Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-24
John REDMOND's INHERITANCE

Thew were all assembled in the study
q, tho old Grange to hear the reaolhR
~ G}lhert Redmond's will. His widow
sat in the large, high-backed CHAIR OPP
nos;te the great square window: Inc
SUNLIGHT fell on a kind, sad face, full OF
motherliness, though she had never
known the Joys OF maternity. Near her,
and leaning on the manteiplece, slooa
her husband 3 nephew, John heomonu'
a tall, strong built man OF thirty years
with kindly, bright blue eyes, anu sun,
nv brown hair clustering over iole'
. head "a fair and smooth ~ maioeh b
His battle with life had left some line'
oround the finn mouth, when IN MS
hovhood must have been singulariy
sweet, though never etfemlnate'
Seen now with that grave, set expires,
sion. he gave one the impression OF
str6ne true manhood. But the power
of his face Law in his smile. IL was IRE
sistibly winning, ,o
Seated at Mrs. Redmond's knee was
her niece, Winnie Barton, 'he au0pto.'
daughter of the house A sligh1,
graceful girl of eighteen summers que
WAS perfect picture OF oiohue oeausy
reminding one forcibly, in her grlef, OF
the sorrowtul face of Beatrice Cehci.
Her great brown eyes were tull OF Years
and but for this she might nave Deeh
carved in marble, so motlonlesS ""'
she. ,o,l sor
With the addition 81 dozen ola ser,
wants. standing in sad ana respec"u'
silence at the further end OF lhe ap"r.'
ment nv group is complete. lhey
were awaiting the old family lawyer
Mr.. Weston. and dreary ~ the stiffness
was no one was in the mood W oie"N
it u,.;o voo .
Ten wears ago, when Winnie was y
child, and John Redmond you'h Vi
twenty. MS uncle had endeavored 10 H.
duce him to give up his scheme OF en-
tering medical college, promising
him a liberal allowance, and TO ac'
knowledge him rs his heir. But Johh
refused to sacrifice his independence
and the uncle and nephew paf'eu-,
with sad determination on one siae anu
command never to enter the urahso
on the other" ,,
"lf YOU are sick or in trouble you
will send for ME, uncle?" asked the
boy, wistfully, as he turned from '"e
stern old man. ...,,o,
But though he returned no answer
the words rang in his memory year,
after the bright young face haa paSSeo
from the old mansion.
John Redmond won fame II not ior'
tune from the world which he haa Gu
tered. A year before he died the olo
man sent for him, and when ne came
could hardly trace IN the bronzeu
bearded old man the boy he SO wen re-
membered But he was proud OF nun
and won reluctant consent tha' 1t
would make the old Grange his nome
at will not be for long, John:: Inc
grave will soon claim me-" he saio.
And it was so. One short year anu
the restless heart WAS set NJ rest lot
ever. Now for the last time would he
utter the wishes that had always been
as laws.
Steps we're heard approaching, and
in another moment the lawyer was
bowling gravely to the family. linen;
without further introduction, he reao
the will. Like most other actions OF
Gilbert Redmond's life 1t was eccentric
Toward the end he had conceived the
notion of marriage between John ana
Winnie. Although never hintlng ms
reason to the young people he hao
contrived that they should be much
together. His property was now TO be
equally divided between them IN the
event of their union. If either OF the
parties refused to comply with the con
ditions his or her portion was to go To
the other. In case OF both refusing
the whole went TO distant cousin.
With sundry small requests to irlencs
and servants this WAS the substance of
the will
The lawyer, taking off his spectacles,
approached Mrs. Redmond and COM
menced conversation with her in a
low key, kindly abstaining from no
tcing Winnie, who, with burning
cheeks, left the room as soon "a pos
sihle. Johns face, two, was flushed
and his manner tinged with embarres-
ment as he replied to the few ques-
tons put to him by his aunt, who told
him they would look for his answer
in three days; then he escaped to the
library with his friend, Percy Norton
There we will leave him and follow
Winnie to her room.
On entering she had flung herself in
to II wide, deep arm chair near the
window. The rays Of the setting sun
touched the bowed, golden head and
fingered there, lighting it mo still
bright glory. Shame, resentment and
wounded pride were struggling with
softer feelings in her heart. Kind rs
her uncle had always sheen, how could
he now be so inconsiderate How dared
he fling her at any mans head, and
least of all John Redmond's John
who had been her hero ever since they
had brought her nome, poor little
motherless babe, and his were the