Daily Republican., 1884-04-12
Elsie Grayhurst's Fortune

tIs|c bFaynu|aS foIlun(
BY BDRTHA BRRTON.
Elsie Grayhurst had searched th
columns of wants In the daily papel
till she was about discouraged.
There seemed no place in the grea
city whore, for labor freely given, sh
might receive home and rsasOnabl
compensation.
She had applied for position As booh
keeper, then for . place - composite
or copyist, but there was always som
one In advance Of the shy, young girl
still, she must keep trying, and on th
morning Of which I write, there was
housekeeper wanted, . housek eeper TO
an elderly gentleman on Clinton ave
nue. and Elsie Grayhurst was in ,
mood 10 desperate that she would hay
accepted any honest labor, despite tn
small, white hands and slender forIr
that would surely have rebelled sgains
rough work.
Elsie Grsyhurst had been turned on
Of luxurious home and thrown upor
her own resources BY the death Of hel
aunt.
She had lived at Maplewood, th,
beautiful country residence of MissH Hell
On Danforth, ever since she could 70
member, for her parents had died In hel
infancy, and Elsie had been loved and
reared 80 tenderly, that the suddsr
awakening TO life Of toll and hardship
seemed very bitter, though 1t was only
what fallsto the lot Of many.
Helen Dsnforth had died suddenly
and the only will that was found, be
queathed her vast possessions to kogel
Dunmore, her cousin, who the year be
fore her death had made Q prolonged
visit at Msplewood.
Roger Dunmore was man OF thirty
with dark, sinister-looking face, snd
keen black eyes that seemed to pene-
trste the very wall but though he had
during his visit, treated Elsie with the
utmost politeness, she felt an instructive
distrust Of him which she could not con.
quer,
Her aunt had very high opinion Of
his goodness consequently Elsie dared
not breathe her suspicious.
She came upon him hastily and un.
expectedly one evening as she went to
replace book in the library.
II was late and he had her aunt's
private cabinet open before him.
He was writing, but arose quickly,
saying that cousin Helen had desired
him to copy . paper tor her, and that
he had just finished IL, then, inquiring
II his cousin had retired, he spoke OF
seeing her In tho morning, and left the
room, whileElsie felt that 1t was pretext
10 mislead her.
Ho wever, she could not contradict
mis- apparent straightforward state
nent, and she never mentioned the in.
cident to her aunt.
Afterward, In Miss Danforth's sud.
len death and her own great sorrow all
recol Election of the affair was banished
rom her mind.
When Mr.. Stoddard, the attorney
who attended TO the settlement of Miss
Dantorth's estate, found the will he
poke to Elsie about 1t, but her aunt
lad never told her nnyi hing definite.
She had said that she should remem-
Der her In her will, that was all.
But the lawyer knew that he had
Drawn up q will that was wholly un-
ike the one which he had found, and
hat IL mad borne q la ter date but ~
here was no trace OF It's existence the
'Da that gave all her possessions TO her
'ousin had to be accepted.
All that this document gave TO Elsie
vas Miss Danforth's wardrobe
Ipd her family Bible, and thore was
no alternative for the tenderly reared
Iirl but to earn her living.
The old lawyer offered her "a home
,Dtil she could find something 10 do
md Elsie packed her trunks with sad
leart.
Her aunts wardrobe was rich and
'ostly, but unsuited to her years. Mol
me else would care for it, however, and
ne packed it carefully away but tho
id Bible that had lain 80 many years
lpOn the little table in the corner of the
itting- room she priced, fJr it had been
cad and re- read by her aunt Helen till
t showed the marks of constant use.
Her aunt had covered it with smooth,
leavy paper one dsv, saying she would
ry 70 mike 1t last as long as she lived,
nd Elsie haudled the ponderous vol
me with reverent care.
Then she went from room to room,
aking last look at the objects that were
ndeared to her by the associations OF
ally life.
Her home never more, she thought as
he fingered in the dear old halls, for |
.oger Dunmore was going to sell the
lace.
Mr.. Stoddar's home was in the city,
nd thither went Elsie, to stay until she
'und work; although the lawyer and his
ind hearted wife gave her o cordial
elcOme, she was unwilling TO be de-
endent, and day after day kept up an
search.
1t was lovely morning early in sum-
Ter. The trees were dense with foli-
60 that rustled in the light breeze the
lnbeanls fiickered through the Quiver.
lg greenness joyous birds twittered
Verhead. Surely nature was In buoy
1t mood and as Elsie GrayhurstI
alked briskly toward Clinton avenue,
10 felt an elation of spirit notvith-
anding her lonely situation. Ii
1t WAS further than she thought, but
10 reached 1t at last.
She asoended the marble steps, but
fore she could ring the bell q gentle
An opened the door. He WAS q large,
,ble looking, elderly man. His full
lie whiskers we're gray in color, and
Isle thought she had never seen q |
ce more pleasant in expression than
e one that beamed benignantly down j
ION her and emboldened by a mien
gracious she made known her e.
nd. l.,
" Yes, advertised for a house. (
eper," the gen tleman said, but, my q
lid, expected some one Of maturer E
ars. Have you had any experience ? '
~ look too slight to have the care Of .
eat house resting upon your shoul-
RI. But come in and we will see" as
noted thelook of disappointment that
tted over the fair young face, and FL
J followed through the lofty, dimly
,hted hall that mntely evinced the
andeur of its pOasessor.