Wichita eagle., 1888-09-23

leu my uncleS! SAID Frank, reprOachfully.
''Oh, yes, received your letter, and one
from your uncle about the same time, in
which he informed me that you were no
| longer his heir: but a-a-beggar," said the
young woman, laughing aloud
Good heavens, Elise, can it be that you
are mercenary, then! did not think"-
mo, suppose you thought could marry
e-beggar just as well as not, and continue
to work at millinery for my living and for
yours, too, perhaps:" said the girl lightly.
ELISE, hear me. It is not too late. My
uncle, l am sure, has not cut me off in his
Will VIII you not return with me, and for
| the sake of the past let me call you my own
Elise-my wife?"
flush" said the girl warningly, as man
| approached. II could do nothing Of the
kind Let me present you to my husband,
Monsieur Fennel."
| And to his intense disgust and modification
! Frank found himself the next instant in the
| embrace of a vivaciouS and voluble French
man.
The new view Of the lovely siren in her
coarseness and her mammon worship, to-
gether with this presentation OF a heavy,
vulgar man past middle age as her husband,
was combination of circumstances that
completely disensmored Frank Duncan, and
he fed precipitately as soon as released from
the mans clutches, amid peals of laughter
from the giddy French girl and cultural
adieuS from her male companion.
Old Mr.. Somers sat in his dingy little law
Office, scratching his ear with his pen and
glancing occasionally at q letter he held in
his hand. The letter was from Frank Dun
can, and informed the lawyer that he, Frank
Duncan, would call upon him in day or two
on business relating to his deceased uncle's
will
'The young scamp must know that Helen
is the p0ssessor of the old mans estate. He
viii be counting her for her money, and he
doesn't deserve such girl any way" said
Somers with a growl "And worse than all,
to think John Duncan has fixed it in such
shape that-but I'll deceive him a little"
The gruf old lawyer had in a sense taken
Helen under his care since Mr. John Dun
cans death, and watched her welfare with a
Jealous eye; so when Frank presented him
self he said, brusquely:
you are cut off without a cent. young
man, and you deserve it."
Frank colored, but felt the justice of the
rebuke; but he ventured:
And Helen-MisS Morlev!n
''Oh, she is provided with moderate an
nuity. The rest goes, 1 believe, to some in
stitution-aheIn,n SAID the lawyer choking a
little at the lie.
THANK Godl" said Frank impulsively.
The old lawyer sprang TO his feet in a pas
sion, and facing the astonished young fellow
shouted ''You thank God then that she is a
beggar, too, do you"
IL am glad that | may go to her and COM
fort her, and be to her what once was, with
out a suspicion that L come from mercenary
motives, y said Frank exultantly.
''Ahem! That's all right, young man. But
you must be aware that your past conduc;
doesn't recommend you very highly. speak
plainly, for Helen Morley is my ward"
Frank WINGED under this lash, but all the
same he was resolved to bear it in silence,
and the scales had fallen from his eyes now,
and he remembered trihing incidents in their
lives-Helen's and his own-which led him
to believe that he had thrown away a pearl.
lie would seek to recover it again, and was
glad that the impeachment of money did not
bar the way. He knew full well that his
foolish infatuation for the gay superficial
Elise, which he had mistaken for love, would
prove formidable obstacle; but with youth,
repentance, perseverance and an earnest de
votion to his purpose he hoped to win Heens
esteem first, and afterward, perhaps, her
love.
'Confound the young scamp, he's got good
points, after ALL" growied Somers.
And SO Helen thought when the old lawyer
told her about it and made her understand
how difficult it would be to keep Frank long
in ignorance of the provisions of his uncle's
viii
Three months are brief measure OF time
as the ages roll onward, and yet three short
months are sometimes SO crowded with
events bearing directly upon our lives that
years, aye an age, are as nothing in compar-
iSon.
Three months of penitence, of unobtrusive
devotion TO Helen, of evident shame for his
past conduct and an unmistakable determin-
alton to atone for it if possible, on the part
of Frank Duncan won the callous old lawyer
to believe in his sincerity
And, better than all, it began to tell upon
the hard wall Of reserve that had grown up be-
tween Helen's unquenched love and her pride
till it finally crumbled away.
You forgive me at last, Helen, but can
never forgive myself for being SO stupidity
blind and for having caused YOU years of
pain besides, said Frank, tenderlv
Let the dead bury their dead Frank; but
ct us who now live again live only in tho
present, and hope for compensation for our
past SORROWS in the future"
And / thank God that did not have to |
5ry to WOO you as an heiress | will work for .
Tou and we Will be happy
Helen colored and was silent for moment.
Steps were heard in the hall and Mr. Some1s
vas announced.
Cut OF without cent and yet happy. ap-
)arently," SAID the lawyer brusquey, taking
'ut legal document and reading: And if
Crank Duncan forsake his foolish object and
marry my adopted daughter, Helen Morley,
within three years and SIX months from the
late of this testament, do beQueath to him,
tcn
Better than you deserved, young man.
Helen blushed as Frank caught her in his
rnls.-E. A. Boyden in New York Mercury.
What He Discovered.
a handsomely dressed young woman en-
-loie