The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-05

| rived WnlCn was 70 decide Wnetn0r
Reginald was to be rich or poor.
The cousins were assembled together
to listen TO the man of law who was to
read the contents of the sealed note
upon which so much depended.
Thus 1t ran:
| 81, jasper Sylvester, being in good health
and sound mind, declare the properties men.
TONED in my Will as bequeath ned to my grand.
| son. Reginald Sylvester, TO be his only on
condition that he shall seek out the direct
heirs OF my early friend and bcnefactor.
Stirling Macleod, OF Sunny Brae, Scotland;
| and II he mud among them u maiden of suit.
able age. that he shall take her to wife. II
he disobey my wish, his Inheritance shall be
forfeited TO the young lady aforesaid.
JASPER SYLVESTER"
Reginal rose to his feet as quietly as
though his fortune was not trembling
in the balance.
81 refuse to fulfill the conditions i'm
posed upon me by my grandfather. -
he said.
Then he went to Grace. who was
trembling with excitement, but whose
girlish beauty was, II anything, en-
HANGED by her agitation.
II am young and strong. Grace, and
I will work for you. We don't care
for riches as long rs we love each
other, do wep"
"But riches are very comfortable to
have. Reggie. Think twice before you
resign them"
Can you say that. Grace" asked
Reginald reproachfully; and "Gracfe!''
and "Gracer' also came in surprised
tones from Ronald and Blanche.
/ ohnal>sno 20 90
Grace appear in such q mercenary
light But Grace was too excitedly
happy to care. She absolutely beamed
with mischief.
"And. Reginald" she continued.
'people will say that your are marry
ing for money. If you take me-"
"What do you mean. Gracep Ex-
plain yourself, or 1 shall think we are
all going to become unbalanced in
mind. You are as poor as l am"
mo, Reginald. you arc mistaken.
Isn't he, Ronalda"
Reginald turned towards Ronald,
who looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Don't blame me for not telling you.
Reg; it was Grace's fault. She wouldn't
consent to it. She kept it as sur
prise to counterbalance your expected
good fortune"
"And it comes all the better, dear
Reginald, now that you have resigned
wealth for my sake. that l can tell you
that Ronald, Blanche, and are all as
rich as you ought to be-"
1t was no longer Grace. the mis-
cheivous sprite. who spoke; it was the
Grace he had SO long loved and who
loved him.
The man of law had been overlooked
during this little scene. Now he came
to the front.
''Let me advise you to refrain from
either refusing or accepting the most
extraordinary request contained in Mr..
Sylvester's note. Let inquiries be first
made with regard to the heirs of the
gentleman therein mentined. They
may all be in the male line. In that
case there could be no disobedience on
your part"
This speech. delivered with due
gravity. was received with the respect
1t deserved.
1t would be easy for Reginald to
keep silent as long as h. had thus
given public utterance to his real sem
timents.
Strange to say 1t was found, upon
inquiry, that Stirling Macleod had
left no direct heirs--his two sons hay
ing been killed in the battle of Bala-
klaya. Z
So Reginald was not stripped of his
inheritance after all.
But Grace has the proud pleasure Of
knowing that for her sweet sake he
would willingly have made the sacri-
| flee