The Penn's Grove record., 1884-02-02
PENIS GROVE, n. J, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1884.

her hand beneath the mattress, olutched
the p and drew it forth. She must
not stop a 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 upon the Goals and
saw it shrivel into ashes.
The deed was done, and she had only
to 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 mar thinking
the will was safe until-until his death.
Two hours passed slowly to the soli-
tary watcher in the sick-chamber; then
the old man awakened, and feebly called
her to his side. Lola bent over him.
"What is it, uncler"
lola, 1 feel such a strange sinking,
think l must be dying" he NUT
tered, in a voice scarcely audible.
"Child, you nave Deen kind to me-you
have stayed by me, and did not desert
me as she did. 1t was only a little
~while-she might have stayed with me
to the last. Bend closer, Lola, while
l tell you. Once my heart softened,
and l made my will in her favor; but
it is all right now. You have all there
is. Biggs was in time. 1t is all right"
Flashes of heat and cold went over
the young girl as she listened to his
strange talk. She thought of the will
now burned to ashes that would have
given her an unquestionable right to
her uncle's w~ealth-and she with her
own hand had blasted her prospects
while seeking to wrong another.
With parched lips she asked hoarsely:
"Uncle, did you make a will after
after the one you made WREN l came?''
Eyes, yes, Lola; but it is all right
now. l have made another, giving all
to you again"
"What became of the other will, I'M
cle-the one in Jessie's ~favorp" she
asked in a strained voice, trying not to
show her trembling eagerness.
'Biggs kept it-said | might want to
burn this one and change back again;
but [ never shall. L could not if l
would; for, Lola, l am dying"
A shiver ran over the young girl as
she saw indeed that he was dying, and
all was lost. A groan escaped her pale
lips.
A wild look came into the old mans
eyes, and he began to jabber incoher-
emily. He talked of Jessie-again she
wa a little girl, and besides him; then
he would reproach her for leaving him
in his old age. Lola had begun to
to think that she must summon some
body, when a glaze came over his eyes,
then they slowly closed, and with a
slight shudder all was over.
Like one in a dream, Lola went to
call the servants. One thought was
uppermost in her mind-the destroyed
will. Oh, if she had only looked at it
before she committed it to the flamesl
Rut it was too late now for vain re-
grets, She had only II hope; perhaps
the old man was wandering in his
mind from the first IN what he said.
When Biggs was summoned, Lola
saw hun search beneath the bed for the
will; but he said nothing when he found
it missing. He did not for one moment
doubt but that the old man had caused
it to be destroyed, as he, Biggs, had
supposed he would when he had time
to think it over,
The funeral Of old Martin Dillon was
over, and with terrible suspense Lola
waited for the readingof the will. Her
worst fears were realyzed. Jessie was
mentioned as sole heiress, Generous
hearted Jessie offered to divide with
her, but Lola, not naturally d%epraved,
began to see that her punishment was
only just, and refused even the offer of
a home, which her cousin insisted she
should accept from her hands.
Lola Desmond went out into the
world alone, and bravely fought the
battle for bread. Purified by suffering, |
her life grew full of noble works and
when, a few years later, Jessie's hus-
band, two years a widower, sought her
out, and asked her to come to him and
comfort his lonely life, she thanked
her Heavenly Father that he had for
given her sin, and at last granted her
peace and happiness.