Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-27
JOHN REDFERN'S WILL.


"Mr Joyce, surely you do not-can-
lot mean what you sayP''
81 always mean what say, Mr.. Aims
lie; and, when | said Just now that
cannot permit your engagement to my
laughter Constance To continue, | am
Hot aware of having made any depart
are from the rule"
Mr.. Joyce. when he had anything un-
pleasant to say, always used formal and
stately piIraseology.
at Is only week to day." resumed
.he younger man, fix ng his dark eyes
On the merchant, ''since you, in this
gerry room. told me that nothing could
make youhappier than to give Constance
INTO my keeping. If you meant what
sou said then. what have L done to de-
serve this treatment to-day?"
Mr.. Joyce looked slightly uncOmforta-
Die for a moment. lifted a letter, and
aid II down again; but soon his ordi-
nary look Of seli-complacent superiority
came back.
Il must confess that am rather sur
priSed at your remark, Mr.. AiaSlIe," he
said. ''I have, If you will remember,
said nothing against you personally, ,and, =,
il yOu Will take the trouble TO think,
sou viii not, l presume, find much diff
Guilty III discovering the reason why that
which was desirable a week ago is not
equally 50 to day"
"if YOU allude to nay uncle's will
Mr.. joyce bowed.
Il was sure [ had not deceived N.Y.
self in the estimate of Mr.. Ainslie's
powers.'' he went on; II do allude TO
your uncle's neWly-discoyered WILL"
From which L am to infer" re-
turned the Young man bitterly, ''that
you accepted the wealth of John Red
fern for your daughter, and not Wilfred
Ainslie.''
You are really too subtle in your de-
ductions, - smiled the other, ''and must
pardon me if do not exactly follow
you. can say only this, that when, a
week ago. YOU asked Inc for my daugh-
ter's hand, believing you to be the in
heritor of your uncle's fortune of four
hundred thousand pounds, as well as of
the large hut poor estate of Redfen
Manor, which scarcely pays its own ex-
penseS. believe L had no objection to
give my sanction TO your proposals, as
the prospect for my daughter was all
that father could desire; but since
that time a will has been discovered by
which your late uncle-moSt eXtraordl-
naily, will allow-haS left everything,
except the estate, which, being entailed,
is yours 10y right, TO your cousin Lau-
renee Markham, the only son of his
Younger sister. This alters the case en-
I ,-aalIx- faaI for won vary InnPl
Mr.. Ainslie, but | cannot permit my
daughter to marry poverty.
81 should he the last 10 wish her TO
do so, replied Wilfred earnestly; "but
an far from an icIpating, even for
myself. the fate that is implied by that
word poverty i have inherited no.
thing from MY uncle, it is true, save an
estate which, as you remark, scarcely
pavs its own expenses; but L will try
10 get il let-the fishing and shooting
are gOod-so that it will bring in some
thing. and, for the rest. | can work. L
have youth. health, and streEgth-three
great advantages; and, if | can add to
these such an incentive as the hope OF
calling Constance mine, there is nothing
too hard for me to do. will work day
and night, and"
''Ah. yes, seel' interrupted the mer-
chant prince, surveying him with a cold
smile. "And for what length of time,
Mr.. Ainslie, do you purpose continuing
this unremitting tOllr"
''lf YOU mean,'' said Wilfred, looking
rather puzzled, show long our engage
ment might last, would say that in
two wears | should hope to be able TO
60 w
if not 50 large and magnificent as this,
yet should be one"
Winch she would not desplse. Quite
so-very satisfactory indeed. And now
may | ask you a question, Mr.. AinslieF
What can you dor"
The eager light which had kindled IN
WilFred's eyes at the auspiclous OPEN
ing of the merchants speech died ont,
and flush overspread his handsome
face
True. Mr.. joyce" :" he replied slowly,
"What can do2 Whenever | spoke to
my uncle of studying for any profess
sion, he used To say, 'Redfern will be
yours some day; learn to be good land
Drd-that will be profession enough for
you;' and now this is the end. Butt
more surely can do some
thing. An n. A. of OXford--"
lyon might take orders certainly, !"
broke in the other sarcastically. RED
t.rn is a fair living, is in your gift, and
the present Rector cannot live more
than ten Years. Perhaps 1t might be
worth waiting for"
PERHAPS. But, when L take orders,
| hope it Will be from some higher mo-
tive than that of waiting for an old
mans death. :"
Just 50; you are much to be CON-
mended. But unfortunately, Mr., Aims
lie. L see nothing else; and you must ex-
cuse my saying that | object to this
rather hopeless prospect for my daugh-
ter.''
"But if she should herself wish, - be-
gan Wiifred, with despairing clutch
at the last straw; put his auditor did
not let him go on.
"You are only wasting time-yours
and mine-by urging these consldera-
tions. The engagement must be en-
tirely broken off. As said, l am very
sorry. for will not conceal from you,
Mr. Ainslie, that have very hign re-
gard for you; but my chlld's welfare
must be my first thought.
What Wilfred's first thougnt oi
this paternal S sJlicItude was he did not