The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-12-06

certainly put lot of side on" but her
manner, if cold, was certainly respectful
and deferential, and she alluded to the de-
ceased as her late master
The Dean performed the service with a
sonOrous dignity that was extremely i'm
pressive. Jack followed first as chief
mourner, and, rather to his surprise, i'm
mediately after him came Parker and the
young lady from the hall. Jack was de-
sirous that the pretty young lady should
walk beside him, and bowed to her to do
so, but she only shook her head and smiled
tearfully, the gentlest, prettiest little show
cry smile one could imagine. She looked
so pretty and sweet and sad that Jack all
but said, "Oh, l say, don't cry! She was
the onl y one of all those assembled who
shed tear. As she stood beside the open
grave, bunch of white lilacs relieving the
intense blackness of her dress, her pretty
golden hair framed by the little black bon
net, Jack vowed to himself that Gladys
Munroe was the prettiest girl he had ever
seen.
Half an hour later all the party were
assembled in the dining-room to hear the
will read
"Let all the servants be called in," said
the Dean with great authority.
"You will perhaps allow me also to be
present" said Parker in her smooth voice.
Certainly; | said all the servants" re-
piled the Dean, with emphasis. "The
young lady may remain also if she wish"
A ghost of smile crossed Parker's calm
face as he spoke.
If the Dean read the funeral service
impressively, he had yet retained a still
more pathetic key in which to read the
will. 1t was dated ten years ago and as
our readers know, everything went to the
Dean and his son, except some legacies to
the servants living with deceased at his
death.
As the Dean finished the parchment
cracked as he folded it up, but the Dean
heard another rustling behind him. Parker
had risen in her crisp, new mourning and
was facing the audience. The Dean began
with a propitiatory smile:
Il need hardly say, Parker, that | shall
be 6 lad to increase your legacy of f2O to
ESQ"
Parker's manner is respectful still, but
has an unexpected austerity in it,
81 thank you for your kindness, but
do not now need it. | am Mrs. Thurlow,
your uncle having married me month
before his death" A hum of approval
rose from the other servants. Mrs. Thur
low Cthough for convenience sake We will
continue to call her Parker moved with
some dignity from her seat and took the
head of the table. Jack laughed softly,
and said:
"There, dad, told you it was odds on
the black mare"
The Dean preserved his serenity admira-
bly,.
81 presume you are in position to
n, -oye the marriage"
"a d,an,sainly, l have the certificate here"
WI ~ 'Heige"Sithout more ado, she pro-
W hereupOn, " at L..
iuced it. i7e on. hat. or ,Lo I'LL
81 have and q pann .mg will mhon
laVe im mn IN s.5tcd and handed bAFte Fte''n, wnen
tifcate. &c cei-
"a little premature (she said prematoor,
but that was the only slip she made)
You know, of course, that marriage cancels
a will?' Then, indeed, the Dean felt his
last plank giving away beneath him.
''If that is so, my uncle died intestate,
and you will take your half of the property"
"Excuse me a moment, replied Parker.
She then called to one of the maids, who
handed her a box, out of which she pro-
duced and duly put on widows cap, and
a very comely widow she made as she sat
there in her becoming mourning, the light
of victory in her bright eyes.
at is my turn to read will now, said
the buxom widow, and she dived once more
into her neat little reticule
When things came to this pitch the
Dean said he felt fate could have no more
blows in store for him. The will was
dated three days after the marriage, and
after leaving legacy of $500 to the Dean
the entire residue of his property went to
shis dear wife Anna Maria and to her
daughter Nellie"
'To your what?" cried the Dean, glar-
ing at her through his glasses.
''To my daughter Nellie" she answered,
waving her hand 70 the pretty young girl
with the sweet eyes and hair. Nellie
blushed, and half held out her hand to the
Dean in propitiary way. Jack blushed,
too, to the very roots of his ruffled yellow
hair; she wasn't Miss Gladys Munroe after
all, only cooks daughter. Up till then
the Dean had kept the curb on his temper,
but now the tempest Of his wrath broke
loose. There was a terrible scene. He
denounced the whole thing as an abomina-
Bile conspiracy; he would upset both mar
riage and will; he banged the table, he
stamped on the floor; he called his uncle
confounded old fool, and to Parker he said
every dreadful thing an outraged dean may
say. [ am bound to admit that Parker
scored off him as far as dignity went, but
then it is easy to keep your temper when
you have Won the game and have onl ly to
gather up the stakes. The Dean left the
house threatening all kinds of pains and
penalties; he shook the dust off his feet and
breathed out fire and fury as he leapt into
the fly. Jack ought to have supported
and seconded his father, but Nellie was
crying softly in corner, and she looked
so troubled and pretty that Jack, after
moments hesitation, took her hand and
said softly:
"Good-by, Nellie, don't cry; you and I'll
remain friends whatever the old folks do,
and straightway Nellie did leave off crying
and little watery ghost of a smile crept
back into her eyes as she looked up at
Jack and whispered
GLOW kind and good you are. Good
by"
CHAPTER Ill.
The next three months are chronicle
of doughty legal deeds, With a beauti
ful alacrity several sets of solicitors gal
loped into the fray.
The Dean questioned the marriage and
that was established. then he attacked the