The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-31
INHERITING A WIFE.


man, with flush Of anger on his hand
some fac, as he tura ed from his un Gle
towards the pale girl standing by the
wind ow.
"Goodby, Frank" she said, Hstless-
ly, pro1T,rlng him a slender white hand.
He took ths hand, and, bending over,
lightly touched her forehead with his
lips.
She raised her head to address him
with forcei effort, and he was gone.
9TH young fool thinks he can defy
me-" said NJ. John Duncan, angrily,
lut with love and pity rising to his
kindly gray eyes as he bent thom upon
Helen.
The latter was the rich old mans
adopted daug hter, and in her seemed
centered all his happiness. She was
his idol, and he had planned to make
her his heiress, or that she should share
all he had of this worlds goods with
Frank Duncan, his nephew. But this
latter contingency was to be that these
young people should have his fortune
together only as man and wife.
Helen Morley had been an orphan
ever since she could remember. She
had endeared herself to Old Mr. Dun
can by her sweet, unselfish life and her
devotion to him as her benefactor.
She and Frank had been thrown
much together, as a matter of course,
and old Mr.. Duncan, as he looked at
his favorito nephew's handsome, AMI
mated face, and then at HeIen's sweet
oval picture, framed by her mass of
bright hair, when the two were to-
gether, declared to himself that they
were made for each other, and that it
was plainly the work of Heaven that
they should be thrown accidentally in
each Others way.
But he had just now serious mis-
givings whether or not Heaven ever
had nything to do with such a young
scapegraco as his nephew.
He had just received terrible shock,
and ho was stirred by anger, disap-
pointmont, and pity for his fair Helen.
Then, too, he was placed in so deli
cate position that ho hardly knew what
to say to her. He had no assurance
that Frank had ever spoken a word ol
love to this girl.
"But he can't defy mo with i'm
punity" growled the irato uncle, a:
Helen had not replied to his first re
mark about the young gentleman in
question. 'I will not leave him ,
farthingl will mako a new will! H
shall be beggar for all he'll get from
me! = continued John Duncan, stamping
his foot fierccly.
"Oh, father!" said Helen, appo aling-
ly. "What has he done to anger yor
soY"
Ozone" shouted the old man, fairly
exasperatod by this question. forgetting
for the moment that Helen did not
share his news, and therefore indignant
that she should not join with him in
condemning the young mans heniou.
crime. 'Done" he repeated, in rising
tones of freshly kindIed anger. "What
hasn't he done2 Upset all my plans
Destroyed ali my happiness! Tells me-
he's IN love with that French girl,
Elise COurtois, and that his happiness,
his very lie depends upon his marrying G
herl And he has the ctfrontery to ask
my approval of such ridiculous step p
The old man paused only at sight 0
Helen, who had sunk pale and tire NIB
ling upon a SOFA Her delicate fingers
were interlaced, and there was a look
of such unutterable pain in her face
that even Mr.. Duncan's anger fed be
fore it.
Then with sudden thought his anger
rose again, and he demanded, "Ha:
the villain deceived you, Helen:
Tell me the truth BY heaven, if h
has, I'll"
sob, no, no; he has never spoken tc
mo of-of-"
"Thero, there, my dcarl I only
wished to know-I meant it all for your
good" sail Mr.. Duncan, tenderly.
Helen fed to her chamber to think,
and to recover, if possible, from th'
sudden blow she had received
There had been no spoken words 9
love between them for tho three year:
that Frank had been 4 constant visitor
to his unclo's, and yet she had thought
she had believed; yes, she had hoped