Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10


in love with her.
But rude shock to this vision came be-
fore the evening had passed away.
A strange revelation was made that very
hour which SO materially changed all his
plans of life that he was dazed and bewil-
dered at its sudden manifestation.
The office of his dead uncle was located
in the family mansion of james Rossiter
and here Arlington resided.
Usually, when he returned home in the
evening, Blanche Marvin had completed
her work and gone home.
Upon the evening in question, somewhat
to his surprise, as he entered the house, he
noticed light in the Office, and went thith-
er to ascertain its cause.
Seated in the room, and apparently wait
ing for some one, was Miss Marvin.
you here, Miss Marvin?" said Airing
ton. "You have remained late this even
ing"
There was peculiar look in the womans
face as she replied:
Yes, Mr.. Arlington, have been waiting
for you"
"For me? Some business concerning
the tenements-"
mo, it is something that concerns your
self. MIR. Arlington, please be seated, and
prepare for q rather unpleasant revela-
ton"
Arlington obeyed her, silently, repres-
sively.
Her eyes were filled with an expression
he could not mistake. Ardent, longing
love trembled on her lips as she said, in o
low, unsteady voice:
gard for you has always been more of q
ri 6Jyyo oh hon nf no IF
mere duty"
"You have certainly been most consider
ate in relieving me of much of the annoy
Marvin" replied Arlington courteously, yet
wonderingly.
"For you personally could not resist
trying to do more than my duty. For your
sake, now, MIR. Arlington, am going to
make great sacrifice"
He stared at her in bewilderment.
II do not understand you," he said.
"Then let me ask you this question::
You have cousin, resident of the far
West, named Ernest Travis?"
ayes, but have not seen him for years"
"He is, except yourself, your uncle's
nearest relative. He was here few years
ago. He asked me to become his wife. did
not love him, and refused him."
"And now?"
snow I have made discovery which
would tempt most women, for Ernest
Travis is heir to an immense fortune"
The woman came nearer to Arlington,
her dark, earnest eyes beaming ardently
upon him.
"Mr. Arlington" she said, "the fortune
that is left to your cousin he knows moth
ing Of"
"Then it is legacy he has never heard
OFF"
"He will never hear of it, if you say the
word" q,
II, Miss Marvin? What is this mys-
te, " .,on. ,,,,ou .,.t r,n..+ rr,v;. Is hi,
to million. To bestow it upon him means
for me to rob the man 1 love. can dis
guise the truth no longer. Maurice Airing
ton, my heart is breaking for one kind
smile from you. 1 love you. I loved you
since the time 1 first saw you. Am un-
womanly? Then the vital circumstances Of
the hour SO make me, for to-day have
discovered that you are not the real heir to
the wealth of your dead uncle, James
Rossiter!'
She had expected that Arlington would
start and pale with surprise and dismay.
Instead his calm face betrayed the very
slightest amazement, and he said steadily.
"Then new will has been discovered"
eyes, Mr.. Arlington"
"And later one?"
"Several months later"
making my cousin the heir to the Rossi-
ter estates?"
Eyes"
"You discovered this will, Miss Marvin"
II did, to-day, ameng some old papers. !"
"Then take it at once to the family law
yer. and let Ernest Travis be notified of his
good fortune"
sand you, Mr.. Arlington"
| 81? Why, will return to my art, salts
fed that wealth could never make me
haRRR {syoobe Marvin stood overwhelmed.
| What strange man was this, who, without
| a tremor. heard of poverty, and faced it
indiferently!
"Stay!" cried Blanche, impassionately.
"Do YOU not understand that you and only
!! know of this will? Why should you beg
gar yourself? Say the word, Maurice Ar
lington; make me your wife, and the world
shall never know that a second will exists. F"
"Are you mad? Do you imagine I would
! defraud Ernest Travis of his rightsW de-
manded Arlington, sternly. "Miss Marvin,
forget all YOU have said tonight, or our
| business relations must cease at once"
He passed from the room Us he spoke.
With bafaed, crushed cry, Blanche
Marvin glared after him. .,
.Foiled-defeated!" she cried wildly.
"He does not love me. So be it, then. ne
shall be beggar, and I will hasten to the
West, find Ernest Travis, we'd him, and as
mistress of the Rossiter estates, gloat over
this miserable man who spurns my love!
Two days later all New York knew OF the
Blanche Marvin was speeding westward
To End her former lover, and now the heir
! to the Rossiter fortune.
Maurice Arlington had left the mansion
as poor as he entered it, calmly, indifferent
". with two pleasant memories in his heart
his love of art, and 1nez Vincent.
,ad i.arp ID that Inez had received tele-