Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-04-04
CHAPTER XI.
GEORGE PUZZLES NE.

GEORGE PUZZLES NE.
The blinds were closely drawn at Lang
dale Grange, shutting out the whitened
wintry landscape. The inmates moved
about with solemn faces and hushed
voices, for in one of the upstairs rooms
that had besn set apart for her to live in
lay Mrs. HargreaVe-deGd.
Amid such surroundings my bride and
1 began what under ordinary circumstan-
ces would have been called our honey
moon.
The funeral arrapg ements were made at
the request of Mr.. bod, of Wexham, the
lawyer whom Mrs. Hargreave had en-
ployed to draw up her Will, and when we
returned from the cemetery on Monday
morning he referred to the fact for the
first time With a smile which I was
afterWard better able to interpret, he
placed the document in my hand.
Although my life of Late had seemed
made up of surprises, 1 must own that
the contents of that will staggered me-
With the exception of two or three lega-
cies in furtherance Of certain religious
movements in which Mrs. HargreaVe ap-
peared to have been interested, the whole
Of the real and personal estate was be-
queathed tome.
How like poor mother!" exclaimed
George, when, on the lawyers departure
1 gave her the viii to read. She said
must never marry poor man, so you see
she has made you rich.
And that was how she took lt-she who,
for the second time, as 1t seemed to me,
| had been defrauded Of her rights-my
beautiful, unselhsh. noble minded wife.
Never had I loved her more truly than at
! that moment, and when the lawyer was
! gone, and we were alone, 1 told her so.
! But somehow she did not seem to COM
/ prehenG. OF what use to her, she asked,
! were money and land? Mother gave me
to you, Jack-me for whom alone she
! cared to live. Why, then, are you so
! much surprised that she should also trust
! you with what she called mere dross?
Then, before I could answer changing
| the subject with q suddenness not unusual
with her, but to which Z had scarcely yet
/ become accust omed, Jack, she said, i
/ have not consulted you about Edna, but
! of course you could have no objections to
/ any arrangements I might make?"
She has left. You want a new maid?'
| I asked innocentlY enough; for, not haV-
! ing seen Edna since our marriage morn.
/ ing, I naturally enough concluded she
! had gOne-that we should probably never
| meet again-while feeling I had pre-
ferred not to anaiyze told me this would
| be the best for both Of US.
Edna left?" echoed George, smilingly
"On the contrary, she has promised never
to 90 away unless / wish 1t. Mother took
! a great fancy for Edna, and spoke to hel
| very seriously on the night of her death
| the result was that Edna agreed to remain
with me as a cOmpaniOn-a friend. Oh
course she must be paid more than if she
were my maid, but that is easily ar
ranged.
This announcement petrifed me. Ednl
in the house still-cOnsenting to remain
1t seemed incredible!
Engage q new maid, Georgia, by al
means, / said, but decidedly object Il
this plan ola companion"
~Why?"
What can you want with one? Yoy
have me, your husband.
You may as well say at once that yOl
hate Edna Lynton. for it is my belief yoJ
do, she answered, holly. And, if yOI
do. you must tell me Why"
1 felt myself color beneath her pene
trative gaze, but her words offered a loop
hole for escape. I seized it eagerly an,
asked:
Els it not natural I should hate any
thing or anybody that comes between my
self and yOu2"
You absurd boyl" she cried. laughing
Elf you are jealous Of a girl what VIII yOI
/ be-