Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-26


"AIter things? I'd like to have hand
at that. But there's no danger. I've pre-
cious mind to marry Phil Fortescue. He's
not as fine lover as your Frederick, but"
Edwina could endure no more. II think
I will 20 in; it is time to dress for dinner"
she said, wearily.
She did not 90 at once to her own room.
She passed her aunt's door and went towards
the chamber in which her grandfather had
died, and where the clock stood in which
the paper had been found that morning.
She wondered how her aunt had come to
enter that chamber. 1t was usually kept
locked; all things remained as at her grand
fathers death. She turned the knob softly,
impelled by uncanny fascination. The door
was locked, as usual. Edwina now retraced
her steps and sought her own room, where
she threw herself upon the bed and covered
her face Miss Josephine Clay and Miss
Kitty Carmichael dined tete-a-tete that
evening, and Edwina was absent. She was
not we'll was the word she sent down they
might send her cup of tea, please.
1t was a considerable battle that the girl
was fighting outalone. Everything seemed
against her. She plainly read her aunts
wish that nothing be said until a 2r the
marriage. She admitted her aunt. Appre-
hension as to Frederick Montgomerys fam
iIy to be we'll grounded. She conceded that
Kitty would be practically as well off in re-
ceiving her great fortune month or two
later as in receiving it now. But, on the
other hand, truth, honor! Did not these
demand the instant wrestling of that paper
from it's hiding place in the silent chamber
yonder? Did not right demand that not an
hour should pass without Kitty Carmichael
knowing her true position?
Edwina was fighting out a bitter battle.
Thank heaven, she had courage to look in
the face of all possibilities, deprivation,
modification, even the breaking on OF the
marriage, even wreck and everlasting ruin.
The room was dark now, she had not light
ed the gas. The house was still, save that
Kitty was playing dance music in the draw
ing-room, playing softly, not to disturb her
cousin. Edwina stood upon her feet once
more. She opened the door and staggered
out into the hall. She knew that her aunt
had come upstairs. She went slowly to-
ward the latter's room and raped sharply.
II have come tospeak to youabout that
that other WILL" she said at once. '1-I
have made up my mind that Kitty should
know of it directly. There is no reason
for-for delay"
Miss Josephine replied with cold disap-
probation :-"I think we found several rea-
sons when speaking of it this afternoon"
There was moments silence. EdWina
could still hear Kitty playing softly in the
drawing-room below. Then she spoke again,
a little hoarsely: "However that may be,
I have decided. I have taken to consider
we'll; ; have looked everything in the face,
IL could not sleep tonight with this up
on nv mind. Will you give me the keys
to grandfather's room, that 1 may go for
paper"
The elder lady regarded her incredulous-
WSina ?" ~
II am thoroughly in earnest" said Ed
winia, in a clearer voice. "Will you please
let me have the key?"
Miss Josephine Clay had risen to her feet
certain wild look upon her face-a look
that only came there in extreme anger-a
look that at any time previous would have
caused her niece to tremble. But Edwina
returned her gaze without tlinching. The
elder lady's hand slipped slowly into her
pocket and slowly out again. One slim arm
reached out disdainfully. The key drop
ped upon the carpet between the two Wo-
men. Edwina stopped and picked itup.
'Thank you," she said.
Miss Josephine answered with coldness
more bitter than any threat: "Go your
own way. But, by and by, expect no sym
pathy from men'
Edwina flew from the room. 1t seemed
to her she must make haste, lest later she
should lose the strength now buoying her up.
With shaking hands she unlocked the door OF
that silent chamber. The light from the
hall made objects sufficiently distinct. A
moment later her trembling fingers had
closed upon the paper. She closed the clock,
came out of the room, and, relocklng the
door, ran to the balusters. "Kitty, Kitty"
she cried out, desperately; "come up here
quickly"
There was strange ring in her voice
not eXcitment, but exultation: victory
victory! The battle nearly ended! Kitty
came running up the staircase, with amazed
eyes.
"Come into aunt's room," said Edwina,
less steadily. Now that all was over, per-
haps would come reaction.
"kitty," said Edwin, ''aunt has found
this in the clock that grandfather lett you.
You are the one most interested-and-l
congratulate youw
Kitty received the document calmly.
"Pull up. Ned, pull up! You are awful
ly excited" And then she read it aloud.
"Great goodness" she exclaimed when
she began to comprehend. You don't sup,
pose that is good for anything" She had
turned to Miss Josephine, but the latter sat
silent and impassive.
grandfather's latestwill. You see the date
and the witnesses. lit will change every
thing; of course you are the heiress, Kitty !;
you have been kept out of your rights too
long. lit may be-.oh, we'll whatever
happens it will be for the best, trust"
"Bahw said Kitty. "And what do you
suppose the Montgomerys will say"
Edwina drew little sobbing breath and
made no answer. But Miss Carmichael
turned sharply at another sound. Miss
Josephine Clay had stirred and emitted
something like sniff of contemptuous
pleasure.
"Sit down, Edwina," said her cousin,
pushing her into chair. She went over to
the mantel then, did Miss Carmichael, and
stood where the light from an unglobed
bracket made the writing on the paper
more legible. She spoke again presently
''There is just one thing about it. Grand
father-with due respect to his memory
was altogether too cranky at will making.
You needn't frown at me, Aunt Josephine.
This has always been my opinion. Whlle
everything was Ned's l kept it to myself,
but now that everything is mine. don't
hesitate to speak it out aloud. l say, ne
was cranky He might have divided
things like a sensible man. AS for this bit
of writing, Pm too fond of Neddie to spoil
her affairs; So here goes"
"Kittyn' Edwina sprang to her feet with
a startled cry, for the girl had thrust the
paper into the blaze of the gas:
Miss Josephine sat as one stricken dumb.
"Oh, kittyn' That was all her cousin
could say. The charred fragments fell and
were scattered over the mantel, and Miss
Carmichael walked nonchalently away
from them.
"What in the world would do with such
responsibilities? ?" she inquired. "Id want