Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-13
John Redmond'S inheritance

They were all assembled in the study
ct the old Grange to hear the reading
of Gilbert r sdmond's will. His widow
sat in the large, high-backed chair op-
'site the great square window. The
might fell on kind, sad face, full of
otherliness, though she had never
1own the joys of maternity. Near her,
nd leaning on the mantelpiece, stood
or husbands nephew, John Redmond,
q tall, strong built man of thirty years,
with kindly, bright blue eyes, and sun
ny brown hair clustering over fore.
head as fair and smooth as a maiden's,
His battle with life had left some lines
'around the firm mouth, which in his
boyhood must have been singularly
sweet, though never effeminate.
Seen now with that grave, set express
son, he gave one the impression of
strong. true manhood. But the power
OF his face lay in his smile. It was ire
sistibly winning.
Seated at Mrs. Redmond's knee was
her niece, Winnie Barton, the adopted
daughter of the house. A slight,
graceful girl of eighteen summers, she
was perfect picture of blonde beauty,
reminding one forcibly, in her grief, of
the sorrowful face of Beatrice Cenci.
Her great brown eyes were full of tears
and but for this she might have been
carved in marble, SO motionless was
she.
With the addition of dozen old SER
wants, standing in sad and respectful
silence at the further end of the apart
ment, my group is complete. They
were awaiting the old family lawyer,
MIR. Weston, and dreary as the stiffness
was no one was in the mood to
break it.
Ten years ago, when Winnie was q
child, and John Redmond a youth of
twenty, his uncle had endeavored to in
-duce him to give up his scheme of en-
tering medical college, promising him
a liberal allowance, and to ackno wledge
him as his heir. But John refused to
sacrifice his independence, and the
uncle and nephew parted-with sad de-
termination on one side and command
never again to enter the Grange on the
other.
Ii you are sick or in trouble you
will send for ME, uucleP asked the boy,
wistfully, as he turned from the stern
old man.
But though he returned no answer
the words rang in his memory years
after the bright young face had passed
from the old mansion.
John Redmond won fame if not for.
tune from the world which he had en-
tered. A year before he died the old man
sent for him, and when he came could
hardly trace in the bronzed, bearded
man the boy he so we'll remembered.
But he was proud of him, and won q
reluctant consent that he would make
the old Grange his home.
"It will not be for long, John. The
grave will soon claim me-" he said.
And it was 80. One short year and
the restless heart was set at rest for
ever. Now for the last time would he
utter the wishes that had always been
as laws.
Steps wore heard approaching, and in
another moment the lawyer was bowing
gravely to the family. Then, without
further introduction, ne read the will.
Like most other actions OF Gilbert Red.
mond's life it was eccentric. Toward
the end he had conceived the notion OF
O marriage between John and Winnie.
Although never limiting his reason 70
the young people he had contrived that
they should be much together. His
property was now to Be equally divided
between them in the event OF their union.
II either OF the parties refused to COM
ply with the conditions his or her por-
tion was to go to the other. Ia case oi
both refusing the whole went TO distani
cousin. With sundry small bequssts e