Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-22
(0RIGIHAL].
THE OLD SECRETARY,


| BY Rye hOSok.
When had concluded, Mr.. N. said
Now you would doubtless like TO hea
something relative TO the maker of tina
will, and to Its heiress, 10 II you hav'
time, don't mind telling you all tina
l know on the subject"
signitied my willingness to listen :,
all that he might have TO say and aftel
preliminary clearing Of his throat, h'
began.
Personally, ! was unacquainted
with Mark Warrene. The facts I an
about to relate to you were given me by
Mrs. Sherwood, the mother Of my eli
ent."
Many years ago there came to this
city from Delaware two young men
Mark Warrtne and his friend Louit
Sherwood here they located and began
their respective professions. StarwOod
was an artist and ~ il usually the case,
did not find art very lucrative mis-.
tress. Having concluded, however, that
two could better live on his slender in.
come than one-he married a beautiful
but poor girl. OF this union, was born
one child-the legatee of this will. AT.
ter five years of welded life and toll
and struggle, Louis Sherwood, worn out
In mind and body, was found one morn.
ing, seated In front Of bis beloved easel
lifeless mould of clay. A small sum
Of money was realized from the sale of
few pictures, and this, with her exer-
tiOns, the widow had for the support OF
herself and child.
In the meantime Mark Warrene had
studied the arts of merchandise, and
by diDt Of persevering effort had
amassed a large fortune, which enabled
him at the age forty to retire from
business, purchase an elegant home on
the hanks of the Schuylkill and take to
himself a wife. For ten years this
estimable lady lived happily with him,
then she died, leaving him childless.
This event occurred five years after the
death of Louis Starw God, and in look
ing around for some one to take charge
of his beautiful, but lonely home, Mark
Warrene naturally thought OF the widow
of his old friend. He had al ways aided
Starwood, during his life, by buying
his pictures and inducing friends to
purchase them, and at his death had
come forward and offered every aid in
his power that Mrs s,tAywood would
accept. 1t was not long before the
widow and her child were installed as
inmates of the handsome residence on
the Schuylkill, nor many weeks before
Mabel, then child OF ten, had gained
complete possession of the old mans
heart. She was bright and winsome,
and lovable, and never 30 happy AZ
when with grandpa Warrene," az he
taught her to call him. He claimed it
his right as the friend of her father to
give her brilliant education.
Although Mrs. Sherwood was very
proud and hesitated TO accept favors
she could not return. still she felt that
for her child's sake she should not
refuse the kind offer of their benefactor.
Accordingly the best instructors were
secured for Mabel that money could
command; she was literally supplied
W tn pocket money and costly clothing |
she accompanied the old man in his
various p !, asure trips over the country
and to Europe, and received all the
affection and respect that he would |
have accorded his own daughter.
The result of all this was that at
eighteen she was as brilliantly accom-
plished and beautiful as one could de- |
sire, and better still, she was noble |
and true hearted. Mark Warrene was
unafiec edly proud of his protege. |
Every ambition that he cherished was
conferred in Mabel, and he determined
10 make her his heiress.
He had but one near relative, q!
nephew; and at the time of his wife's |
lea; h, when he knew he would never /
have au heir of his own he had ex-
.cu'ed will in favor OF his nephew,
Although that yonng man was already |
provided with this worlds goods
That second will in Mabeps favor
\ las made, Mrs. Starwood testified, ~
ler into tn library. and showing her "A
oil of parchment, laid : "This is my
ecoud will, and in it ! btqueath 10
Mabel my entire property. The first
"il was made in favor of my nephew,
md it Intend to destroy"
Nothing more was ever said to her
N he subject, nor did she see the will
gain.
One evening Mark Warrene retired
o his room IN his usual good health,
nut when morning came and the tami y
gathered around the breakfast table,
lis chair was vacant--sOmething quite
for him, as he was the soul Of
Fifteen minutes passed
I'D he had not made his appearance
en- more licked slowly by half hour
truck Mrs. StarwOOd became alarmed
nd sent Mabel to his room TO inquire
he cause of his hardness. The young
irl knocked on his door and uttered |
ONE merry little speech concerning the
ateness of the hour and his bad habits;
hen receiving no reply she gently I
pcned the door and went in the apart
lert There she beheld the apparently
lteless form of her I'D friend stretched
pom the bed, his eyes wide open and
egarding her with look of beseeching
OTrOr Is
He had been seized with paralytic|
troke, and although physicians were
D restore animation, nothing awaited
e neither spoke nor stirred and at ,
unset his soul left its tenement of clay .
brewer. Within week his body was
orne to its last resting place IN Laurel
ill cemetery. :
After the funeral diligent search was (
Iade for the second will, but it could !
OF be found. The most thorough in
estigarion only revealed the fact that
he lawyer who drew up the will had r
cen killed in railway accident
hortly after, and that the two witnesses +
no came forward in answer TO an ad-
errisement testified to having signed a II
ill, but were ignorant of its contents. A
Ga the contrary, the first will IA lAvol
t the nephew was still extant. Mark a
Varrene had either neglected to destroy v
or finally concluded to allow IL to :.
xiSt in preference to the seGOld. As n
,atters stood of course the nephew was \
ne undeniable heir, and Mabel and her
lothtr were obliged to seek another |,
ONE. The nephew having no use for d
10 furniture sold it at auction and a