The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-22
THE OLD CHART.

old Grange after dark.
II wouldr' cried Rilla, with fash
ing glance at her fair, pale cousin.
f'Oh, Rilla, but they say it is haunt
edT' faltered Bessie Sage, with little
shudder.
'.By rats and owls, said Rilla laugh
Miss Justine Penrynn, the heiress
and beauty and also the cousin of fear
less. daring Rilla Brooks, rapidly con-
cocted a little plot, which should test
the girls courage, and also appeass the
spirit 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--oi at
least it seemed so-youth, beauty, for
tune, and friends by the score, while
her Young cousin lived in penniless OBJ
scurity. 1t came about in this way
Old Captain Penrynn had son and
daughter. The son married to please
his father, but the daughter married 70
please herself, and suffered disinherit-
ance in consequence.
She died in few years, leaving q
baby daughter, and pleading pitiful
letter to her father, who read IL 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 laugh
ter and pattering childish feet.
1t seemed that Captain Penfynn was
doomed 10 outlive all his family, for his
son also died, leaving one daughter, so 4
he had only two grandchildren to i'm
herit his wealth, and ne made anew
will, dividing the property equally be-
tween them. 1~
Two years before our story opens, he Z
died very suddenly; but when Lawyer
Sage searched for the latter will, lol it
had vanished.
lie was astounded; he went through
his old friends private papers again
and again, but no will appeared, ex--
cept the one leaving all to his son and ]
his heirs, for ever. g0 !
Perhaps he hid it, - unused the 4puz-
zled lawyer. ~ remember, Just before
he died, he pointed towards that chart
and tried TO speak. / will examine it."
And he took down the heavy chart,
and shook il, and looked behind it, but
only the blank wall met his view. g &,
So be read the old will, after an
GAdDOE dLC CADldIdblOu w Vic u1cGAAbAOA Il
FRIENDS and relatives, and Justine
listened with secret exultation, and
Rilla with some pain and bewilder-
ment. a 8tro i
Miss Penrynn returned to town with
out Offering even a small portion of the
estate to her cousin.
"A mean, heartless, stingy thingp
cried Bessie Indignantly.
And her father secretly agreed with
her. He could not see pretty impulsive
Rilla turned adrift on the world. and
took her home with him. to finish her
education with Bessie and TO help teach
the younger children. Il
She had lived q quiet, busy, happy |
life there until Paul Daverant-hand-
some, nonchalant Paul-came out to
the village to spend the summer hunt
ing and fishing.
1t was by the doctors orders he !
sought the healthy quiet of country |
life, and after making acquaintance |
with Lawyer Sage's family, he ceased
to groan over the dizziness of his exist
ence.
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, and she coolly
announced that she would stop with
them, and her Paris finery and finished
worldly graces quite overshadowed Bes-
sic and Rilla.
Tie few days had heightened into
three weeks, and they had been weeks
of torture to poor Rilla. for she had
not only to endure half-veiled taunts,
and cutting malicious stabs, from the
velvet-tongued heiress, but her poor
passionate heart suffered an agony Of
jealousy.
Justine stepped in between her and
Paul Daverant.
She claimed his attention almost az
q right, and, with fine assumption OF
careless Indifference. he allowed her to
do it. rs
Perhaps it amused him, perhaps it
pleased him; RilIa thought the latter,
and blughed scarlet with shame and
indignationto think that she had given
her heart to q man who cared nothing
for it. - G
She grew cold ia her manner towards
him, and avoided his society so per-
sistently he must have noticed it,
though he made no sign But she was
miserable and half-reckless and rather
fancied the idea of spending 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
heartache any more. Il
''Suppose you 60 tonight" said
Justine, after few minutes thought.
"We can leave you as we 90 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"
sNonsensel 1t is sure to be dull
affair; and then, Mr.. DaVerant has gone
to the city to-day. Our dear Rilla
would not enjoy it unless"
II am sure you are altogether mis-
and--yes, / win stay at the Grange to-
night"
''sOh. Rilla, don't-mamma win be so
angry" pleaded distressed Bessie.
"She must not know it until after
wards, and then it will only be joke"
said Justine. after all, Rilla's heart
will fail her when the time comes"
mot so; it is made of tougher ma
terial than that, said the girl coldly.
'.ls ftp thought it was rather soft
and weak"
ibid your That proves that even
ycu can make mistakes sometimes"
And Rilla met her cousin knocking
aves steadily.
That evening. Miss Penrynn held I
quite a conversation with her maids
made up Of terrified pro-
tests on one side aud threats on the
other.
''Oh. | dare notir sighed the woman.