Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
MR.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.


the sick child was a restless sleeper But
now she could hear nothing, not even the
faint vibration Of her sisters breath. The
silence was absolute and appalling; it
struck tangibly upon her sense, as the
darkness struck upon her eyebaIls and
filled her with a numb, unreasoning ter
Tor. She slipped out of bed and struck a
match! In another few seconds she was
standing by Jeannie's white little bed,
waiting for the wick Of the candle to burn
up. Presently the light grewl JEANNE
was lying on her side, her white face rest
ing on her white arm. Her eyes were
wide open; but when Augusta held the
candle near her she did not shut them or
finch. Her hand, too-oh, Heavens! the
fingers were nearly cold.
Then Augusta understood and lifting
up her arms in agony, she shrieked till the
Whole house rang.
CHAPTER Iv.-AUGUsTA's DECISION.
On the second day following the death
Of poor little JEANNE Smithers, Mr.. Eus-
tace Meeson was stroIling about Birning-
ham with his hands in his pockets and an
air OF INDIGESTION on his decidedly u~~opable
and gentlemanlike countenance. Lustaca
Meeson was not particularly cast down by
he had recently experienced. He was a
young gentleman Of a cheerful nature;
and, besides, it did not so very much mat
ter to him. He was in blessed condition
of cehbacy, and had no wife and children
dependent upon him, and he knew that,
somehow or other, it would go hard if,
with the help of the one hundred year
that he had of his own, he did not manage,
with his education, to get living by hook
or by crook. So it was not the loss of the
society of his respected uncle, or the pro-
spective enjoyment of two millions OF
money, which was troubling him. In
deed, after he had once cleared his goods
and chattels out of PompadOur Hall and
settled them in q room in the hotel, he had
not given the matter much thought But
ne had given a good many thoughts to Au-
gusta Smithers' gray eyes, and, by way OF
getting an insight into her character, he
had at once invested in copy of "Jemi-
mas Vow" thereby, somewhat against
his will, swelling the gains of Nelson's
to the extent of several shillings. Now,
Terminals Vow" though simple and
homely, was a most striking and powerful
book which fully deserved the reputation
that it had gained, and it affected Eustace
who was so much different from most
young men of his age that he really did
know the difference between good work
and bad-more strongly than he would
have liked to own. Indeed, at the termin-
alton of the story, what between the beau
ty of Augusta's pages, the memory of Au-
gusta's eyes, and the knowledge of Angus
ta'S wrongs, Mr.. Eustace MeesOn began to
feel very much as though he had fallen
in love. Accordingly, he went out walk
ing, and, meeting clerk whom he had
known in the Meeson establishment-one
of those who had been discharged on the
same day as himself-he obtained from
him Miss Smithers' address, and began to
reflect as to whether or not he should call
upon her. Unable to make up his mind,
he continued his walk till he reached the
quiet street where Augusta lived, and,
suddenly perceiving the house of which
the clerk had told him, yielded to tempta-
Jion and rang.
The door was answered by the IN aid-of-
all-work, who looked at him little Curl
ously, but said that Miss Smithers was in,
and then conducted him to a door which
was half open, and left him in That kindly
and agreeable fashion that maids-of-all-
work have. Eustace was perpleXed. and,
looking through the door to see If anyone
was in the room, discovered Augusta her
self, dressed in some dark material, seated
in chair, her hands folded on her lap, her
pale face set like q stone, and her ewes
gazing into vacancy. He paused, wonder
ing what could be the matter, and as he
did so, his umbrella slipped from his hand
making n noise that rendered it necessary
for him to declare himself.
Augusta rose as he advanced, and looked
at him with puzzled air, as though she
were striving to recall his name or where
she had met him.
Il beg your pardon ne stammered, Il
must introduce myself, as the girl has de-
serted mel am Eustace Meeson."
Augustus face hardened at the name.
IF you have come to me from Messrs.
lfeeson & Co."-she said quickly, and
then broke Off, as though struck by some
new idea.
Indeed, no." said Eustace. 81 have
nothing in common with Messrs. Meeson
now, except my name; and l have only
come to tell you how sorry Twas to see you
treated as you were by my uncle. You re-
lember, was in the Office"
YES" she said, with suspicion of a
lush, II remember you were very kind. "
Well, you see, !" he went on, Il had a
1t row with my uncle after that, and
it ended in his turning me out of the place,
bag and baggage, and informing me that
he was going to cut me off with a shilling,
which," he added, relectiyely, che has
probably done by now"
do | understand you, Mr.. Meeson, to
mean that you quarreled with your uncle
about me and my books?"
Eyes, that is So he said.
sit was very chiyalrouS of YOU" she an
swered, looking at him with a newborn
curiosity. Augusta was not accustomed
to find knightS-errant thus prepared, at
such cost to themselves, to break n lance
in her cause. Least of all was she pre-
pared to find that knight bearing the hate
full crest of Meeson-if, indeed, Meeson had
a crest.
81 ought to apologize, she went on pres
emily, after an awkward pause, ''for max
ing such a scene in the Office, but wanted
money SO dreadfully, and it was SO hard
to be refused. But it does not matter now.
1t is all done WITH
2" was duh. hopeless ring about
her voice that awoke his curiosity. For
what could she have wanted the money
and why did she no longer want it,"
81 am sorry he said ''Wil you tell NE
what you wanted it so much for?''
She looked at him, and then, acting upon
impulse rather than reflection, said in q
low voice:
"If you like, 1 viii show you"
He bowed, wondering what was coming
next. Rising from her chair, Augusta led
the way TO door which opened out of the
sitting room and gently turned the handle
and entered, Eustace following her. The
rocr, yvsc n small bed-rOOun of which the