The Springdale news., 1889-03-15
THE MISER'S \ WILL,
How Janet's Gooseberry Lot
 Proved Worthy Cultivation.

Which of the two girls, Aunt Mag, do you suppose viii be the old misers heiress?n and Dick Holmes, n young exquisite. who was praeticing law in distant town, waited anXi6usiy for reply, which meant to him a great deal -moFe 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-eeiled, snoke-stained room, with rough. m eshapen rafters over head. Mrs Brown-or Aunt Mag. as the young man styled her-a tall, thin woman, with elongated Fisage and slow. methodical ways. carefully wiped the earthen bowl she held in her hand. and put 1t away in the shining dresser. ere she took compassion on her nephew's anxiety, and said:
 'I think. nay, I'm certain that Janet will fall heir tU the old man property. She is his favorite erauddaughter.
 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 surprise.
 "Whyi what possible difference can it make to yoa, Dick Holmes2n she demanded in any thing but a pleasant tone.
 All the difference l. the world, aunt, fl you will only stop to consider. l mean to make the heiress my wife. NJ practice Is not go extensive that l can supply my own necessary @ants and marry tho girl love. I love Janet Gray, and thoroughly deSgise that selfish, sBitfire cousin Of hers. Rachel Fiakie. Never- theless. I Rachel We're the heiress in- stead of Janet. 1 should transfer my affections to her and offer her my hand and heart.
 "To be rejected, may be. snapped the woman. .,>i ou are {. eold-blooded, mereenary wretch, Dick Holmes, and ] hope, whoever turns out to be the heiress, you will fail 10 catch her"
 Thanks. he returned, eemp4aecnt- ly, "I have no cause te fear Both of 1As girls are deyotedlyatfaehed to me. Good morning, Aunt As 1t is nearly time for the funeral, and l purpose making the miser's heiress Mrs. Holmes. will sumter over to the house. hope when l return to find you in a more eonciIiatory mood '
 He walked quietly out the room, unheeding the look of contempt be- slowed upon him by his amt. d. hand some a young fellow as one would care to meet. He was tall and straight. with Greeian 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 tho one adjoining il were filled to overiiowing Wiik people @ha came mostly ont of curiosity: for Jerome flnkle, wbo received no callers. who never did a favoe for one of his neigh bors from one years end 10 another years end, was all object ol dislike and mystery to the good folks af the neighborhood in which Ire had resided for the past twenty years There were no mourners save lis two grand daughters, who had lived with him and kept his house.
 A seat near the cousins .eas foura the lawyer, for rumor to the effect thAt he was Janet's 6a7eee had been circulated throughout the town: and. as the prospective husband of the heiress, itw,ts 5at meet that ha should sit by her side All noticed that be was uneommonly grave and that his black eyes often re-ted tgnderly upon Janet while tAe clerg, man repeated ehe last solemn words o4ar the re- mains of 8 man who, when living. had negot aarksned the aeers ef nj, church. All noticed, too, how tender- iy he wrapped her shawl about her and lifted her into the carriage when il Eaa tune 10 start
 It was on his arm she leaned when the coffin Was lowered into the cold. dark grave, and ihe sho4 vliMs of dirt began lo ial upon it and he il vas. instead of Bob Temple, who had loved her faithfully for years. wlo " hispered words of sympathy to her ;ls they sat. later on. in the diney best room 10 lis.en 10 the reading ot the miser's will.
 A pretty. modest girl was Janet Gray. She was slight and fragile, with elear-cut features, q mouth like cleft ro.ebud. dove-like eyes and a quantity of brown hair fairly scintil- lating with golden lights, Rachel finkla E,4s 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 gila all her aeart. and it was perfect torture for her to watch him as he bent solieitously over her cousins chair and mutaaured words of con dolence
 Did Jfnet care for h1Ia? Heretofore