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

you. ~
Your determination is unalterable
Mr.. Joyce?"-"It IS,
AT least L may see Constance once
agalnf' said Wilfred, rising.
IL don't know returned the
other; yet perhaps 1 might consent To
your seeing her for half an hour-not
longer In any case than half an hour
Mr. Alnslie-if | am assured that. after
what L have just said, you will make no
EFFORTS TO entangle her into vows of un-
changeable conStancy and"
Mr. Joyce" interrupted Wilfred
haughtlly, "if L have lost my fortune.
have not with it lost all sense of
honor"
''Pity," said Mr.. Joyce to himself
dropping his polysyllables, rs Wllfred
left the room. 81 like him far better
than his cousin; but what can L 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. | won
der where | put that Stock Exchange
list?''
He was soon deeply absorbed in 1t,
While Wilfred slowly mounted the stairs.
The little passage-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 lie had
not lost everything. A little hope stole
into his heart, whispering that perhaps
Constance would not belle her name,
and that some day he would be able to
give her 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
Tor. All, how lovely Constance was
just nowi 1t seemed almest cruel TO
disturb her happy reverie, especially as
a glance at the little hand revealed a
miniature of Wilfred himself lying
within it.
"Wilfred, she exclaimed, "when did
you come in? am so glad; was hot
expecting you for, oh, ever so many
long hours yet; so was doing the next
b st thing to looking at you in reality. ="
With bright smile she held out the
miniature, but there was no answering
smile from WIlfred as he caught the lit
tie hand and pressed it to his lips.
Constance, Constance"-the Sords
seemed to force themselves from him
''oh, my darling, how love youl'
She drew back with half-frightened
expression.
"Wi.frfd, what is it? Why do you
look SO strange and pale? Are you ill?''
Her remark recalled him to himself
81 am not i'll, Constance dear; but |
have had some news this morning that
will make great difference to me-"
She loc ked at HIM, but did not speak.
at seems that, after all, my uncle
had made will as long ago as 1868, in
which lie has left eyerything-I mean
all his money-to my cousin Laurence
Markham"
''Oh, Wilfred, what a shame! But"
after a moments pause-''wh did he
do that?"
81 don't know; cannot account for
it. The only thing L can think of is
this. In 1865 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 ii 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 sheet
of note-paper and witnessed by two OF
the servants. He must have forgotten
it however, or thought that he had de-
stroyed it; for he has always spoken to
me as to his heir.
"How strangel Tell me, Wilfred-
have YOU asked these servants what they
remember of it2"
'.They are both dead"
"Wilfred, | am sure your cousin mad
been poisoning your uncle against you. "
Don't say that, darling; it sounds a
little uncharitable.
I'm not uRcharItable, Wilfred," she
returned rather vehemently; shut L
don't like Laurence Markham, and
never could; aud believe he did do it. y
"Nay,n he said with quietness of
look and manner that formed a great
contrast to her flushed cheeks, sparkling
eyes, and impulsIve gestures; II have
no reason for thinking that he did me
auy harm, and, even if he had, 1t would
not alter the case or make him any the
less my uncle's heir"
Wilfred'-opening her eyes wide IN
her astonishment-how quietly you part
with your splendid tortuneT'
Wilfred sighed deeply.
II thought it hard to part with 1t this
morning, 4" he answered; land hard Too
WAS the thought that L should have TO
leave Redferl, for, even If L cannot get
il let. as hope to do, cannot afford TO
live there any longer. But now l could
give il all up cheerfully and without a
Sang could | only 10y SO doing retain
that which is more to me than money
or lands-yes, even than life itself, :" he
added in low tone.
.sAnd that is?" asked Constance, half
awed by his manner.
II was a irving moment for Wilfred.
For the Instant he wished that he had
not sought this interview; but ne nad
done SO, and he must go through VIII
it now.
"Constance, ~ he said, taking her hand
in his, and looking into the blue depths
of her eyes, ''my income will be very,
very small-not more than one hundred
pounds a year. if SO much"
She smiled up at him and answered
brightly .,,. :.
at is very small certainly; but 1t
doesn't matter a great de l. P"
81 am afraid it does, Constance dar-
ling" ...o
money isn't everything; L have
heard you say so yourself often anu
often"
He did not answer for moment. lie
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 little Of the position of affairs.
ssDo you know, Constance" ne be-
gan. s'that my whole income IS not
nearly equal to your dress allowance
YES. but can do with fewer dresses,
YOU know, and papa will give me hD-
eral settlement--hea always said he would
and. besides, he will always give me
as much money as 1 like. Wilfred, "
she asked suddenly. "why do you look