Nevada County picayune., 1889-02-13


 mostly for curiosity; for Jerome Finkle. who received no callers, who never did favor for one of his neighiors from one years end to an other. was an ob feet of dislike and mystery to the good folks of the neighborhood in which he had re- sided for the past twenty years. There were no mourners save his two granddauyhters, who had lived with him and kept his house.
 \ sea, near the cousins was found for the lawyer. A rumor to the cf feet that he was Janet's linancce, had been circulated throughout the town; and, as the prospective husband of the heircss. it was but meet that he should sit by her side. All nuticed that he was uncommonly grave and that his black eyes often rested ten derly upon Janet while the clergy man repeated the last solemn words over the remains 0t man who. when living, had never darkened the doors of the church. All noticed. too, how tenderly he wrapped her shawl about her and lifted her into the carriage when it was time to start
 It was on his arm she leaned when the coffin was lowered into the cold. dark grave, and the shovclfuls of dirt began to fall upon it; and he it was, instead of Bob Temple, who had loved her faithfully for years, who whispered words of sympathy t9 her as they sat, later on, in the dingy best room to listen to the read= ing of the miser's will.
 A pretty, modest girl was Janet Gray. She was slight and fragile, with clear cut features, a mouth like a cleft rose bud. dove-like eyes and a quantity of brown hair fairly sclntll- laling with golden lights. Rachel Finkle was dark and tall, and though not as attractive as her cousin, was a showy-looking girl. Selfish, as Dick Holmes termed her, she loved him with all her heart. and it was perfect torture for her to watch him as he bent solicitousiy words of condOlencc. Did Janet care for him! Hereto fore she had believed her to have a penchant for Bob-good-natured, self-sacrilicing Bob-who stood aloof from her now, a shadow upon her brow.
 4 death-llke silence reigned m the room as the shrewd little lawyer rus- tied the papers in his hand, and in slow, precise manner began to read the last will and testament of Jerome F;nklc.
 After certain preparatory ramarks, iu,eIspersed with many an "atore said' and 'whereas,H came the fol- lowing. falling like q thnnderbolt upon the ears of all, so totally uneX- pected were they:
 "To Rachel Finklc my grand daughter, 1 bequeath this house and farm, with all the appqrtenances, pictures and furniture thereto be- longing, and to my beloved grand daughter, Janet Gray, the best and kindest little girl l ever knew, l give the narrow little strip of land over running with notwithstanding two acres, more or less-which hors ders my wood lot, tAs Janet all ways had q weakness for gooseber- ries she will appreciate my gift.) It is my desire. however, that she should have the bushes uprooted and the land plowed and sowed in wheat. Failing to do this in two years time, the land also becomes the property of Rachel" "
 All felt that it was a decidedly un- just will. That arid strip of land i, where naught ilourished but mullein- stalks and gooseberry bushes, was barely worth accepting; while the farm, with it's numerous acres of till able soil, it's vast meadows and its valuable wood lot, was worth several thousand.
 lnyolqntarily Dick Holmes turned from the girl he protessed to love and went over to Rachel. whose face wore an exultant look
 Let me congratulate you, Miss Finkle- Rachel" he said, with those mesmeric eyes of his fastened upon her. as he bent low over her chair. You know how glad l am of your good fortune. "