewhere. We will have a thorough
search for it"
"And until you find it, or II you tail TO find
it, this one stands" said Robert Rushford
quietly, stating a fact which the lawyer WAS
forced to admit
Meantime the helress by the first will and
legatee by the second had sat quiet and still
She listened, with her eyes cast down, but
spoke no word
While her friends and acquaintance dis.
cussed her-not always quite lnaudibly-
What very awkward and peculiar position
for Miss Gray! What an oppcrtunity-if the
second will did not turn up - to show her
magnanimity and sense of honor by making
over the fortune to young Rushford! Doubt
less, In such case, he would be most generous
TO her. and really, you know, to girl of Miss
Gray's birth and former position, q few thous-
ands would be fortune. What was her posi-
ton, A daughter to old Rushfords house.
keeper, nay dear brought up for governess,
or sOmething-Came on visit to her mother
while the old man was SICK and nursed him
so tenderly and sklllfully that he could not be
persuaded to part with her again She had
been as daughter IN the house ever since,
and if young Rushford had never turned up
ii he had really been lost at sea, as was SO
long supposed-why, you know, rich old men
were eccentric, and there would have been
nothing very astonishing in his making her
his helress after all. But now-it would be
terrible Utter ruin to the young mans pros
poets in life. OF course his engagement with
Florence Huntley would be broken off. Flor
ence was not tit for poor mans wife-a
lovely creature-and he so infatuated, my
dear; 1t will break his heart to lose her!''
And so on, the stream OF gossip flowed
some portions of it finding its way to Marian's
ears-untl the searching party returned, and
announced that, as yet they had not found
the second WILL
There was marked increase of respect
toward Miss Gray after Tins intelligence, and
some would have congratulated her, but she
checked them.
at IS too early yet" she said, with sad
smile
But the gosslps agreed that her chances
were favorable.
And if she really is the heiress, my dear,
why OF course it's dreadful tor the young man
still"
Public opinion was disposed to be kind to
the heiress in any case.
"She Is not over eager-she bears her hon
ors meekly-shOuldn' wonder if she turns
the fortune over to the nephew after all" was
the comment of many after they left the house
and went their several ways
They would have judged differently il they
could have seen her that night, locked secure
ly In her own ROOM the blinds and shutters
closed, no eyes save those of Heaven upon
her. She unfastened her dress and drew
sealed and folded parchment from her bosom
It waa the missing will!
She gazed upon it long and earnestly. /
Miserable document" she whispered. "lfI
should give you to HIM now what rum you
would work me. Yes, you would rob me of
ali | prize, and place it in the keeping OF
another! And will he lose Miss Huntey for
being poor? What is her love worth, then
And Is she 80 dear to him that 1t will break
his heart to lose her--as it would nine to lose
The one whom lovey Whom l love Whom
love" she went on, III the same low whis
per, clasping. her hands in burst OF
anguish. Whom | love, but who has no
thought for me? Only for her-and will my
ever forgive me! Is it a sin to part true lovers,
but are these truey We shall see--for, if they
are poverty will not part themn'
When she lay down to sleep that night the
ost will lay under her pillow, and sealed
etter beside It, addressed to Robert Rushford
Marian kissed that name before she went to
sleep.
"fIc will forgive my sin when he reads this
etter," she thought 81 do but obey the
lead"
And all next day the will lay warm IN her
bosom, while Robert and Mr.. Wilde searched
carefully and YEARLY through all the house
It was hard 10 see his disappointed face, and
EEL that she could make all we'll 80 easily.
"uot oDcs Viz ASssi, toAu hCAoCll
must obey the deadp'
At last they gave up all hope of the lost will.
Robert resigned himself 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 made
by which you could fulfill the wishes of the |
dead, Miss Gray" he said. 81 judge you are
hardly one to play the cuckoo by pushing the
true bird out of the nest IN order to occupy 1t
yourself. | can remember the terms of the
second will"
To this broad hint she answered, quietly |
The will may yet be found SIT. Excuse me if
hesitate to tax your memory while that
chance remains. Believe me, my most earnest
wish and endeavor ls-to obey the dead"
He did not understand.
"She puzzles me-" he said to Robert, but |
fancy she'll give you your money