Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-03-13
Judith's Punishment

"And to my grandniece, judith
Aston, l bcqueath the residue OF
my estate, houses, lands. and bank
account, unlesevedly, to be. hel(
By her and her heirs forever"
So read the conclusion of old
Miss Renevil'S will, and if a case ot
dynamite had exploded in the Ii
brary, it could not have created
greater CONSERVATION among the
decorouS mourners assembled
there.
Judith Aston, the girl she had
barely tolerated, in the place Of
Stephen Terrell, her openly ac
knowlcdged heir! What strange
craze had she developed in heI
last hoursg AS with one accord all
eyes turned to that graceful figure
standing in the strange light OF
the open west window, clothed in
deepest black, sonber as a youth
full figure could he, then q quick
glance at Stephen Terrell, leaning
against the mantle-piecc, his face
admirably composed, then furtive
looks exchanged with one another.
1t was certainly enough to upset
them. The legacies were all right.
They could not quarrel about that
part of the will, but cutting her IA
voritc off without even the pro
verbal shilling was an uneXplan.
able mystery to them.
Lawyer Bryant, we'll aware of
the unpleasant sensation he had
created in reading that will, jcrked
his paper together, a decided frown
on his face. But crrshlngly us the
news fell on these relatives aud
friends of the dlsinterested, Miss
Renevil's will shocked no one as it
did Judith Aiston. She caught at
Il chair for support, her olive skin
lividly white, positive horror in her
dark eyes.
She felt the cruel, stony stare Of
those unfriendly eyes, but more
keenly still did she feel the con.
dennation of her own conscience.
Did that horrible, malicious old
woman understand the heavy pun
ishmcnt she inflicted on the girl
when she burdcned her with Steph-
ell Terrel's righttul inheritance?
Judith looked at him with Ell
treating eyes.
ooh, Stephen? oh, Stephen!" she
cried, and could say no more for
the choking sobs rising in her
throat.
+ "The sly, dcceitful creaturel,'
muttered one indignantpar
But that imploring CRY had a
different effect on Stephen. He
thought he understood her feel
ings, and walked instantly over to
reassure her.
'She did not intend it. It was
my fault, she murmured, income
rent.y, passionate tears in her lu-
minous eyes, her mouth quivering.
"Hush!" he whispered, warning
ly, and she turned her head aside,
with heaving breast. All! if they
only knew the dreadful confession
trembling on her lips, of falseness.
OF deceit. She felt scorched with
shame, sick with anguish, at the
mischief few mad words had
wrought.
In Il flash all tile events of the
past year swept before her mental
vision. Her coming to Miss Rene
vii from her desolated southern
home, an orphan, lonely, grief
stricken, craving sympathy ano
love with all her passionate, undis
ciplined heart. From tue cold
evil-tempered old woman she had
received liberation, nothing more;
but Terrell had been her staunch
unwavering tlieud-had often
shielded her from trowns and cut
ting words-had made herlite Ell
durable. "a
In return she gave him all the
gratitude and love Of her soul, fol
he WAS young, handsome and pos.
seSsed of many attractions of mind
and heart. He did not suspect the
extent of the mischief. He found
it II very pleasant thing to be kind
10 lier, to earn grateful glances
from her deep, dark eyes, eloquent
always Of the soul beneath, and did
not think o! consequences.
The pleasant intercourse might
have gone ON toan Indefinite length
of time, if new clement had not
been introduced. Miss Kendric
came down from the city to visit
the Saffords, and then Judith dis
covered her own danger.
Old Miss Renevil hated the SAT-
fords and all their relations with
nearly a deadly hatred for some
past oGense, and would not allow
even a servant of her household to
cross their threshold; but when
Alicia Kendric came with her gold
Ell hair, her soft blue eyes, ant
musical, careSSing voice, Stephen
Terrell so far disregarded his aunt's
commands as to call there net once
but many times.
Then judith felt a great, jealous
throb stir her heart.
All, could she ever forget the day
she sat OIL the lawn with Stephen
and Miss KeDdric passed in hel
low phaton, vision of serene ant
j IL ;ant l.ol, La.-aaol no 10