Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-11-29

got half way over" and MISS Serena's
eyes famed fiercely behind her glasses.
81 wonder where 'Gustus IS" she added,
in gentle tone II tell you. Mandy, Pye
always felt as if there was wrong stick
ing to that money, and it's no wonder we
lost it. If father hadn't been so harsh
with 'Gustus-''
sHe'i never have run away as he did.
But father could never see that he could
do any thing but farm and, Gustus did hate
farming" interrupted Miss Mandy. She
was the eldest of the two. and, Gustus had
been almost like a son as we'll as petted
brother. Fifteen years her junior, she had
curled his infantile ringlets and buttoned
his pinafores with motherly care. and
later on taken his part in the hot disputes
between him and his stern father, who
would not see that the slender lad was
good for any thing, since he had neither
strength or ability to carry on the great
farm from which Jonathan Buell. had
coined large portion of his wealth FL
nally the lad ran away, and when the old
man died his will was made SO as to cut
of the son with a paltry handful of his
fathers wealth, the whole of the large re-
mainder going to the sisters. This would
not have been so bad, for justice could still
have been done had they been given the
control of their own; but fearing that they
appointed Russell Osborne sole trustee
of the estate in trust fer the sisters, Civ
ing him absolute control of the estate,
while they could only command the inter-
est.
This would have been ample for all their
leeds, lace curtains and trip to Europe
included, had they chosen to use it, but
the saving instinct of the Buells was
strong in them, and they were economical,
leaving all the more margin for Russell
Osborne's scheming, and one fine morning
they awoke to the sore knowledge that he
and his bondsman had failed, and that the
Buell. property had gone with the rest
The Osbornes lived more lavishly than
before, but the property was in the wife's
name, where the law could not touch it, and
the Buell. girls grew old and faded under
the sense of their wrongs, and eked out
an uncertain living upon small village
property which had been spared from the
general wreck, it having belonged to their
mother and not included in the will prop
erty. What had ever possessed Jonathan
Buell. to place such an unlimited trust in
the hands of such man as Russell Os-
borne is still mystery; but in his unfort-
innate spite toward his son he had, as the
saying goes, bitten his own nose off, and
given his wealth to enrich one who had no
right to it, and deprived his own family
of even a decent living from the proceeds
of his life of toll, and if the sleek and
venerable Mr.. Osborne was not haunted by
his accusing spirit, he certainly deserved
to be.
Augustus Buell. came home when his
father died, and heard the unjust will read
with anger and disdain, and had scornful-
ly received the pittance left for him, and
turned his back on the spot which had be-
come hateful to him, and for twenty years
the sisters had heard no word from him,
whether he was dead or alive. He had
parted from them in anger, believing that
they were satisfied with the will, and had
thoughts of bitterness toward them, as he
imagined them in the enjoyment of the
wealth which should have been shared
with him. The money had prospered won
derfully in his hands, and the boy who
would not, and could not, make a farmer,
had proved himself an immense success in
another branch Of business of which his
pitiful inheritance had formed the nucleus,
and while the sisters are lowering over the
waning fire in the shabby room, the broth
er, whom they are bewailing, occupies an
elegant home in a Western city, of which
he is a thriving citizen
''How shall we spend Thanksgiving this
year, my dear?" said Mrs. Buell.
She was a large, portly woman, with a
pleasant face and honest, sympathetic eyes.
The family were sitting in the family
sitting-room, soft with velvet rugs and
rich carpets, and luxurously furnished;
evidently the Buell. love of economy had
not been transmitted to the son.
II have not thought of the matter,
Martha" replied Augustus Buell., abstract
eddy; he was a fne-looking man OF forty
five now 81 had such a strange dream
last night that it has kept me thinking of
the old home all day''
File, father, to allow a dream to keep
you looking so solemn all the evening""
said Miss Kitty, sprightly girl of seven
teen.
II was at home again, and yet not at
home" resumed the father. ''for all was
so changed that there was nothing home
like about it.''
'sJust see how comical Fido plays with
this paper, papa" cried Rollo, golden
haired little fellow of ten, tossing up a
as he spoke. Fido, snowy
pet dog of the poodle species, caught it in
his teeth, throwing it up and catching it
again as cat worries mouse.
1t was an old newspaper, and had come
into the house around a package during
the day, and as the dog in his antics
dropped it near Mr.. Buell. feet, he stopped
and picked it up, obeying an impulse for
which he could not account as he smCothed
it out and laid it upon his knee.
''Why, Martha" he exclaimed. in ex-
cited tones, sit is copy of our old home
paper. What strange chance has brought
it to my handi'
He looked it over, but strange names
alone met his eye until he turned it over,
when an obituary paragraph caught his
attention.
1t was a notice of his sister Electa's
death and short sketch of the Buell. Sis
tiers, their loss of fortune, notice of him
self, and the mourning of the sisters for
their long lost brother.
80 that rascal, Russell Osborne, has
contrived to scoop in their fortune, has
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