The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-09-15
THE LOST WILL.

Old Gerald Rushford was dead and
buried, and all the dear friends were in
state Of establishment and consterna-
ton over his viii, for it named his pet
and protege, Marion Gray, his sole
heiresa, while his nephew, Robert Rush
ford, was not even mentioned.
'There is some strange mistake"
Mr. Wilde, the lawyer, said. "There
was later will than this drawn up after
MIR. Robert came home, and leaving the
bulk of the property to him. In 1T Miss
Gray was gene ously remembered, too;
but this one which makes her heiress.
was made while Mr.. Rushford was igno.
rant that his nephew had escaped. |
supposed that this will had long since
been destroyed"
What caused you to suppose so ?''
was Robert Rushford's very natural
question.
The lawyer replied that his client had
)ld hlm-on the occasion Of his draw
ing up the second will-that it was his
intention to pnt the first one into the
fire,
"And thought he had done SO. l
never doubted but this WAS the latest
Will. 1t seems, however, that we have
got hold of the wrong document; the
other is still in existence somewhere.
We will have a thorough search for
it"
And until you find it, or if you fail
to find 1t, this one stands" said Robert
Rushford, quietly stating fact which
the lawyer was forced to admit.
Meanwhile, the heiress by the first
will and legatee by the second had sat
quiet and still. She listened with her
eyes cast down, but spoke no word,
while her friends and acauaintances
discussed her mot always quite inaudi-
bly,.
What a very awkward and peculiar
position for Miss Gray! What an OPP
portunlty, if the will did not turn up
to show her magnanimity and sense of
honor, by making over the fortune to
young Rushtord. Doubtless. IN such
case, be would be most generous to her,
and really, you know, to a girl CT Miss
Gray's birth and former position, few
thousand would be a fortune. What
vas her position? A daughter to old
Rushford's housekeeper, my dear,
brought up as a governess, or some
Ghlng-came on to visit her mother when
the old man was sick, and nursed him
50 tenderly and ekillfnlly that he could
not be persuaded to part with her again.
She has been as daughter in the house
ever elnce, and If young Rushford never
turned np-lt he had really been lost at
sea, as was long supposed-why, you
know, rich old men were eccentric, and
there would have been nothing very as
tonlshing IN making her his heiress
after ell. But now, 1T would be terri
ble. Utter ruin to the young mans
prospects III life. OF course his engage
ment with Florence Huutley would be
broken off. Florence was not fit for a
poor mans wife-a lovely creature-and
he SO Infatuated, my dear; it will break
ms heart to lose her."
And SO on the stream of gossip flowed
some portions of it finding It's way to
Merian's ears-until the searching party
returned, and announced that, as vet,
they had not found the second will.
There was marked increase of re-
spect toward Miss Gray after this intel
Igence; and some would have congratu-
lated her, but she checked them.
: 1t IS too early yet, she remarked,
with 2 sad smile.
But the gossips agreed that her
chances were favorable.
And If she really is the heiress, my
dear, why of course it's dreadful for the
young man-terrible-but still"
Public opinion was disposed to be
kind to the heiress IN any case.
She Is not over eager-she bears
her honors meekly-shouldn't wonder ii
she turns the fortune over to the nephew
after all ! was the comment of many
after they left the house and went their
several ways.
They would have judged differently if
they could have seen her that night;
locked securely in her own room, the
blinds and shutters closed, no eyes save
those of heaven upon her. She unfas.
tened her dress and drew a sealed and
folded parchment from her bosom-it
was the missing will; she gazed upon it
long and earnestly.
Miserable document" she whis-
pered. If | should give you to MIN
now, what ruin you would work for me-
Yes, you would rob me of all | prize,
ana place 1t III the keeping of ano' her.
And will he lose Miss Huntley for. being
poor? What is her love worth, then !?
And Is she so dear to him that it will
break his heart to lose her-as it would
mine to lose the one whom I love -? Whom
love Whom / love p she went on, in
the same low whisper, clasping her
nands IN burst of anguish. "Whom
love, but he has no thought for me.
only for her-and viii my action part
them? Is it SID? Will he ever, ever
forgive me? Is it sin to part true
lovers; but are these true? We shall
see-tor, If they are, poverty will not
part them ~
When she lay down to sleep that night
the lost will lay under her pillow, and
sealed letter beside it, addressed to
Robert Rushford; Marian kissed the
name before she went to sleep.
he will forgive my sin when he
reads this letter" she thought. IL do
but obey the dead"
All next day the will Law warm in her
bosom, while Robert and Mr.. Wilde
searched carefully and YEARLY through
all the house. TWAS hard to see his dis.
appointed face, and feel that she could
make all we'll so easily.
must obey the dead" she told her.
self. =" must obey the dead l'
AT last they gave up all hope of the
lost will. Robert resigned himself to
what seemed hard fate, and Miss GRAY
was declared Gerald Rushford's lawful
helress. Mr.. Wilde made no secret of
disgust
There might be some arrangement
made by which you could fulfill the
wishes of the dead, Miss Gray" he said.
Il Judge you are hardly one to play
the cuckoo by pushing the true bird out