The Portland daily press., 1888-12-25

it. He has chosen-let him keep to his writ.
ting and stuff, for he is none of mine any
more"
"0h, daddy, daddyn' moaned Elfrida
crumpling the letter into her apron pocket
and clinging about her fathers knees
Rheumatism already on the spot, resented
this gentler possession of the Joints of Mr.
Marlowe and so. consequently, did he.
Get up, Elfrida." commanded her father
"No," she pleaded "Let me stay here I'M.
til you have said that my Dick shall come
home"
Il will never, of my own accord, see Rich.
ard again." answered Jonas Marlowe with a
quiet rage more ominOus than his more YER
bal anger had been. "The relations have
been strained"
Elfrida was frightened she dared not shed
any tears; entreaties had failed; she gave a
Short nervous laugh and piteously proceeded
to launch her little coquetries on this angry
element. She rose to her feet, and standing
behind her father, wreathed her slight arms
about his neck. He uttered cynical puff of
the breath that was not encouraging. "Yes
daddy DEAR" she coaxed him. Relations
may be strained, but the quality Of mercy is
not. And if you are griHg to strain out the
relations that annoy you''-Elfrida tried to
laugh at her own poor jest-''let it be the
small, mean ones that tease you like gnats,
trying to bleed you. III name no names,
daddy, but you know you have such re-
latioDs. Oh! whatever you dO-drive me
away if you will-but be good to Dick, for
the sake of mammals memoryw
| 'tI have nothing mora IN sav Xnn NAV
go to your own room, Elfrida" said Mr..
Marlowe. "Or stay-l want you to witness a
business paper"
He took his daughter by the wrist; the
delicate flesh was not bruised, but she might
as well have tried to draw her hand from the
hold of wise. He led her to the mahogany
desk, and seated himself at it, still holding
her captive with his left hand. He took a
large sheet of paper, dipped pen and began
| to write: t
II. Jonas Marlowe, being of sound mind
Daddy. what is this?"
This, Elfrida, is my last will and tesla
ment."
She burst into torrent of tears. Daddy,
daddy, don'tdie, -or they win say that my
Dick has killed youv' Efrida sobbed
nor my business at present." he replied. 81
could not afford to do So even if 1 wished it,
be spoke as ifhe were his own Providence.
-"But mean to see to it, while in good
health, that my affairs be arranged so that
Richard Marlowe shall not play ducks
and brakes with the money that i have toiled
to put together"
He wrote rapidly. Elfrida's eyes followed
the pen as it ran across and across the page.
Jonas Marlowe affixed his seal and signature
then be indicated place upon the paper.
"Sign your name there, Elfrida"
II will not sign my name to hurt my
BROTHER" she said. ''It is not for the money
but think, daddy, some day this will must
be Iead you will not be able then to say I
wrote it in anger; my son was not undutiful,
nor insolent, nor a spendthrift, nor any of
these hard words that are in black and white
and signed with my name Father, should
do you wrong if L were to witness this
will"
Mr.. Marlowe looked at his daughter. Her
eyes were ablaze with generous anger and
her mouth quivered W it'll grief He released
her wrist went to the bell-rope and pulled it
with vigor which brought in haste Jenny,
the housemaid, and Briggs the cook Mrs.
| Nancy Briggs,-she was wont to accountifor.
herself-born Dawson, of pore but h-hon-
est payments in good hold Hengland, as was
relict to a decent man, AIRY Briggs, and
Briggs she preferred to be called in place o +
Nancy. which cooks was not called by their
given names in the 'ouses she 'ad lived in.
So Briggs she was, and Briggsy to Richard
and Elfrda whom she had petted and made
cakes for since they could remember. This
worthy now came in, hot from her kitchen
and Hurried, with Jenny in her train.
"Was it about the dinner, Mr.. Marlowe,
STRIP she plausibly asked, at the same time
noting the signs of his wrath and Elfrida's
agitation.
NO." said he. Il wish you and Jane to
sign this paper as witnesses. This, Mrs.
Briggs, is my last will and testament"
The good woman paid tribute to the situa
tion by applying a corner of her apron to one
eye, while the other eye did not remit its OBJ
servations. II ope, sir" she said, shat you
do not feel yourself HILL"
"No, thank you Briggs, said Mr.. Marlowe.
"This is business formality, nothing more.
You are to write your name here"
Ave to swear, sir, as | saw you write
ii" quoth Briggs, "for indeed, sir, / did no t
that; but 1 can say that know your writing
| when | see it," And she applied the fiat of
her thumb to the autograph of Jonas Mar
lowe, smearing il with obvious grease.
"Oh! deary me, sir, IN sureI beg PARDON
she cried. "My 'ands was in the cheese, a.
crumbling it for a dish of maccaronl; and
earring your bell so sudden like, was afraid
you might be took bad. and i 'urried without
/ stopping to wipe my fingers. I'm sure Pm
Very sorry Mr.. Marlowe, SIR" ala
1T is of no consequence" said he. "Write
your own name here, II you please His
anger was already at that cooling point
where it was easy to forgive all, except the
cnief offender, his son Richard
Mrs. Briggs, with a vague idea that a
legal oath was in order, solemlly raised her
lett hand; and took the pen in her right in
order to sign the will, moving the protruded
tip of her tongue as she inscribed in round
letters, Nancy Amelia Briggs. Then came
Jenny's turn; she took the pen from the
cook; but Elfrida, in bysterica impulse of
mischief said: ''stop, Jenny, are not you
| going to swear. too?'' $3.50 "aa 4
| OChu9 pduscu III Tie u1luSL Vi UbE pTIu
little signature, IF l must, Miss Elfrida.'
Then, with sigh, 1.-THE devil take it," she
said that is as bad as my conscience will
let me swear, please, Miss, and hope that
| will do"
Then the witnesses were dismissed.
Matter o. business formality, "said Briggs
| to Jenny on the stairs, them as believes
that wouldn't know too much TO use lew Ian
| guage in place of folding hup their and.
Mark me, there's trouble brewing for Christ
mas Day; wish Master Richard was home.
| that do"
| Now was Jane superior. tits he that is
the trouble, Mrs. Briggs he crossed his ia
theirs will in some way; and as you know
| yourself, ii is three months since he went to
Boston, and letters every few days to Miss
Elfrda, but never one to the old gentleman. y
Meanwhile Elfrida, after consulting the
letter Of her brother, fastened to her room
and dressed herself for the street. As she
went past her fathers sitting-room, she saw
that the door was closed. Would it ever
open to her again? For she surely would.be
loyal to Dick
In the winter twilight, the Park presented
few inducements to linger among its frozen
paths and chilly benches. The trees looked
| emaciated with the loss of their leaves: the