Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-01-17
HER PUNISHMENT.

Hasn't the lawyer come yet, Lolap'
inquired feverish voice. at must be
hours since sent for him."
1T is only just thirty minutes by the
clock, dear uncle, since John started
TO fetch him."
The sick man groaned, and moved
uneasily upon his pillow. Perfect sill
ence reigned as the ormolu clock licked
away fifteen minutes more within that
darkened, richly furnished apartment
where old Martin Dillon lay, stricken
down with his last sickness. The fur
niture was of the costliest, the carpet q
thick pile of velvet moss. The windows
were darkened by the heavy crimson
brocade curtains, drawn closely togeth-
er. The old mans niece sat by one
window, her white face bedded in the
rich curtains, which she had pushed
aside just enough to enable her 10 see
out, her brain busy with the projected
visit of her uncle's lawyer. She Won
dered if it portended evil 10 her-if her
uncle thought to revoke former will
which she knew was all in her favor.
Had his heart softened toward her
cousin Jessie, who had married two
years before and gone south with her
husband. heartlessly deserving him in
his old age, as the old man peevishly
declared? And although sweet Jessie
Carleton had been brought up as his
daughter, and with expectations of be-
coming his heiress, the old man had,
in his unjust anger, made will leaving
all TO her cousin, Lola Desmond, who
had only been with him few months.
Lola felt slightly consoled for losing
the man she loved, who had preferred
Jessie, when she learned that her unclc's
vast wealth was to be hers. What if
this too were going to be lost to her
now? Her face grew dark at the
thought. Her medilatons were inter-
.rupted by a tap at the door, and rising
sharp and shrewd, who had been her
,uncle's lawyer for years.
The sick mans face frightened us
Biggs came to the bedside with soft,
.cat-like tread, and bent over him. His
eyes roved toward his niece.
Lola, you may 90, now, and leave
lus alone. | have important business
with Biggs. He Will call you as he
goes down." said the old man, feebly.
Lola arose and left the room. She
went down stairs, but Immediately tip
toed back aLa.n, and stopped, in
listening attitude, at the door of the
sick. chamber
She could hear very little distinctly,
but that was enough To cause her TO
clench her hands in anger and despair,
aud she crept away, fearing she should
be discovered. ana feeling that she had
heard all she cared 10 hear, when her
uncle told the lawyer he wanted to
c.an & DlS viii,
Like p Gagged tigrcss, Lola swept up
and down her room. Why. oh, why
were some to have everything, and
others nothing? Jessie had robbed her
of her lover, and now she would have
her uncle's wealth. while she must 90
forth again to earn her own bread.
Bitterly Mt that moment she hated her
absent cousin; she almost felt there
was murder in her heart toward her.
All, if she might but have that courage,
everything would vet be hers, perhaps
even the love of Clarcnce; and then the
GIRL grew cold, and shuddered, at her
own dark thoughts.
30 Heaven!" she murmured. 'Is
any brain turning, ihat l can think OF
such terrible tEingsP"
Then again grew strong upon her
desire TO bear of what those two were
talking, AID stealing back she listened
at the Ley-hole.
"Biggs," she heard the old man say,
-'put the will under my head between
the mattress and bed. 1t will be as
safe .here as anywhere"
al hoo ri bic onb EnaNv that RiUna
was about to depart, so tip-toed back
again.
A moment later she heard him call,
"Miss Desmond! Miss Desmondr' and
she fastened to her uncle's side.
This business has tired me, Lola"
he said feebly. 81 feel as if l could
drop asleep very easily. Sit yonder,
child, and remain with me. Don't
leave me as she did. You have been a
good girl to me the past two years.
And he had rewarded her by turning
her penniess upon the world again,
thought Lola, bitterly, as she glided to
chair by one of the windows and
gazed out upon the chill March wealth
er. with gusts of wind and fitful dashes
of rain against the window pane. How
cold and dreary and desolate every
thing was, thought Lola, quite in keep
inc with her own sad thoughts.
A fire had been burning upon the
broad hearth, and it was getting low.
Lola arose TO rcplenish it, when she
saw that her uncle was asleep-with
the paper that robbed her of his wealth
under his pillow.
.sWhat am / thinking aboutP" she
muttered, turning to the fire; but she
hesitatcd and turned back again; then
stepped forward, then, closing her lips
together with set, determined look,
moved stcathily toward the bed, thrust
her band beneath the mattress, clutch-
ed the paper and drew 1t forth. She
must not stop moment, no, not long
enough TO examine it, for fear she
might lack courage or opportunity TO
carry out her purpose. Steadily she
walked TO the fire, threw the paper up
on the Goals and saw it shrivel into
ashes.
The deed was done, and she had
only 10 await the issue, she thought,
her conscience already at work, as she
took her seat again by the window.
She could only trust to the old man
thinking the will was safe until-until
his death.
Two hours passed slowly to the soli-
tarv watcher in the sick-chamber; then
the old man awakened. and feebly call