Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-05-09

granddaughter, this is susceptible of
proof"
~ know that paper is a forgery" inter
.upted Mrs. Penroy, becoming excited and
warm II will not submit TO be robbed by
Captain Starbright and an avarlcious law
ger."
Then she fiouueed up and began TO pace
he room.
The small keen eye OF Mr., Gripes re-
garded her sharply. Knowing as he did
hat the will was forged he realized the
strength Of Mrs. Penroy's case. At that
moment the willy fellow was strongly
tempted to assume her side Of the case and
cave the infamous Captain in the lurch
rhe dishonorable part Of the transaction
was only secondary consideration with
him, 1t was lucre that influence his soul
entirely.
"No, STRIP cried the excited woman, paus-
ng at length in front of the lawyer, and
shaking her bony hand within an inch Of
lis hooked nose. II will not submit 10
being robbed Of my inheritance by you aud
he Captain. This property is mine, and
will fight for my rights to the death. Don't
Fou dare attempt TO probate that will
IAN prove that the name Of Vandible was
forged to it, and that will ruin you and the
Captain BOTH
Such proof would indeed ruin them
Seekmore Gripes made no further at
.empt to conciliate the angry woman, but
rose and said
This paper will be advertised for pro-
bate tomorrow. and hope you will see the
folly Of attempting to break it, before the
three weeks public notice is up
Then he went from the room to meet Cap
tain Starbright, who was waiting his com
ing most anxiously. The lawyer related how
Mrs. Penroy had received his well-meant
advice
'Can it possible that she knows whereof
she assertsfn queried the Captain, uneasily
II think not. II is barely possible, how.
ever, that the young lady made discovery
when she rushed in on us that fatal night
so unexpectedly, as you of course remem-
ber"
. Ho W could that be.'
Well, some people have sharper eyes,
Lhaa we credit them WITH proceeded the
lawyer Miss Penroy entered the sick
chamber just as her grandfather expired,
and at that time, you will remember, the
will was unsigned
II had forgotten, but now that you speak
Of it | do remember that such was the fact,
yet do not believe Grace knew that the
old man was dead, or that the wlllvas IN
signed declared Captain Starbright.
g Possibly not"
Do you imagine soG
II do, with wise shake of the head.
Depend on it, Captain, you have both
mother and daughter TO fight, anAshould
they be successful your character would be
ruined, and am afraid that should notbe
able to keep you out OF the penitentiary."
. But there is no chance for their success
Grace would be fool TO throw away fort
une-"
Perhaps"
The two men left the house together, the
Captain laboring under intense excitement
The Penroys, mother and daughter, seemed
TO be in league against hun, and among the
unknown quantities were Austin Went
word, the hunter Fingal and that witch
Lara Joyce. Who as the Captain now real
ICED, was alive and working to thwaPt his
schemes
CHAPTER XIV.
SHOT FROM AMBUSH.
Several days later.
Two forms stood in the shadow Of some
trees not many rods from the great house
at Lone Hollow
at seems so strange that cloud should
have come between us, AUSTIN" said
Grace, as she leaned confidingly against his
shoulder and glanced up into his brave,
dark eyes.
There is perfect trust now, darling"
returned the young mechanic ~ was to
! blame entirely"
4 She stopped his lips with soft hand.
| mot word like that, Anstiu | know
that was hasty as well l.eF j pass
have other troubles now !"
/ "Other troubles, DEAR
s'About poor grandpa's will"
/ .'But why should that trouble you,
Grace. He left every thing 70 you, under.
! standn
.'True, but"
''Wela" as she hesitated and dropped
4 her honest gaze from his face, II am afraid
/ the will is not genuine
mot genuine What do you mean I'm
i sure I've heard your grandfather say q
score Of times, if | have once, that you
would have all his property when he was
! gone
II know, aud believe that such was his
intention said Grace, in an unsteady
4 voice, ''but--bul he did not live 10 sign the
will
.Who tells you thls.r demanded the
4 young mechanic, holly. at is a scheme TO
deprive you of your rights, Grace, and you
! must not submit to it
4 Why was he 80 earnest. Was it possible
I That sOrdid motive influenced him after
all Grace permitted this thought TO mar
I her happiness for moment only, then she
cast it from her as an unworthy reflection
\ on the character of her noble lover.
II have seen my grandfather's will,
Austin, and do not doubt but what it con.
tains his true Intentions" returned tho
/ girl, after a moments reflection; yet even
il all is right, 1 could not live up TO the con-
ditions, should prefer death sooner"
What are tho conditonsr'
i That become the wife Of Clinton Star
bright"
impossible
1T is true
"Who showed this TO your
Lawyer Grpes read it, and 1 have no
reason TO dispute the contents OF the dOcu-
meutn
''Then the viii is false, would be willing
to swear to that" declared tue young
man, Indignantly. ''This Starbricht IS at
the bottom Of q tremendous scheme. can
not believe that old Mr. VandIbie could
lend himself 70 such a wickedness n IN his
! right mind
"Great influence must have been brought
TO bear if he did agree to that said trace.
in any event shall renonuce the fort
une"
"lf the wIll holds good, who inherits,
with your refusal TO marry the Captain y
"Mr. Starbright."
"Ithought So You may depend upon II
that il is put up Job that must not be per-
mttted to succeed do not believe Morgan
vandible ever signed such paper as that
| knowingly
"ac did not, am sure OF that, asserted
Grace
'Then the document is forgery"
II fear So
Grace then related the incidents Of the
night when her grandfather died, when she
rushed into the room, thinking she heard
/! him calling, only TO find that he was dead
and the will, just drawn up for has sigma
| ture. lay before his sightless eyes un-
! signed.
"Whatever had been the intention OF
! grandfather he certainly did not live TO
place his signature 10 the will, concluded
| Grace, in a voice husky with the intensity
Of her emotions.
at is a clear case Of the basest rascalIty :"
exclaimed Austin Wentword. ITO me It
seems evident that Captain Starbright and
his lawyer nave plotted to throw the million
left BY your grandfather into the hands Of
Inc former. No doubt Starbright would be
| willing for YOU 10 ref use 10 marry him, for
then the vast fortune would fall entirely
INTO his hands II is a barefaced scheme that
IAN be easily frustrated"