Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-01-24
THE MISER'S WILL.
How Janet's Gooseberry Lot
Proved Worthy Cultivation.

exquisite, who was practiclng law In a
distant town, waited anxiously for a
reply, which meant to him 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-ceiied, smoke-stained
room, with rough, misshspened raft
ers overhead. Mrs. Brown, or Aunt
Mag. as the young man styled her, a
tall thin woman, with elongated Wis.,
age and slow, me!hodical ways, care
fully wiped the eartheu bowl she held
in her hand, and put it away in the
shining dresser. ere she took compass
sion on her nephews anxiety, and
said:
Il think, nay, I'm certain that Janet
will fall heir to the old mans proper
ty. She is his favorite granddaught-
err
Thank Heavenl it is Janet, and
not Rachel, broke forth the listener
with a 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 HolmesT she de.
manded in anything but pleasant
tone.
sAll the difference in the world
aunt. If you will only stop to consider
mean to make the heiress my wife
NV practice is not so extensive that
can supply my own necessary wants
and marry the girl | love. l love
Janet Gray, and l thoroughly despise
that selfish, spitfre cousin of hers
Rachel Finkle. Nevertheless, If Rachel
we're 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 cold blooded
mercsnary wretch, Dick Holmes, and
l hope, whoever turns out to be the
heiress, you will fail to catch her.
Thanks he returned, complacent'
ly, 4 have no cause to fear. Both ol
the girls are devoGedly attached to me
Good morning. Aunt. AS it is nearly
time for the funeral and l propose
making The miser's heiress Mrs
Holmes, ] will saunter over to the
house. | hope when l return to fine
you in more conciliatory mood
He walked quietly out Of the room
unheeding the look of contempt be-
slowed upon him by his aunt, as hand
some a young fellow as one woulc
care to meet. He was tall and straight
with Grecian features, wavy black
hair and melting black eyes, whose
glances created sad havoc with the
hearts of the country maidens around
The room in which the corpse. lay
and the one adjoining it were filled
to overfowing with people who came
mostly out of curiosity; for jerome
Finkle, who received no callers, whc
never did favor for one of his neigh
bors from one years end to another
years end, was an ooject Of dislike
and mystery to the good folks of tn
neighborhood in which he had resided
for the past twenty years. There
were no mourners save his two grand
daughters, who had lived with hin
and kept his house.
A seat near the cousins was tounc
the lawyer, for rumor to the effec
that he was Janet's .fGncee had beel
circulated throughout the town, and
as the prospective husband of tn
heiress, it was but right that he shoulc
sit by her side. All noticed that h
was uncommonly grave and that hi
black eyes often rested tenderly upol
Janet while the clergyman repeated
the last solemn words over the re
mains of man who, when living, hac
never darkened the doors of hi
church. All noticed, too, how tender
ly he wrapped her shawl about he
and lifted her into the carriage whel
it was time to start.
1t was on his arm she leaned whel
the coffin was lowered into the cold
dark grave, and the shovelfuls of dir
began to tall upon it; and he it was
instead Of Bob Temple, who had love-
her faithfully for years, who whis
pered words of sympathy to her a
they sat, later on, in the dingy bes
room to listen to the reading of th
miser's will.
A pretty, modest girl was Jane
Gray. She was slight and fragile
with clear-cut features, a mouth lik
cleft rosebud, dove-like eyes and
quantity of brown hair fairly scintil
lating with golden lights. Rache
Finkle was dark and tall, and, thong
not as attractive as her cousin, was
showy-looklng girl. Selfish, as Dlcl
Holmes termed her, she loved hin
with all her heart, and it was perfec
torture for her to watch him as b
bent sollcitously over her cousin
chair and murmured words of cor
1olence.
Did Janet care for him? Hereto
fore she had believed her TO have
penchant for Bob-good natured, SELF