Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-16
Gales ano Skftfbts.
mUGa DARRgLL,s REVENGE.
Continued from Yesterday

and correct me II am wrong
Hugh shrugged his shoulders and re-
lapsed into silence.
later one of your frequent quarrels
with your aunt you went to the city. A short
time afterwards you wrote to her. saying
that you had fallen in with one Of your
fathers old seafaring friends. and that ne
offered to take you voyage with him,
reminding her that you had always long
ed for sailors life, and begging her
consent. suppose at that time her hands
must have been more than usually crippled
by rheumatism, to which she was always
subject, and if she refused, to write the
simple word. No"
MAY ask how Miss Ashley is so ac-
quainted with the contents of a letter ad-
dressed to Miss Darrell '''
1t was singing irony, but it fell point
less before the girls simple rectitude.
Her eyes met him so honestly that OAR
rell felt ashamed, and she answered:
Your letter was open among Miss
Darrell's papers. and l read it as | read
others, because the lawyer told me it was
nv duty. What want to tell you is this ::
Before your letter reached her, your aunt
had heard that you were starting for a
three years. cruise. She immediately
made new will. and your letter. when
it arrived, was laid aside unread, as were
all subsequent ones"
when do you suppose she read them?"
asked Darrell.
In view of the girls candid face, he felt
it was needless to ask who had opened
them.
TO my knowledge they were unopened
two weeks before her death. l think it
must have been one of her last acts while
she was able to move about her room.
think she must have been greatly agitated
at hnding she had wronged you, for she
was very fond of you. fancy she lay
and broOded over it, wanting strength to
do more than that. | am sure she meant
to change her will-perhaps she imagined
that she had already done so-for her last
words were: my boy Hugh-after all,
he shall have his fathers home"
.And you tell me this-you-" said
Hugh, hoarselv.
Helen laid her hand lightly on his arm
and answered serenely:
II tell you this, and tell you that you
must take back the property that ought
never to have been mine. 1t Is yours in
Justice, and it shall not be mine in law
much longer. can make it over to you
BY deed of gift. and in taking it you will
be fulfilling your aunt's last WISH"
Hugh had been warned of Helen Ash.
ley's artfulness and insincerity. had been
told that she was finished actress; look
ing down into her earnest eyes, he muir
mured
If this is. acting it is superb
"Trv me, and see il it is acting" she
,,Ia,laA nacsin0ofo1v of
fer. No one will rejoice more than / to
see Darrell at Dangerfeld again. The
inheritance of your race-your old home
that you love so well, and that you lost
through cruel n,istake-you will take it,
will you notp"
He stepped back and answered. coldly ::
Either you are playing part or you
are offering me charity. In either case
my answer is-NO."
You will not take it? Is it fair and
manly to hate me for wronging you, and
give me no alternative will not keep
your properly. 1t is a burden to me. 1
will find some way of making you take it
back. and until then am only your stew
ard" With which burst of anger she
turned and left him.
Such charming vision passed Darrell's
window daily nova vision of a sweet,
piquant face beneath its picturesque riding
hat, a graceful rounded figure. swaying
easily to her horses gait, and two dark
gray eyes that never failed to flash look
sometimes sad, sometimes of gay defiance
at Hugh's closed shutters as she rode by.
Little did Miss Ashley know that not one
of those glances was lost on the unseen
witness of her morning rides.
"A bonnie Lass said Hugh's old house
keeper, one day, As she passed. land good
rs she is fair"
why did you leave her, then, to come
to me. who am certainly neither good nor
fair ?" asked her master. sardonically.
.'Ah, she's not my own BARN. that |
held in my arms as babe. have served
the barrels over long to take service with
stranger, though it's u kind mistress
Miss Helen is"
Then she has not won your heart from
me as she did my aunt's?''
Never believe that. Master Hugh. -
said the old woman warmly, my mis-
tress cared for none but you TO the end.
As for the will. that were made before
ever she set eyes on Miss Helen. She
were bound to disinherit you, and Miss
Helen were the daughter of her oldest
friend. Ai;erward she sent for Miss
Helen TO come and live at Dangerfield,
and told her what she had done. She
were going to add postscript like to say
that if ever Miss Helen gave you penny
she would forfeit the whole of it. But
my young lady would have none OF that
Leave your money to whom you please,
said she; i don't ask you for il. But
don't burden it with any such conditions.
Ii it is to be mine. want il TO he mine to
do what choose with.
MY old mistress she laughed and said
by the time the money came to Miss Helen
she'd be in no hurry to get rid Of it. The
barrels was most long lived. We all
thought old mistress was good for twenty
years more"
The next day Hugh watched in vain for
the bay horse and winsome rider. and the
next. and the next Then he heard that
Helen Ashleywas i'll. His old nurse told
him this one evening and went on to con-
slider the chances of her masters Inheri-
lance in case of Miss Ashley's death, al
though she admitted that as yet there was
no danger.
Hugh. though by no means fanciful. sat
till late that night thinking with horror OF
the possibility.
His old home would be hateful to him,