The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-24

against me, too2 I love youl Heal
me / refused to accede to my uncle't
proposition, though he threatened tc
disinherit me il would not marry you
l refused but Stephen had seen you
He knew you as I did not, and he
offered to take my place. Then I came
here, and without intending it,
learned to love-to worship you. Fol
Heavens sake, believe mel What dc
| care for the money! 1t is you want
If you will not marry Stephen, will you
marry mep My happiness depends
upon it, for I love you with my whole
soul"
She trembled from head to foot, bu,
she evaded his touch, and said, with
studied Indifference:
Il am sorry, Mr.. Thorne, but 1 can
not accept all you say on faith. Confess
yourself; it does seem as though the
money we're behind the persistent pur-
suit of my hand. Luckily, some of my
friends Lad heard of your uncle's sin
gular exactions. I appreciate the
honor his preference does me but ]
must decline it. There is no necessity,
however, of your suffering in con-
sequence. You have done your part,
and your uncle must know that you
can't marry me against my will"
Val stood before her with pale, i'm.
passicned face.
"You do me a great wrong" he said,
hoarsely. 81 love you as truly as ever
a man loved in the whole wide world.
| swear it II You must believe me, for
this is Gods truth. Tell me--is there
any way yp-there must be a way in
which can prove it to you"
She paused a moment There was
something in his voice and manner
which thrust conviction upon her, and
her whole attitude changed. She
turned toward him with sudden i'm
petuosity.
"Yes," she cried, "I will believe
you, Mr.. Thorne, if-if you are willing
to renounce your uncle's fortune for my
sake"
~ will do it gladly" he answered,
seizing her hand and covering it with
kisses. "My darling, my sweet little
darlingp
But are you willing, Mr.. Thorne,"
she asked, in voice that trembled in
spite of her efforts to control it, "are
you willing to formally make over to
your cousin your share of your uncles
money! There is pen and paper.
will marry you only upon condition that
you sign such contract"
Val had seized the pen while she
spoke. In few moments he had written
and signed this:
81, Valentine Thorne, do hereby
formally renounce all claim upon the
estate, real or personal, of my uncle,
Harry Thorne, and do make over, un-
conditionally, to my cousin, Stephen r
Thorne, any bequest or inheritance that
may accrue to me upon the death of the
aforesaid uncle. This act to go in force
lpon the day of my marriage with Miss
Lulu Welwyn.
"(Signed) VALENTINE THoRNE."
He put this into her hands, saying:
"This will leave me nothing but my
love to give you"
ut is cutie enough" she said, softly.
$50 and procure Witness" he said;
81 want it perfectly legal"
She turned and went toward the
loor, but she paused on the threshold.
The next instant, before he knew it
he had torn the paper in pieces and
thrown it at her feet.
~ believe you, VAL" she cried,
holding out her arms toward him, 81
believe youP'
He drew her to his heart with a face
that shone.
- will give up anything for you, my
love-" he said, in low tone. "There
is nothing in this world half so dear to
me as yourself, my own little treasure |"
Bnt he gave up nothing, in fact, for
old Mr.. Thorne, whom they agreed not
to inform any better, supposed his du
tiful nephew was merely acting in ODE
aience to his expressed wish, and
handsome bundle of stock aud bonds
was forthcoming on Vafs weddiue day.
81 shall do my counting by myself
next time" was Stephens observation;
and he carried it out with the best OF
results. Twelve months later he married
. charming girl whom, as he said, Provi-
ience had been keeping for him all the
lime