The Iola register., 1885-12-11
STRONGLY TEMPTED.
The Generous Conduct of a Good
and Brave Girl

and Brave Girl
.'That is all that you wished to say to
me. aunt?''
That is all that / wished to say to
vou," the elder lady repeated, with
slight sarcasm. and Edwina felt herself
Herewith dismissed. She went ont of
the room and down the long staircase,
feeling strangely weak and helpless.
Some one came dancing in off the
piazza. for this was their summer home
at Broomfield. Edwina knew it must be
Kitty; but Edwina could hardly see.
Her eyes were still blinded by the weak
ness that had settled upon her while her
aunt was speaking. She did not call to
her cousin, as she might have done an
hour before; she did not look at her.
She did not wish to see any one just now
kitty least of all. But Kitty, haIting.
saluted her with blithe s.Ncddie. my
love, stop bit; Iwant 10 tell you some
thing funny"
There was little similarity in their ap-
pearance. They were both fair; but
Edwina was out-and-out a Clay, tall,
slender, pale and reserved, while Miss
Carmichael had few. if any, of the
characteristics of her mothers family.
Plump and sandy was Kitty, trif1e
freckled. with bewitching dinples, a
saucy mouth and divine Irish-gray eyes.
BY nature she was as rollicking and inn
petuous as her late father, Colonel Car
michael, whom her grandfather Clay
had never forgiven for running away
with his youngest daughter. Kitty's
paternal Inheritance of good looks and
good nature had been greatly to her ad-
vantage in worldly sense. She had
this. and this only, to blame for the
manner in which her grandfather had
treated her in his will The old gentle
man had died something over year
previous, leaving the bulk of his large
fortune to Edwina, ''only child of his
late son Edwin" while to Kitty he had
left only miserable little stipend, barely
enough to support her. Grandfather
Clay had never been reconciled to Char
lOtte. his youngest daughter.
Kitty had borne her ill-luck with
philosophical good humor, and con-
tnacd to reside, as previously, with her
maiden aunt and cousin. for both girls
were orphaned these many years. Ed
wilma was generous and had thought the
will unjust
Never mind, Kitty" she had said,
'.you shall have a dowry when you
marry; meanwhile l want to arrange
you a little extra pin-money."
..Dowry is all right" said Kitty, s.but
never mind the pin-money." And it
was with difficulty that Miss Clay could
prevail on the proud little creature to
-ccept what was by rights only her own.
But Miss Carmichaers thoughts were
FAR enough from the subject of unjust
wills rs she hailed her cousin there ON
the staircase.
Edwina descended the aiming
steps, looking paler than usual.
What is if?'' She asked. slowly.
But Kitty's sharp eyes noted some
thing amisS.
..Neddie," she cried. s.what is upe''
Nothing" said Edwina, family. Il
Il don't feel quite well. Aunt jose
phine has been talking to me; l think
] will lie down awhile"
Him! if aunt has been talking to
!ou should suppose you'd need to lie
down and rest" said Miss Carmichael,
Grily. 'I'll see You again by and by,
Ned" And she turned like a young
squirrel and whisked herself out again
into the open air.
Edwina entered the drawing-rcom
and threw herself upon the sofa. 1t
was dark and quiet, and no one would
interrupt her there. She would have q
chance to think over what her aunt had
been saying. Suppose it were authen-
tic. the will that her aunt had discovered
that very morning in its strange hiding
place, the old clock? And her aunt
seemed to think it authentic. Il
thought it best TO tell you at once Ed
wina," she had said. 81 will not show
you the will; have reasons. But it is
certainly your grandfather's handwrit-
ing, witnessed by the Bateses, father
and son, who called here a week before
father died, and sailed day or two
later for Europe. They have been
abroad ever since, you remember.
There is another thing: Your grand
father, just before he died, spoke Kitty
name and then the clockr We thought
only the clock should be hers. lean not
tell why l should have been impellcd
10 open that clock this morning.
Edwina. if this should be-if this calani-
ity should fall upon You, and l cannot
help regarding it as a calamity. / do not
consider myself wanting in affection
for my sisters daughter. as well as my
brothers, but Kitty is 50 different,
so little a Clay-if this calamity
should fall you shall share all that
possess, of course. But meanwhile you,
wedding is set for October; this is the
last of August. do not for moment
suppose that your loss of fortune would
affect your betrothed himself. but h;s
family. They are very proud, very am.
bilious; they may be even mercenary
Edwina, l have replaced the paper in the
clock, and spoken to no one Of finding it
Suppose we leave it SO until after YOU
wedding. You need not decide at once
think about it awhile. This, however, il
my advice" I"
Edwina went carefully over her aunt,
communication. Suppose it were true!
Suppose her Grandfather Clay, in some
strange, sudden rem0rse. had done thi'