Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-23

hother, Will obey you in all things
risht, put You must not speak harshly of
Austin Wentworth
Mustn't Is' with sharp information.
"Well, well, has it come to this that l
am tc be defed in my own house
ana by my own daughter? Who is this
"entWord, l should like to ask, that he
must be treated with such Immaculate re-
gard! Nothing but a low mechanic, with
no thought above a saw and jack-plane l
think
"Mother."
will go on, and you shall not stop me
until I've had my say" insisted Mrs
Penroy, growing hot with her own conceit.
Austin Wentword supposed that you would
some day be rich, and that was why he paid
you such aSSlduOuS court. You have not
seen him since your grandfathers death, 1
take ita''
81 have not''
True. WE'LL he won't be apt to trouble
you again. Whys Simply because he has
doubtless suspected that all is not gold
that glitters, and that the supposed heiress
has been cut off with shilling. l under
stand these men, they are all sordid Great
ures.''
Mother, cease, pray you. Have you
forgotten my father!" said Grace, in a
choked undertone.
No; Mr.. Penroy was a good man, the
best one ever met, yet he had his faults
" " no has not!"
''True; but 1t was of Wentword that we
were speaking. Do you expect him again
to see you!''
Grace was silent.
Il understand your feelings; you hope he
will return again. but, let me tell you, he
had better not. l would sooner see you
dead than the wife of a low mechanic"
Mother, why will you persist in speak
ing thus disrespectfully of Austin!''
81 express my true opinion
81 hope not"
81 see that you entertain sneaking affec-
ton for him. cried Mrs. Penroy, angriIy.
''Let me tell you that you receive his fur
Their attentions at your peril Should you
dare marry such Us he l would disinherit
YOU"
1t was Grace's turn to show resentment
now. Meek people are usually firm enough
when the rock of forbearance has been
passed.
'.Mother, / will not listen. You talk of
disinheriting me, but that you can not do,
since you have nothing of your own: my in
heritance comes direct from Grandpa
Vandible, and you can not touch it. While
live, however, you shall not want for
home and all the comforts that money can
give, but you must not insult my feelings
as you have done tonight
The girl choked at the last, and there were
tears in the honest gray eyes, for it grieved
the heart of Grace to speak harshly to her
mother, even under provocation.
A sneer curled the lip of Mrs. Penroy,
which failed to improve her looks, and in
her faded eyes there came sudden, I'LL
readable CLEAN.
"So!' she aspirated, 81 see that the inn
maculate Captain Starbright has played his
I. l.,Tl
succeedr'
Captain Starbright!''
ayes. He has given you to understand
that Morgan, my father, made will on the
night of his last illness, giving you every
thing. Will you deny its''
'No, for it is true"
81 knew it. When Captain Starbright
told you that your grandfather left a will
he lied. for no such document was found,
and am the only heir to my fathers prop
erty. You see. the shoe is on the other
foot, and that you remain an inmate of Lone
Hollow at my sufferance. The little plot
arranged between you and the Captain to
win a million has failed. / am not the
dupe and fool you and Captain Starbright
imagined"
The widow tapped her gold snuff-box to
give emphasis to her words.
Grace regarded her in Mortified silence.
Her mother must be losing her reason, it
seemed to Grace, else she would never
make such an accusation, SO causeless and
wicked.
"Stand there and cape, like the silly fool
that you are" cried the unnatural mother.
"You didn't imagine that l would see
through your scheme, it was so neatly
planned"
'.Mother. please DON'T" pleaded Grace.
s'But will. just the same, you migrate
L.
from home by you and that scoundrelly
Captain. IL
mother, can not listen,' protested
Grace II know you are not yourself to-
night. Some other time, when you are
calm will talk with you on this subject"
Il am calm now," declared Mrs. Penroy
81 wish you to tell me the truth regarding
this Captain Starbright.'
q know no more than you do about him.
"Did he tell you that your grandfather
left villa"
Eyes. know he left one, for saw it
with my own eyes"
..Whens Where!" demanded Mrs. Pen
roy, eagerly.
Grace explained how. on the morning of
Mr.. Vandible's death, she had thought she
heard his voice calling and she had rushed
in to find him lying still and white on the p:I-
low.
1.-The will was lying before him, and
stranger, a lawyer, l suppose, and Captain
Starbright stood at the bedside. Grand
father was dead even then, but in my ex-
citement did not fully realize it,
"And you saw the will, you are sure of
thata'
81 am sure of that"
"Did You know what it containeda''
There was IA flush on the widows cheek
a strange, eager glitter in the faded eyes
as she asked the question.
No. did not,'' said the girl.
"Then why do you imagine that my father
,disinherited me, his only child, to take up
with a more distant relative:'
81 only know that he SO declared his IN
tention many times"
"To you!"
Eyes, to me-"
ssIndeed."
"Wil you permit me TO ask you cues
ton, mothers"
Certainly"
81 have no wish to claim what IS not my
own by law and right, mother dear" pro-
ceeded Grace as she sank to seat and re-
-arded Mrs. Penroy with q saddened glow
of the honest gray eyes. 81 only know that
grandpa executed will in my favor, out
there is this that has puzzled me. Ii the
will was Eot signed, wouldit be lawful when
it was surely the testater's wish and lnten-
ton to place his name to the instrument,
death alone preventingF'
"Of course such a will could not be law
full"
"Then bow to your claim, mother dear
will that sayy that fatal morning