The Springdale news., 1889-03-08
THE MISER'S WILL.
How Janets Gooseberry Lot
 Proved Worthy Cultivation.

Which of the two girls Aunt Mag. do you suppose will be the old miser's heiressPn and Dick Holmes, a young exquisite, who was practicing law in a distant town, waited anxiously for a reply. which meant to him a great deal more than he would care to have the world know.
 Aunt and nephew stood in the kitchen Of yellow farm house among the hills -a low-ceiled. smoke-stained room, with rough. Tn sshapen rafters over head Mrs. Brewn-or Aunt Mag, as the young man styled her-a tall, thin woman, with elongated visage and slow, methodieal ways. carefully wiped the earthen bowl she held in her hand, and put it away in the shining dresser, ere she took compassion on her nephew's anxiety, and said;
 .'I think. nay I'm certain that Janet will fall heir to the old mans property. She is his favorite granddaughter
 Thank Heaven! it is Janet. and not Rachel" broke forth the listener with !. sigh of such intense relief that his aunt turned around and faced him in surprise.
 Why! what possible difference can it make to you. Dick HolmesP" she demanded in any thing but I pleasant tone.
 "All the difference in the world, aunt, fl you will only stop to consider. l mean to make the hciress my wife. My practice is not so extensive that can supply my own necessary wants and marry the girl I love. l love Janet Gray, aud 1 thoroughly despise that selfish. spitfre cousin of hers. Rachel Finkle. Never theless. if Rachel were the heiress in stead of Janet, I should transfer my affections to her and offer her my hand and heart
 '.To be rejected, may be, snapped the woman. ou are cold-booded, mercennry wretch, Dick Holmes, and nope. whoever turns out to be the heircss, you will fail to catch her"
 Thanks, he returned, complacent- y, Il have no cause to fear Both of the girls are deyotediv attached to me. Good morning, Aunt. As it is nearly time for the funeral, and 1 purpose making the miser's heiress Mrs, Holmes. will saunter over to the house. l hope when l return 10 find you in q more eonciliatory mood
 He walked quietly out of the room, unheeding the look of contempt be- slowed upon him by his aunt, as hand some Il young fellow as one would care to meet He was tall and straight, with Greeian features, wayy black hair and melting black eyes, whose g(ances creaIsa sud havoc with the hearts of the country maidens around.
 The room in which the c4rpsa lay and the one adjoining it were filled to !overhowing with people who came mostly out of curiosity; for Jerome Finkle, who received no callers, who never did favor for one of his neigh. bors from one years end to anathe. years end, was an object of dislike and mystery to the good folks of the neighborhood in which he had resided for the past twenty years. There were no mourners save his two grand daughters, who had lived with him and kept his house.
 A seat near the cousins was found the lawyer, for q rumor to tho effect that he was Janet's fancce had been circulated throughout the town; and. as the prospective husband of the heiress, il was but meet that he should sit by her side. All noticed that he was uncommonly grave and that his black eyes often rested tenderlv upon Janet while the clergyman repeated the last solemn words over the re- mans of a man who. when living. had never darkened the doors of his church. All noticed. too. how tender ly he wrapped her shawl about her and lifted her into the carriage when 1t was time to start
 It was on his arm she leaned when the coffin was lowered into the cold. dark grave. and the shovelfuls of dirt began to fall upon it; and he it was, instead of Bob Temple, who had loved her taithfulls for years, who whispered words of sympathy to her as they sat, later on in the dingy best room to listen to the reading of the miser's will.
 A pretty. modest girl was Janet Gray. She was slight and fragile. with clear cut features, mouth like cleft rosebud, doYe-like eyes and quantity of brown hair fairly scintil- lating with golden lights Rachel Finkle was dark and tall, and. though not as attractive as her cousin. was 8 showy-l5oking girl. Selfish. as Dick Holmes termed her. she loved him with all her heart. and il was perfect torture for her to watch him as he bent solicitously over her cousins chair and murmured words of con- doIence
 Did Janet care for him? Heretofore