Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-09-04

Alter considerable oppos.a Grace
carried her point. alth0" . IL was
much to Ronald's vexation u. spirit.
"What will Reggie think OF itp" he
asked Indignantly. "He'll think me a
mean cad to keep 1t from him for an
hour"
II will make it right with him, I"
answered Grace.
"You speak like one having author
ity. Oracle" said Ronald, giving her a
keen glance, which discounted her
for an instant. But she rallied quickly.
II shall tell him we wanted to add TO
his happiness, by keeping such Il
pleasant surprise in store for him."
The important time had ut last ar
rived which was to decide whether
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 it ran:
81, jasper Sylvester being in good health
and sound mind, declare the properties men,
toned in my will as beqneathed TO my grand
son, Reginald Sylvester. TO be his only on
condition that nc snail seek out tho direct
heirs of INV early friend and benefactor,
Stirling Macleod, of Sunny Brae, Scotland;
able age, that he shall take her 10 wife. If
he disobey my wish, his inheritance shall be
forfeited 10 the young lady aforesaid.
JASPER SYLVESTER"
Reginal rose to his feet rs quietly as
in the balance.
II 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, if anything, en-
HANGED by her agitation.
Il am young and strong. Grace, and
/ will work for you. We don't care
for riches as long as 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 responsibility; and "Gracie!"
and "Grace! also came in surprised
tones from Ronald and Blanche.
II was shocking to them to have
Grace appear in such mercenary
light. But Grace was too exc.tcdly
happy to care. She absolutely beamed
with mischief.
"And, Reginald" she continued,
''people will say that your are marry
ing for money, il you take me-"
what do you mean, Gracep Ex-
plain yourself, or shall think we are
all going TO become unbalanced in
mind. You arc rs poor rs l am"
mo, Reginald. you are mistaken.
Isn't he, Ronald?"
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 il. She kept it as n sur
prise TO counterbalancc your expected
good fortune"
"And it comes al the better, dear
Reginald, now that you have resigned
wealth for my sake, that can tell you
that Ronald, Blanche, and l are all rs
rich as you ought to be-"
IL was no longer Grace, the mis-
cheivous sprite. who spoke; twas the
Grace he had so long loved and who
loved him.
The man of law had been overlook I'd
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 10 the heirs of the
gentleman therein mentined. They
may all be in the male line. In that
case there could be no disobedence on
your part"
This speech. delivered with due
gravity, was received with the respect
it deserved.
1t would be easy for Reginald to
keep silent rs long rs h, had thus
given public utterance to his real SEN
timents.
Strange TO say it was found. upon
inquiry, that Stirling Macleod had
left no direct heirs-his two sons hav-
ing been killed in the battle of Bala-
klava.
So Reginald was not stripped of his
inheritance after all.
But Grace mas the proud pleasure of
knowing that for her sweet sake he
would willingly have made the sacri-
flee.