The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-05

Charlie is almost the only one / could will
ingly see occupying my brothers. rooms
l thought she meant TO give me lesson
| II forgiveness, ard remained mute.
II wish YOU would read that aloud" she
said presently, handing me the letter she
had held in her hand all TIE time. This Il
what the letter said:
WASHINGTON, January Il.
Mas. NORA FAIRFIEID ROSESCRASS:
DHsE COUSIN-The year allowed for the
settlement q: your brothers estate has CX-
pirc'!. AMI ~ YET the will. Of whose existence
stjll ,io not despair, is not found. Il herciure
wish 20 isls0rin you that have decided to yen
the homestead ard all the property that
fOrtT-tNo ycars H.0 your brother 'npClsiyciy
w;licl 70 ne. ] have DELAYED action. hoping
that the ! discovery OF g later will would con-
firm yOU IL possession OF what IL yours IL
law and con ". and still hope by Dcquest-
However that may be, my own course IS
clear and UnaitCrable.
Allow me here 10 thank you for your kind
ness 10 my boy. Since his mothers death
left me homeless I hive found distraction in
public lie. but | have always objected to
my sons entering il. and have al Il personal
sacrifice encouraged his sticking TO the old
town. the old fr ends. and adopting nv old
profession Hope yet 10 return to end my
days amid the scenes OF MY youth. and shall
expect you TO welcome me back as a neigh
Dor. Dci.evc me yours sincerely,
ALFRED FAIRFIELD
As l finished as best could, Aunt Nora
uHfOldcd q document that she said was the
deed.
| just threw nv arms about her neck
and cried like baby, and she cried too.
thin. the first coherent thing said was,
''Chcr-Char-Char Will never forgive
me,'
Yes, he will,r she said. decidedly.
''HOw do YOU knOw:-did he say sO?"
''He said as much--he said Z great deal
about you"
"What:" l gasped.
80. that he liked you all the better for
treating him so ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS YOU
thought this place would become his
wrOngfully."
las though his having She place could
possibly make me treat him well.' l ex-
claimed.
He SAYS it has made some of the girls
treat him too well by half" Aunt Nora
said, dryly.
"Ah, | know who one of them is-tha
minxes.' cried. But, Auntie, did he
really say that he liked me-"
''N-o, not exactly" chow my heart sank)
she said that he loved you"
Aunt Nora"
Eyes. he did-and now. do1ry, can't YOU
part with that aspen: The life seems to be
pretty well shaken ont of it,"
| tossed the poor thing into the fire, and
snatched nv roses from the vase. Pretty
SOON Aunt Nora said goodnight and left
me to my Demonstrating dreams. | hope
l sha'n't awake and find it is dream.
THURSDAY NIGur.-AT HOME: didn't
find it a drean-at least the dream goes Oh.
1t was ten O'Clock this morning when
Aunt Nora and | sat down to breakfast, TO
the CONSERVATION of Phoebe, who had never
heen subjected to such irreTularitv before.
We We're just beginning our coffee when
Charlie appeared. | declare l thought
should sink through the floor. and wished
oh DIT hn ,,,1
shook hands with me, and said good
morning as cool as yOu please.
After PhRbe left the room, Charlie said:
Last night, late as it was, | took down
one of my uncle's volumes of Shakespeare
to recall the exact connection of the rose
with any other name.'" He didn't look at
me, but all the same grew hot and red al
fire.
"Did my uncle use any of those volumes
Just before he had the stroke:" asked
Charlie.
II think he may have done So" said
Aunt Nora. "a number of books lay
about the room, and if remember, some
of those volumes were among them.
Why"
Charlie drew a paper from his breast
pocket and rose to give it TO her, saying:
II found this between the pages of Romeo
and Juliette.'"
''Read it for me- left my classea up
stairs" said Aunt Nora. Besides, she was
trembling from head to foot.
Charlie read: "Feeling strangely unwell
tonight, wish to put into writing-as l
have so foolishly neglected doing-'ny will,
bequeathing to my beloved sister Nora all
of our fathers property, thus annulling all
previous wills made by me. The final dis
posing of the property leave to my sisters
sensible and charitable mind. duty for
which she. far better than |, is fitted. |
- l.
FORM"
The last lines were hardly legiblc. "The
date shows" Charlie said gently, "that it
was written the very night upon which he
was taken i'll. ] am very glad; my father
will be very glad"
"Dear brother" murmured Aunt Nora,
weening with bowed head. Glow thank
full | am that never even thought of going
10 law about the will. This is worth the
property n thousand times over-this, and
cousin Alfred's noble generosity"
We sat long silent. At last Aunt Nora
said: at truly seems more like fiction
than sober rcality-an estate given away,
q will found and will made in single
night"
"a will made?" said Charlie.
Eyes; before 1 lay down to rest made
nv will, my dear. | named few per-
sOnal requests and charities that l can
mature later, hut Won, Charlie. are my sole
heir. Hush with uDr9iSed finger
there are conditions. l stipulate that-if
You can stand so much of an old woman's
society, You begin aS once to make this
Your home-you can easily drive to ai1
from the Office. And another thias
don't speak yet-if Won should ever happen
to marry, / should like TO have Your wife
come. tOo-that is, if 1 approved your
choice"
"Will Won come. Hazel" Charlie said
and stretched ont his hand towards me.
| slipped mine into Aunt NOra's, and
s2d: IF Aunt Nora wants me-"
Then Charlie walked around the table
and kissed me. and that is how we were en-
gagged. We have been engaged all dav,
and it seems ages of happiness. Charlie
says l accepted Aunt Nora, and l say OF
course. because it was she who made the
avOwal. Bat if oTr lova-mailjng wasn't
ort no ioH our love is. [ EDDr that Charlie
is the most snlendid fellow in the world.
and | am 50 glad that his father takes after
him.
When the June roses bloom, am tn go
10 the homestead to live with-Aunj Nora.
". \. ErGmiRcF.
Lightning in the Tropics.