News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-27
She gazed upon it long and earnestly.

Yes, you would rob me of all prize
and place it in the keeping of another
And will he lose Miss Muntley for be
$ ing poor What is her love worth
then? And is she so dear to him tina
: 1t will break his heart to lose her-as i
would mine to lose the one whom
: love? Whom love? Whom 1 love p
she went on, in the same low whisper
clasping her hands in a burst of anguish
"Whom l love, but who has no thought
for me Only for her-and will ny
action part them Is it a sin? vii
he ever, ever forgive me? Is it sir
to part true lovers, but are these true
We shall see for, if they are, poverty
will not part them -
When she lay down to sleep that
night the lost will lay under her pillow,
and 8 sealed letter beside it, addressed
to Robert Rushford; Marian kissed that
name before she went to sleep.
''He will forgive my sin when he
reads this letter" she thought "I do
but obey the dead"
And all next day the will lay warm in
her bosom, while Robert and Mr.. Wilde
searched carefully and wearily through
all the house. 1t was hard to see his
disappointed face, and feel that she
could make all we'll so easily.
81 must obey the dead" she told
herself, 81 must obey the dead I"
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 dis
gust.
"There might be some arrangement
made by which you could fulfill the
wishes of the dead, Miss Gray" he
said. ST Judge you are scarcely one to
play the cuckoo by pushing the true
bird out of the nest in order to occupy
it yourself. 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 I hesitate to tax
your memory while that chance re-
mains. 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 I fancy she'll give you
your money after all; yes, I do believe
it."
$50 do not l." replied Robert.
''Women are mercenary. See how
quickly Florence Huntley has thrown
me over. It was worth the loss of the
fortune to find her out. Fancy marry
ing 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
thought her woman with towing
heart, but 1 shall survive my disap-
danger of Miss Gray's indulging in any
Quixotic acts of remuneration, should
take measures to prevent it but you
wont, find much of that kind of thing
among women, believe me-"
And Mr.. Wilde began to think the
same as time went on. For six months
Marian went quietly on herswHy, obey
ing-while the lawyer accused her of |
ignoring-the wishes of the dead.
Robert was an apt writer and had OBJ
tanned employment on the press, where
by he made living. Marian rolled by
him in his uncle's carriage in the street.
1t seemed as if the ungrateful "cuckoo
had pushed the true bird out of the
nest, after all.
"Mercenary-mercenary to the core"
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 a soul behind
those soft, dark eyes-looks like
woman to love and be loved, but they're
all alike-mercenary to the very core r.
And he was sensible of feeling of
over Marian.
"She should be higher, truer, better
type of woman than Florence was, if
go for anything at all. She
should have been willing to give up to
me the fortune. 1 wouldn't have ac-
cepted the sacrifice; but could have
admired and respected her for being
ready to make it. Bnt they're all alike
Reaching his lodgings he found Mr..
Wilde waiting for him in tremendous
state of excitement, and holding an
open letter in his hand.
Look here Just received this.
Listen !"
DEAR SIR: Be good enough to call
upon me at o'clock p. m, and bring
Mr.. Rushford with you. The will is
found. I have sincere pleasure in
placing the true heir in possession of |
his own at last. Very respectfully,
MARIAN GRAY.
Where was it found? Where was
it found ?" cried Mr.. Wilde, as Marian
gave the document into his hands.
where on earth was it found, my dear ?''
"It was never lost" said Marian,
quietly.
And then she told them all.
"Old Mr.. Rushford knew of his
nephew's love for Miss Huntley, and
did not approve of it. Yet he feared
that to oppose it would only confirm the
fancy. He had great confidence in me,
gentlemen, and revealed to me his
plans. / knew the contents of both the
wills. During his last illness he gave
the true one into my care, with in
structions to conceal it six months.
By that time my nephew will be
thought of as poor man, said he, 'and
the girl who fools him with pretense
of love will show herself in her true
colors. This letter, Mr.. Rushford, will |
confirm my words; and if" she added,
timidly, elf have sinned in parting |
you from your love, oh, pardon me !
Perhaps she may yet be won, now you
are rich again, and II but obeyed the
wishes of the dead"
"And in SO doing earned my lasting
gratitude" cried Robert, warmly.
=" Florence is not worth winning. can
imagine no more miserable life than that |
which must fall to the lot of her hus,
hand And - ;a rvortI, y,ora than tho |