The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-20

last muttered wish. Had she done so she
could scarcely have hoped to conciliate
him.
aIndeed, it isn't my fault. | do not
want the place. Can we not be friends 2
"She robs me of my aunt's affections, OF
her fortune, of my fathers home, and offers
me her friendship"
Helen colored at the emphasis, but ven
tured once more:
Il am the most unwilling instrument of
injustice to you. Can you not forgive mel"
"It is too late now to repent of your
work. Am l saint, that should forgive
you? Never, while you rule at Danger
field in my place!"
He flung open the window, and vanished
into the darkness out of which he had
come.
"Mr. Darrellr' Such pretty voice,
thought Hugh Darrell. Clear, full-toned,
melodious and not too loud; and, although
not absolutely familiar, he fancied he had
heard it before.
He turned. Helen Ashley came toward
him through the woods, her hair rufied,
her sweet face flushed with the haste she
had made. All his old bitterness revived
at. the sight of this prosperous beauty,
framed in by the noble oaks which, he now
recollected, were her own.
aMr. Darrell, wish to speak to you,
she began timidly.
"Probably to remind me that | am tres
passing. l had forgotten these woods are
now your property. Believe me, shall
never offend you again, Miss Ashley"
"You know l did not mean that. How
ungenerous you are'' cried Helen, indig-
nantly. "You will not come under my
roof, so 1 am obliged to seek you here
"Why need there be any communication
between us ?" Darrell inquired, coldly.
because l demand it for this once as
an act of justice. You will not refuse me
that ?"
She had touched the right cord. Oar
rell told himself he certainly would not
refuse Justice even to this fair usurper.
He bowed icily, and Miss Ashley pro-
ceeded.
;'In your opinion, I am successful in
triguante. You think that cringed and
toadied to Miss Darrell for her money
that by my wiles and batteries 1 managed
to supplant you. Answer mel You think
this, do you not ~
"Politeness forbids me to contradict,
Miss Ashley
"Perhaps you even credit me with sup
pressing your letters to her! Perhaps you
think the will is a forgery well, on my
part had always heard of you as fierce,
auarrelsome, undisciplined, the terror Of
the neighborhood, and by no means a
source of unalloyed comfort to your aunt.
That was my opinion of you, and, while
pitied you-oh, you need not scowl, | do
pity you-for losing your inheritance, still,
i thought you had brought it upon your
self by your conduct, and particularly by
foolishly running away to sea-"
aGently, Miss Ashley. Allow me to
remark"
'sOh, you are going to tell me that you
had your aunt's permission Listen to me
and correct me if am wrong
Hugh shrugged his shoulders and re-
lapeu lnlO Sllence,
"Afer one of your frequent quarrels
with your aunt you went to the city, A
short time afterwards you wrote her, say
ing that you had fallen in with one of your
fathers old seafaring friends, and that he
offered to take you voyage with him, re.
minding her that you had always longed
for sailors life, and begging her consent
suppose at that time her hands must have
been more than usually crippled by rheu-
matisni, to which she was always subject
and if she refused to write the single word.
"No.'"
"May ask how Miss Ashley is so ac-
quainted with the contents of letter ad-
dressed to Miss Darrell p
1t was stinging irony, but it fell POINT
less before the girls simple rectitude.
Her eyes met him so honestly that Oar
rell felt ashamed, and she answered:
"Your letter was open among Miss OAR
rells papers, and read others, because
the lawyer told me it was my duty. What
want to tell you is this: Before your
letter reached her, your aunt had heard
that you were starting for three years
cruise. She Immediately made new will,
and your letter, when it arrived, was laid
aside unread, as were all subsequent ones.
pWhen do you suppose she read them?'
asked Darrell.
In view of the girls candid face, he felt
it was needless to ask who had opened
them.
'sTo my certain knowledge, they were
unopened two weeks before her death.
think it must have been one of her last
acts while she was able to move about hel
room. think she must have been greatly
agitated at finding she wronged you, fol
she was very fond of you. Ifancy she lay
brooding over it, wanting strength to dc
more than that. l am sure she meant t.
change her will-perhaps she imagined tha
she had already done so-for her last words
were "My boy Hugh-after all, he shal
have his fathers home"
"And you tell me this-you-" sale
Hugh, hoarsely.
Helen laid her hand lightly upon his sarn
and answered, serenelyi
II tell you this, and | tell you that yol
must take back the property that ough
never to have been mine 1t is yours il
Justice, and it shall not be mine in law mucl
longer. 1 can make it over to you by deet
of gift, and in taking it you will be fulfill
ing your aunt's last wish
Hugh had been warned of Helen Ash
ley's artfqlpess and insincerity, had beef
told that she was finished actress; lookins
down into her earnest eyes, he murmured
'If this is acting, it is superb"
"Try me, and see if it is acting" sh
pleaded, passionately. "Accept my offer
No one will rejoice more than l to see
Darrell at Dangerfeld again. The inner
itance of your race-your old home tina
you love SO well, and that you lost througl
a cruel mistake-you will take it, will yo'
not?"
He stepped back and answered, coldly
EITHER you are playing part or yo1
are offering me charity. In either case m
answer is-Now
"You will not take it? Is it fair an
manly to hate me for wronging you, an
give me no alternative! | will not kec
your property. 1t is a burden to me.
| Ill e..l co,,,o WOW oP oak;nO Won take