Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1889-02-14
A MISERY'S HEIRESS.

exquisite, who was practlclnS law III
distant town, waited anxiously for re-
ply, which meant to him great deal
more than he would care to have the
world know
Aunt and nephew stood in the kitchen
Of a yellow farmhouse among the hills
"a low-ceiled, smoke-staineI room,
with roUgh, misshapen rafters over
head. Mrs. Brown-or Aunt Mag, as
the young man styled her-a tall, thin
woman, with elongated visage and slow,
methodical 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 nephews
anxiety, and said:
Il 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 sur
prise.
Why what possible difference can
1t make to you, Dick Holnes?' she de-
mantied in anything but. pleasant
tone.
"All the difference in the world,
aunt, if you would only stop to con-
slider. mean to make the heiress my
wife. My practice is not SO extensive
that l can supply my own necessary
wants and marry the girl l love. / love
Janet Gray, and l thoroughly despise
that selfish, spitfire cousin of hers, Ra.
chel Finkle. Nevertheless, if Rachel
were the heiress instead of Janet, /
should transfer my affections to her and
offer her my hand and heart"
To be rejected, may be-" snapped
the woman. You are a cold-blooded,
mercenary wretch, Dick Holmes, and
hope, whoever turns out to be the heir
ess, you will fail to catch her"
Thanks, he returned complacently,
Il have no cause to fear. Both of the
girls are devotedly attached to me.
Coed morning, aunt. As it is nearly
time for the funeral, and purpose max
ing this misers heiress Mrs. Holmes, I
will saunter over to the house l hope
when return to find YOU in more
conciliatory mood"
He walked quietly out of the room,
unheeding the look of contempt be-
slowed upon him by his aunt, at hand |
some a young fellow as one would care
to meet. He was tall and straight, with |
Grecian features, wavy black hair, and |
melting ewes, whose glances created sad
havoc with the hearts of the country |
maidens around
The room in which the corpse Law and /
the one adjoining it were filled to over
flowing with people who came mostly |
out of curiosity; for Jerome Finkle, |
who received no callers, who never did |
a favor for one of his neighbors from |
years end to 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 for |
the lawyer, for rumor to the effect |
that he was Janet's finance had been |
circulated throughout the town; and,
as the prospective husband of the
heriess, it was but meet that he should |
sit by her side. All noticed that he was
uncommonly grave and that his black
eyes rested tenderly upon Janet while
the clergyman repeated the last solemn
words over the remains of a man who.
when living, had never darkened the
doors of his church. All noticed, too,
how tenderly he wrapped her shawl
about her and lifted her into the car
riage when it was time to start.
1t 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 faithfully 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, a mouth like cleft rose
bad, dove-like eyes, and quantity of
brown hair, fairly scintillating with
golden lights. Rachel Finkle was dark
and tall, and, though not as attractive
as her cousin, was 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
Ms he bent solicitously over her cousins
chair and murmured words of con-
dolence. l.
Did Janet care for him? Heretofore
she had believed her to have penchant
for Bob good-natured, self-sacrificing
Bob-who stood aloof from her now,
shad upon his brow.
A death-like silence reigned in the
room as the shrewd little lawyer rustled
the papers in his hand and in slow,
precise manner began to read the last
will and testament of Jerome Finkle
After certain preparatory remarks,
interspersed with many an aforesaid" {
and whereas" came the following, fall
ing like thunder-bolt upon the ears of
of all, SO unexpected were they I
To Rachel Finkle, my granddaugh- {
ter, bequeathe this house and farm.
with all the appurtenances, pictures, and
furniture thereunto belonging; and to '
my beloved granddaughter. Janet Gray,
the best and kindest little girl 1 ever
knew, give the narrow strip of land j
overrunning with gooseberry bushes
containing two acres, more or less I
which borders my wood lot. CAS- Janet I
always had weakness for gooseberries S
she will appreciate my gift.) 1t is my {
desire, however, that she should have I
The bushes uprooted and the land t
ploughed and sown in wheat. Failing
10 do this in two years time, the land !
also becomes the property of Rachel
All felt that it was decidedly unjust
will. That arid strip of land, where '
naught flourished but mullein-stalks and j
bushes, was barely worth 7
while the farm, with its I
acres of tillable soil, its vast /
meadows and its valuable wood lot, WAS
worth several thousands.
Involuntary Dick Holmes turned 8