Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-11-22

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true? We shall see-for, if they are,
poverty will not part them!
When she lay down to sleep that
night the lost Will lay under her pill
low, and a sealed letter beside it, adj
dressed to Robert Rushford Marian
kissed that name before she went to
sleep
''He will forgive my sin when ne
reads this letter, she thought u do
but obey the dead
All the next day the will lay warm
in her bosom, while Robert and Mr.
Wilde searched carefully and YEARLY
through the house. 1t was hard to
see his disappointed face, and feel that
she could make all well SO easily.
81 must obey the dead she told
herself II must obey the dead p
At last they gave up all hope Of the
lost will. Robert resigned himself to
what seemed TO be a hard fate, and
Miss Gray was declared to be Gerald
Rushford's lawful hGiress. Mr.. Wilde
made no secret Of his disgust.
There might be some arrangement
made by which you could fulfill the
wishes of the dead, Miss Gray" he
said. II Judge you are hardly one to
play the cuckoo by pushing the true
bird out of the nest in order to occupy
il yourself. lean remember the terms
Of the second will.
To this broad hint she replied, quiet
ly: ''The will may yet be found, sir
Excuse me if ] hesitate to tax your
memory while chance remains. Be
lieve me my most earnest wish and
endeavor is-to obey the dead. "
He did not understand.
"She puzzles nae, he said to Robert.
"But somehow fancy she'll give you
your money after all yes, ! do be
lieve it.
80 do not /, replied Robert
Women are so mercenarY See how
quick Florence Huntley has thrown
me over. 1t was worth the loss of
fortune to find her out. Fancy mar
rying a girl in the belief that she
loved you, and afterward discovering
that she only wanted your purse
That would have been my fate had |
got the fortune. / was hard Int, too,
while | thought her a woman with a
loving heart, but / shall survive my
disappointment If / thought there
was any danger of Miss Gray's indulg-
ing in QuixOtlc acts Of remuneration
| should take measures to prevent it;
but you won't find much of that kind
of thing among women, believe me. p
Mr. Wilde began to think so as
time went on. For six months Marian
went quietly on her way, obeying-
while the lawyer accused her of ig-
noring the wishes of the dead.
Robert was an apt writer and OF
tanned employment on the press,
whereby he made a living Marian
rolled by him in his uncles carriage
in the street 1t seemed as if the I'M
grateful cuckoo had pushed the true
bird out of her nest after all.
'Mercenary -mercenary to the
core !" was Roberts reflection, as he
lifted his hat to his uncle's beiress as
she rode bv, and admired, in spite Of
himself, her sweet pale face. Looks
as if there might be a heart
and a soul behind those soft, dark
eves-looks like woman to
love and be loved, but they're all
alike -mercenary to the very core! r.
lie was sensible of a feeling of dlsap-
poiutment over Marian. She should
be of higher, truer type than Flor
ence was if appearances 60 for any
thing at all She should have been
willing to give up to me the fortune.
! would have accepted the sacrifice,
but l could have admired and respect
ed her for being ready to make it. But
they are all alike,
Reaching ms lodgings he found Mr..
Wilde waiting for him in a tremend-
Gus state Of excitement, and holding
an open letter in his hands.
Look here Just received this
Listen
DEAR SR:-Be kind enough to
call upon me at 7 p. m, and bring
Mr.. Rushford with you. The will is
found. / have sincere pleasure in
placing the true heir in possession of
his own at last Very respectfully
MARIAN GRAY
Where was it found4 Where was
it foundl' cried Mr.. Wilde, as Marian
gave the document into his hands.
Where ON earth was it found, my
dear.'
1T was never lost, said Marian,
quietly. Then she told them ALL
"Old Mr. Rushford knew of his
nephew's love for Miss Huntley, and
die not approve Of it. Yet he feared
that to oppose it would only confirm
the fancy He had great confidence
n me, gentlemen, and revealed to me
his plans / knew the contents of
both Wills During his last illness he
gave the true one into my care,
with instructions to conceal it
six months BY that time my
nephew will be thought of as a poor
man. said me, and the girl who fools
him witha pretence of love viii show
herself i'm her true colorS. This let
ter. MIR Rushford. Will confirm my
words and if, she added, timidly,
"it l have sjnned in parting you
from your love, OH, pardon me, Per
hapS She my yet be won, now YOU are
rich again, and IL but 0beyed the
/ wishes of the dead
And i'm SO d0ipo earned my last