The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-11-02
BROKEN HOPES MENDED

AAtsN - 49, N--@e W. y A'AANa ~ say ~
ne, auutS"
THAT Is all that wished 70 say TO you"
the elder lady repeated with slight sar-
cSstn, and Edwina felt herself Herewith
dismissed.
She went out ot the room and down tho
ioRg staircase, feeling strangely weak and
helpless.
some one came dancing in OF the piazza
for this was their last summer home at
Bromheld. Edvina knew IL must be
Kitty, but Edwina could hardly see Her
eyes were still blinded by the weakness
ihRt had settled upon her while her aunt
was speaking.
She SD not call to her cousin, "a she
might have done an hour before; she did
not took ut her. She did not wish to see
anyone just now-kitty least Of all. But
Kitty, halting. saluted her with n blithe
"Neddie, my love, stop bit; want TO
tell you sonnet hing"
There was little similarity in their m
pearance. They were both fair; but Ed
wilma was out-and-out n Clay-tall, slen-
der, pale, and reserved, while Miss Car
michael had few, IL any, of the character
istics of her mothers family
Plump and sandy was Kitty, trifc
freclSied, with bewitching dimples, a
saucy mouth and divine Irish gray eyes
by nature she was as rollicking and
impetuous as her late father, Colonel
Carmichael, whom her grandfather Clay
had never forgiven for running away with
his youngest daughter
Kitty's paternal inheritance of good
looks and good nature had been greatly
to her advantage in worldly sense. She
had this, aud this only, TO blame for the
manner in which her grandfather had
treated her in his will.
The old gentleman had died something
over n year previous, leaving the bulk of
lis large fortune to Edwina, "only child
of his late son Edwin" while to Kitty he
had left only n miserable little stipend,
barely enough to support her Grand
father Clay had never been reconciled 10
Charlotte, his youngest daughter.
Kitty had borne her ill-luck with philo-
sophical good-humor, and continued to
reside, as previously, with her maiden
aunt and cousin-for both girls were or
phaned these many years.
EiwinI WAS generous and had thought
the viii unjust.
Never mind, Kitty" she had said,
"you shall have n dowry when you marry;
meanwhile l want to arrange for you a
little extra pin-money."
"Dowry il all right, " said Kitty, "but
never mind the pin-mouey." And it WAS
" ANAA AA4AAAGulAg Ailhl MISS 1lstN GhuAl pre-
vail on the proud little creature 70 accept
what was by rights her own.
But Miss CarmichaeI's tho1ghts were
far enough from the subject of unjust
Wills &sshe hailed her cousin there ON the
staircase.
EIwina descended the remaining steps,
looking Taler than usual.
"W ha: ~ it.' she asked slowly.
But kitty's sharp eyes noted something
nuliSs.
''Neddie. " she cried, what is ups"
Nothing" p" said Edwina family. II
don't feel quite well Aunt Josephine
has been talking TO me; think viii lie
down while"
Him! II aunt has been talking 70 you
I suppose you'd need 20 lie down and
rest" said Miss Carmichael dryly "rI
SEQ you again by-and-bye, Ned" " And she
turned Ike young squirrel and whisked
herself out SSain into the open air.
EIwiua entered the drawin;.- room md
t,rew herself upon n sofa IL was dark
and quiet, and no one would interrupt
her there. She would have n chance TO
think over what her aunt had been say
ing.
suppose Il were authentic, the will that
her aunt had discovered that very morn
Ing in its strange hidingplnce, the old
clOckg And her aunt seemed 70 think il
authentic.
Il thought it best 20 tell you Mt once.
Eiw ina, - She had said. 81 wiII not show
you the will; have reasons. But it is
certainly your grandfather's handwriting,
witnessed 10y the Bateses, father and son,
who called here week before father
died, and sailed day or two later for
foreign parts. They have been abroad
ever since, you remember. There is an
other thing: Your grandfather, Just be-
fore he died, spoke kitty's name and then
the 'clockH We thought he meant only
the clock should be hers. cannot tell
why I should have been impelled TO open
that clock this morning.
''Edwina, II this should be-if this
calamity should fall upon you, and ] can
not help regarding il as a calamity, I do
not consider myself wanting in affection
for my sisters daughter, as well as my
brothers, but Kitty Is so different, so
little a Clay-if this calamity should fall
you shall share all that i possess Of
course.
''But meanwhile your wedding IS set
for October; this is the last of August.
do not for moment suppose that your
loss Of fortune would affect your be-
trothed himself-but his family. They
are very proud, very ambitious; they may
be even mercenary. Edwina, have re-
placed the paper in the clock, and spoken
10 no one OF finding it. Suppose we leave
il 80 till after your wedding1 You need
not decide at once; think about it a while.
This, however, is my advice"
Edwina went carefully over her aunt's
communication. Suppose it were true,
Suppose her Grandfather Clay, in some
strange sudden remorse, had done this
thiugS
She remembered the last week of his
lie. He had been speechless nearly all
that week, and had taken little notice of
anything or anyone. twas quite possible
that he had turned about and written the
few words necessary to revoke all former
wills and leave everything to Kitty Car
michael.
Yet why should he turn from one injus-
tice to anotherg She asked herself bit
terly why he could not have divided his
fortune fairly, providing for both grand
daughters alike.
Edwina was far from avaricious. Had
she been quite her own mistress-had
there not been Aunt Josephine to disap-
prove, as well as other complications
she would long since, Of her own free will
have made over half her inheritance TO
her cousin But now TO have everything
HHNNkib away. II NdS u CEucn1nks uuu444-
i-tiug prospect.
With Frederick Montgomery, her nffi-
auced husband, il would probably make
40 difference; but with HIS faniily' Her
suars suggestion was very forcible, ap-
0alliugi With all her faith in her lover.
-lwiua had not lived twenty years and
Over aud escaped knowledge that n mans
-a.lily may clutch and control him with
-.-l times the ease with which they could
-lItrol a daughter or sister.
'wina was str0ugly conscious that her
father would never have been guilty OF n
runaway match, n had been her Aunt
Charlotte. the mother Of Kitty. In all
such love matters women are infinitely
EfrnrLr.r f.r.ll..r..r- IL LII l. I'll