Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-10
1ales aud Sketfhts.
TIE OLD CHART.

TIE OLD CHART.
with all your fine courage you wouldn't
dare to spend an hour in the old Grange
alone after dark"
| II wouldr' cried Rilla, with flushing
glance at her fair, pale cousin.
| "Oh, Rilla, but they say it is haunted p
J faltered Bessie Sage, with little shudder.
| .sBy rats and owls" said Rilla, laugh
ing.
Miss Justine Penrynn, the helress and
beauty and also cousin of fearless. daring
Rilla Brooks, rapidly concocted little
plot, which should test the girls courage.
and also appease the spirits of malice and
spite harbOred in her own heart.
| She had no cause to hate Rilla, but hate
her she did. and with venom. She had
all heart could desire-or at least il
seemed so-youth. beauty, fortune and
friends BY the score, while her young
cousin lived in penniless obscurity. il
came about in this way.
Old Capt Penrynn had son and daugh.
ter. The son married to please his father
but the daughter married Ito please her
self. and suffered disinheritance in conse-
quence. She died in few years. leaving
baby daughter, and pleading, pitiul
letter to her father, who read it with tears
in his eyes, and who forthwith took charge
of the little girl-a brown eyed. dainty
sprite, who made the old Grange merry
with her childish laughter and pattering,
childish feet.
1t seemed that Capt Penrynn was
doomed to out-live all his family, tor his
son also died. leaving one daughter, so
he had only two grandchildren TO inherit
his wealth, and he made a new will.
dividing the property equally between
| them.
Two years before our story opens, he
died very suddenly; but when Lawyer
Sage searched for the latter will, 10! it
had vanished.
He was astounded he went through his
old friends private papers again and again,
but no will appeared, except one leaving
all to his son and heirs, forever.
perhaps he hid it," unused the puzzled
lawyer. IL remember just before he died,
he pointed toward that chart and tried to
speak. will examine it,"
| He took down the heavy chart and shook
it. and looked behind it. but only the blank
wall met his view. So he read the old
will, after an elaborate explanation to the
assembled friends and relatives. and JUS
tine listened with secret exultation, and
Rilla with some pain and bewilderment.
| Miss Penrynn returned to town without
offering even small portion of the estate
te her cousin.
"a mean, heartless. stingy thing ~
cried Bessie, Indignantly.
Her father secretly agreed with her.
He could not see pretty impulsive Rilla
turned adritt on the world, and took her
home with him, to finish her education
with Bessie and to help teach the younger
children.
She had lived quiet, busy, happy life
there until Paul came out to the village
to spend the summer hunting and fishing.
It was by the doctors orders he sought
the healthful quiet of country life. and
after making acquaintance with Lawyer
Sage's family. he ceased to groan over
the dizziness of his existence.
He had not been in Hartwell more than
a month, when Miss Penrynn came down
for few days. She wished to consult
dear Mr.. Sage about some investments.
aud she cody announced that she would
stop with them. and her Paris finery and
uuiohVu VOtluiJ StoSOo HuiVO OSCI oHbu
owed Rilla and Bessie.
The few DAYS had heightened into three
weeks, and they had been weeks of torture
to poor Rilla, for she had not only to en-
dure halt yelled taunts and cutting ma
lcious stabs, from the velvet tongued
heiress, but her poor passionate heart suf-
fered an agony of jealousy. Justine
stepped in between her and Paul Daver-
ant. She claimed his attention almost as a
right, and with a fine assumption of care
less indifference, he allowed her to do it.
Perhaps it amused him. perhaps it
pleased him; Rilla thought the latter. and
blushed scarlet with shame and indigna-
ton to think that she had given her heart
to man who cared nothing for it.
| She grew cold in her manner toward
him, and avoided his society so persistent
| ly that he must have noticed it, though he
made no sign. But she was miserable
and half reckless, and rather fancled the
idea OF spending a night at the lonely old
Grange. which had not been inhabited
since the Captains death.
Perhaps it was haunted, as some of the
ignorant country people said, and perhaps
something would happen to her. and then
she would never have the heart ache any
more.
Suppose you 90 tonight" said JUS
tine after few minutes thought. 1--WE
can leave you as we go on to the party,
and call as we return"
'But Mrs. Williams said she wanted
Rilla to be sure and come and then |
want her to enjoy the party"
"Nonsense II is sure to be dull at.
fair; and then Mr.. Daverant has gone to
the city today. Our dear Rilla would not
enjoy it unless"
81 am sure you are altogether mistaken
but care nothing for the party. and-yes
l will STAY at the Grange tonight"
"Oh, Rilla don't-mamma will be ST
angry" pleaded distressed Bessie.
"She must not know it until afterward
and then it will be only JOKE" said Jus
tine. AFTER all. Rilla's heart will fai
her when the time comes.
Not so. it is made of tougher material
than that" said the girl. coldly.
at lisp Thought it was rather soft ant
weak"
Did youe That proves that even yor
can make mistakes sometimes" AnC
Rilla met her Cousins knocking eyes stead
lily.
That evening Miss Penrynn held quite
a conversation with her MAZDA CONVEX
| sstion made IN of terrified protests on one