The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-01-12
The Stolen Will.


that his days were numbered, the
first thing be said to his attendant
was.- ..> >.
s'Send for Miss Work; 1 must see
Effie Work before I die"
Singular as the demand was, no
one thought of questioning it. Miss
Work was sent for.
Efie turned quite white when the
strange, imperative. summons first
came and she was told that he who
sent twas dying.
"Dyingl" she whispered, her blue
eyes dimmed with tears.
"What can he want ? Shall you
20, Effie!" asked Pauline Ruble who
was visiting her.
"Oh, yes, yes. Poor old man! ]
am so sorry for him !! Certainly ]
| will 60"
But am so frightened, Pauline.
81 never saw any one die"
The pretty childish creature was
trembling from head to feet. Pau
line put her arm around the slim
figure and drew the golden hail
down upou her shoulder. She was
several inches taller than Effie, and
much handsomer in her own opinion
''Little fool!" she thought as sh'
caressed the pale face with her white
hand. "Of course it is something
| about Louis Van Wort" Aloud she
said insinuatingly, 81 had better &C
with you, dear. Don't you think so
"Oh, if you only would!" Efie
cried eagerly.
Mrs. Work was an invalid, anc
could not accompany her daughter
so she was glad to have Pauline &C
with her. As the carriage drove of
with the two girls she sank back up
on her couch with thoughtful look
''It must be something abou: hi
| grandson. lido hope Effie won't b.
silly"
The girls were shown at once int'
the sick mans room.
Il wish to see you alone, Effie, ny
child" said he, with a frown toward
Pauline.
"I'll wait for you in the next room
darling" said Pauline, and withdrew
"Mr. Louis has come, sir" the ser
want said as he was leaving the room
in obedience to an impatient gestur
from his master.
The night being warm. the win
dows were open. The sick room AM
the one next to it both looked on
upon a wide veranda, which ra
across the front of the house. !
was easy for Pauline to step out up
on this and go to the window of tn
sick room.
81 want to know what he wants Q
her, and she is such an obstinate Chi
sometimes, she might not. tell me.
81 have sent for you Efie, to as
You ifyou love my grandson tn
dying man was saying.
Efie, poor child, was trembling S
she could hardly stand.
"My dear, am dying or I woul
not ask you this question. If I di
without will my property falls. t
him as the natural heir; but the bo
has taken. to wrong courses lately
He CANDLES, L hear. This is a tast
he inherlts. 1t came near being m
ruin at this very age. But I prom
ised the woman 1 married that.
never would touch cards again if sh
would have me, and I never die
MY grandson loves you. In that
my hope. Am l wrong in thinkin
you care for him ?'' -
'Efie's lips opened, but she coul
not utter a word.
eff you love Louis, and promis
me that before you consent to mar
him you will exact from him the sam
pledge my wife did from me, he sha
be my heir. If not; the money go'
away from him. 1 want your ans
wer, child. My lawyer waits
make my will"
Effie burst into tears.
II do love him, I will promis
anything. But-what if he does NJ
care for me as you think?"
81 know he does. All ask Of "
. is your promise not to marry hi
till he has sworn he will never tou,
cards again. Give me your han
child, and say the words after me
Efie obeyed him. More calm
than might have been expected
: her nervous state.
"God bless you! You have ma
my last hours almost happy"
;. said, as he let her 90.