The Penn's Grove record., 1885-05-23

81 heard myself of Hr. RedfeTn's
will only a few minutes before | saw
you"
"Your determination is unalterable,
Mr.. Joyce2"-'It IS"
cat least | may see Constance once
againS" said Wilfred, rising.
II don't know" returned the
other; ''yet perhaps / might consent to
your seeing her for half an hOur-not
longer in any case than half an hour,
Mr.. Ainslie-if | am assured that, after
what have just said, you will make no
efforts to entangle her into VOWS of I'M
changeable cOnstancy and"
"Mr. Joyce interrupted Wilfred
haughtily, "if ! have lost my fortune,
| have not with it lost all sense of
honor"
tPity, said Mr.. Joyce to himself,
dropping his p~olysyllables, as Wiifred
left the room. ~ like him far better
than his cousin; but what can | do?
Curious thing that both cousins should
be so fond OF my girl ! | hope she won't
go fretting after this fellow; but there
is no fear-broken hearts are as much
out of fashion now as periwigs. | o
der where | put that Stock Exchange
list?"
He was 0 deeply absorbed in 1T,
while Wilfred slowly mounted the stairs.
The little ptSStge-at.armS with Mr..
Joyce at the end OF their interview had
done HIM good; the proud conscious
ness of injured merit had made his
blood circulate more freely, and had
raised his spirit from the dead level of
despair. No; with his fortune he had
not lost everything A little hope stole
into his heart, whispering that perhaps
Constance would not belle her name,
and that some day lie would be able to
give her a home equal to that which he
would take her from.
With this reflection Wilfred opened
the door of Miss Joyce's boudoir. Con-
stance did not hear him, ~and-yes, he
must stop, If only for "a second, to gaze
at the picture reflected In the large mir
ror. All, how lovely Constance was
just nowl 1t seemed almost cruel to
disturb her happy reyerie, especially as
a glance at the little hand revealed a
miniature of Wilfred himself lying
within it.
"Wilfred, " she exclaimed, "when did
you come IMP | am so glad; l was not
expecting you for, oh, eve so many
long hours yet; so | was doing the next
b st thing to looking at you in reality"
With a bright smile she held out the
miniature, but there was no answering
smile from Wllfred as he caught the lit
tie hand and pressed it to his lips.
Constance, Constance''-the words
seemed to force themselves from him
''oh, my darling, how | love you'll"
She drew back with Il half-frightened
expression.
"Wilfrrd, what is til Why do you
look so strange ami pale? Are you illP"
Her remark recalled him to himself.
81 am not i'll, Constance dear; but |
have had some news this morning that
will make a great difference to me-"
She loo ked at HIM, but did not speak.
at seems that, after all, my uncle
had made a will rs long ago IS 1868, in
which lie has left eyerything--I mean
all his money! my cousin Laurence
Markham"
''Oh, Wilfred, what a shamel But"
after a moments pause-"Why did he
do that2"
81 don't know; | cannot account for
it. The only thing | a think of is
this. In 1868 Markham STAYED with us
at Redfern-and, strangely enough, that
was the only time that my dear uncle
and | did not get on together. Some
thing was always going wrong between
us, and he frequently threatened to dis
inherit me; and it seems he had done
it in some fit of passion. 1t had been
hastily done, for his Will is not regularly
drawn up-it is just written on a sheet
of note-paper and witnessed by two of
the servants. lie must have forgotten
it however, or thought that he had de-
stroyed it; for he has always spoken to
me as to his heir.
GLOW strangel Tell me, Wilfred-
have you asked these servants what they
remember of it2"
''They are both dead"
civilized, | SIN sure your cousin had
been poisoning your uncle against you."
Don't say that, darling; it sounds a
little uncharitable.
I'm not uRcharltable, Wilfred, she
returned rather yehemently; "but l
don't like Laurence Markham, and
never could; and | believe he did do it,"
NAY" he said with a quietness of
look and manner that formed a great
contrast to her flushed cheeks, sparkling
eyes, and impulslve gestures; 81 have
no reason for thinking that he did mi
any harm, and, even if he had, 1t would
not alter the case or make him any the
less my uncle's helr."
''Wilfred'-opening her eyes wide in
her astonishment-how quietly you part
with YOU splendid %tortunel''
Wilfred sighed deeply.
II thought it hard to part with it this
morning." he answered; land hard too
was the thought that should have to
leave Redfera, for, even if | cannot get
it let, as / hope to do, cannot afford to
live there any longer. But now could
give il all up cheerfully and without a
ping could | only by so doing retain
that which is more to mt than money
lands-yes, wen than life itself, " he
added in a low tone.
'sAnd that ISL" asked Constance, half
awed by his manner.
1t was a irving moment for Wilfred.
For the instant he wished that he had
not sought this interview; but he had
done 50, and he must go through with
it now.
constance, -" he said, taking her hand
in his, and looking into the blue depths
Of her y e 'my income will be very,
very small-not more than II hundred
pounds a year. if. 50 much"
She smiled up at him and answered
brightly
ut is very small certainly; but it
doesn't matter a great de H."
81 am afraid it does, Constance dar-
money isn't everything; 1 have
heard you say 80 yourself often and
He did not answer for a moment. He
was wondering how he should tell her
of what was evidently so far from her
thoughts, and wishing earnestly that
She had, of her own self, been able to
see a little Of the position of affairs.
"Do you know, Constance" he be-
an, THAT my whole income is not
equal to your dress allowance?"
ayes. but | can do with fewer dresses,