The Irish standard., 1890-11-15

Il known in the northern lati tndes OF
4 North America. Away in the western
sky the crimson sun was fast sinking,
i lighting all the, horizon with a golden
radiance and, for the nonce. gliding the
closelybuilt streets OF the great me-
1 tropo1is until its spires and roofs. shune
resplendent as the palaces Of a fairy
1 prince. For a few mOments a bright
ray slanted through the window Of the
still chamber and rested upon the pleas
ant and well-loyed features Of the good
old man. Then as the sunlight gradual
~ faded away to be followed by the
creeping shadows OF the twilight. the
/ gentle spirit of Joel Wilcox fed to that
! land where sunlight and shadow are
| both as naught in the eternal brightness
of the great God.
CHAPTER XIV.
It was sad house when Mr.. Wilcox s
body was taken from it in casket and
carried to the New York Cen trail Depot
where it was placed on q train,and CON
veyed to the New England village where
he had expressed desire to be buried.
Mrs Dalaro and Armida accompanied
the body, as also did Mr.. Blodger, and
as the last rites were administered that
soft-hearted old gentleman wiped away
big tears from his eyes with q faring
red silk handkerchief. He could hardly
think it true that the close friend of his
early days had been carried Off SO sud-
denly and it was with sad heart that
he turned his back on the grave. There
was no ostentatious display; every thing
| was simple as the honest old million
aires life had been. He had but few
friends during life whom he could call
friends and three Of them wept at his
grave.
Hearing OF his death a large mum Der
Of his relations had presented them
selves al mis- house in, New York and
commenced interferences which were
boldly and decisively checked by Mrs.
Delaro and tho lawyers. Many Of them
we're persons who treated the dead mill
ionaire very badly before he migrated
! to California, but they had often en-
dcavored to become more intimate with
him in later years. These he had sue
cessful1y kept ut arms length; neverthe-
less they rallied, like carbon crows.
filed with the fond hope that he had
not forgotten his relations in his last
hours, aad all expected that their names
would be found in the will in connec-
ton with fat legacies. Had they been
mindful Of the old proverb how much
less severe would have been their dis
appointment.
In most cases they were ignored al
together and only few Of their
names were mentioned in the will
| which was a few weeks later
admitted 20 probate. TO the aston:sh-
nent OF all, and more especially to the
New England relatives. the bulk Of
Joel Niilcox's wealth including mining
and railroad stocks representa- enornl-
Gus sums he beQueathed to Percy Lovei.
To Mrs. Delaro he left nearly all his
California estates and among them was
the Posada vineyard which was now
once more the property of the Delaros.
To Armida he gave his beautiful
mansion and grounds in the Sonona
valley, and the rest Of his few
requests consisted Of various sums left
to charitable instit buttons and those of
his relatives for whom he had still re-
| tanned some regard. This, briefly, was
the last will and testament of Joel
| Wilcox.
1t was not until his body was laid to
rest that Mrs Delafo thoroughly com
pretended how true and staunch a
| very much alone in the world. True,
! her daughter remained; but the stout
! hearts who had passed their word to
assist her in every way to accomplish
! the purpose of her life had left her side
and she mad grave fears that her
| efforts might now fall short of her one
| cherished desire.
! The house in which Mr.. Wilcox had
died soon became too dreary q place for
| Armida to be confined in and her mother
| noticed it. 1t would never do to see
| the healthy color leave those cheeks
| change must be sought and that very
! soon. Yet something ought to be-
| learned of Percy Lowell, thought Mrs.
Delaro. What was to be learned came
soon to hand. but it was eminently un-
| satisfactory.
| The letter from the American Consul
| at Buenos Ayres merely stated that u
| gentleman travelling as Mr. Byron
Huntly had appeared in that city. but
his stay had been only a brief one. lie
| had taken trip into the interior, he
said, and nothing had been heard from
| him since. But as such occurrences
were not infrequent it had caused no Sc
rious Investigations to be made, though
| should any other news come to hand the
Consul promised to advise Mr.. Wilcox.
| This letter did not arrive until after
Mr. Wilcox's DEATH and it troubled
Mrs Delaro not little. She had heard
that Mr.. limerick was again in New
York. and she had advised Mrs Breezy
Of the fact, but had not seen that goo
| woman since.
Some few weeks later another letter
arrived from Buenos Ayres conveying
the sad Intelligence that the body of a
man. dressed exactly as the supposed
Mr.. Huntly was known to have dressed,
had been taken from the river a few miles
below San Nicholas, the last place from
whence tidings Of the traveller had been
received.
This communication was a great blow
to Mrs. Delaro What should she do