The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1883-02-03

| was suit lOls
e was i'll at tho time, and die
not meet him TIL the day of the fun
eral, when the will was read. "
The color deepened in her cheeks
and tho hands that had been hang
ing passively at her side, clasped
each other tightly, as if the remem,
branee OF that afternoon were still
uHpIeasantly vivid.
al did not wish to be present
but the lawyer insisted.
q" He might have spared me the
shame of 1t.
" The money was all left to his
adopted son, on ono condition
that ho married me!
If he or | declined to fulfil the
condition, all the money was to go
to charity.
q" 1t was cruel will" she said
speaking more slowly; "and though
| was a mere child, barely sixteen, |
telt all its injustice.
"Bertram Durward had been
brought up to expect it, only to gain
1t at last bamperlng with dull, un-
interesting child fora wife.
81 WAS hard.
"Don't say anything, for | know
what it was.
81 could have sank into the
ground with shame, as every body
present turned and stared at me !;
and his face showed only too plain.
ly how he took it.
sit may seem strange, but really
at the moment did not think SO
much of myself.
81 was too miserable at being the
innocent cause of bis bitter disap
paintment."
Gust what any one might expect
of you,' said Mrs. Osborne, deeid-
eddy; but Cecil shook her head.
81 was silly and romantic and |
had been SO in the habit Of eonsid-
ering him as hero who had only
to come and to conquer that the
thought of poor little insignificant
me coming In his way quite over
-, al.,- II .aa
"To make the story short, be first
omphaIically refused to agree to the
condition.
"Complimentary, was it not ?"
A faint smile played round her
mouth.
"Then, after an hour or two's anx.
lous persuasion from his friends,
and the lawyers arguments-I did
not know this Till atterwards-that
| should be left penniless, be began
to think better oft.
"The end OF it was that he pro-
posed to me that evening-ior so it
had been ordered in the willard /
accepted.
"By somo extraordinary argu.
ment | had, after hard battle with
my own pride made myself believe
that 1T was right.
awe had a solemn interview.
"Hc was very good to me, though
he must have thought me a terrible
fright, for had cried until my eyes
were so red and swollen l could
scarcely see out of them and then
was too shy to say word, and only
stood there dumb and uncomforta.
Bile,
"That night, before going to bed,
| went into the library to be a little
quiet and try and realize the odd.
ness of my position.
~ must have fallen off into a.
doze, for | was suddenly awakened
by voices.
81 was sitting on the window.sill,
and the curtains completely hid me
from the people in the room; but !
soon found out that they were Der.
tram Durward and the lawyer.
'Thcy were speaking of the mar
riage."
Cecil's face grew very pale and
her eyes troubled, and she stopped
Il secondj but, with gesture of
self disdain, she went on again.
any future husband was speak.
ing very bitterly Of the injustice
done him, and the misery OF being
tied to wife he could never love.
"The lawyer tried to console hum,
and learned that Bcrtram had
been very extravagant, and was 30
bampored with debt that he would