Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-05-01

city, but she wiped them away and
walked veiy fast When sho reached
her humble home she could no longer
keep them back. but threw herself upon
the lounge sobbing bitterly. So violent
was her grief that she did not hear the
door open, but she started up with n
little cry of fright when a strong arm
was passed around her slender waist
and a mustached mouth brushed her
cheek.
"ErnestW she exclaimed, starting mp.
Eyes, dear, it is J." said Ernest Low
ton, and he kissed away the tears. 81
met Lawyer Duunet a few moments ago
and he told me the whole story, else J
would not have dared come. You are
still my poor, hard worked little school
teacher sweetheart, and / want you to
be my wife. If that viii had not so
mysteriously disappeared | should have
sailed tomorrow for South America"
"Oh, Ernestl' she gasped. "How
cruelr' and then nesting close beside
him she forgot all about her disappoint-
ment ia the enjoyment Of a blissful and
reciprocal love.
A few weeks thereafter they were
married, and for several months lived,
very happily. In the meantime, there
being no opposition, the viii which John
Wilcox had found was probated, and he
took possession Of the dead mans estate.
Having been a very careless man so far
as business was concerned, Jabez Fields
had left his affairs IN n decidedly com
p~licated state, and Lawyer Dunnet was
kept busy trying TO evolve order out Of
chaos. Alice had been e wife about five
months when her husband was stricken
with q low fever. Alice nursed him
faithfully, and their little heard grew
smaller and smaller until only a few
dollars remained. She had had no in
%tercourse With her cousin Since the day
of Jabez Fields funeral, but now when
the life Of him whom she loved was
mcnaccd she plucked up the courage to
ask her rich relative for a small loan.
Wilcox had taken up his residence at
the old mansion. and there she found
him busy in consultation with Lawyer
DuEnet. Timidly and in hating sen
fences she made known the nature Of
her business.
Il never loan money except on good
security, said the rich man when she
finished, and Alice, with a great pun at
her heart and tears in her eyes, staggered
rather than walked from the room
Lawyer Dunnet followed her into the
hall and touched her arm,
Accept this from me, madam" he
said, in a low voice, and he placed a
bank bill in her trembling hand. ~
stop here tonight and win call to gee you
tomorrow.
Sobbing her thanks sac passed ont into
the night and FASTENED with feet steps
to the bedside of her husband. The doc.
tor was with him, and he whispered to
her that the e-:sis had passed. and if
there was &c relapse Ernest Lowton
would SPA be well.
II inc morning, much to her surprise,
Alice received Il nots in Lawyer Dun
nets handwriting bidding her hasten at
once to the old mansion Ernest was
sleeping quietly, and leaving him to the
care of a neighbor she hurried on ont to
"Oakdale." A servant ushered her into
the library, where John Wilcox and
Lawyer Dunnot received her. The latter
sprang up MS che entered and grasped
both her hands.
81 congratulate you, Mrs. Lowton,
he said. THE missing win, which
makes you your g%randuncle's sole hoir-
ess, has been found, and Mr.. Wilcox will
make no contest"
'The will foundr' echoed Alice.
Eyes, and I'm left out i'll the coldr'
snarled John Wilcox. "Allow me tc
congratulate you" and he stallscd III
grily from the com.
Its a very strange story" began the
lawyer when the door closed after the
irate man, and he drew his chair toward
the enc ON which Alice sat in stupeied
wonder. hardly believing her ears. "You
know that when | was here the night
after the funeral Of Mr.. Fields that the
win, which makes you his sole heiress
mysteriously disappeared. Last night
slept in the room that / occupied on that
unfortunate occasion. When | awoke
this morning the viii was lying on the
table just where left it six months ago.
1t looked like magic, and | couldn't ex
PLAIN the matter until one Of the serv.
ants said that he had seen me proving
about the garden fully dressed at {
o'clock this morning. Then / remem
bered that when | was a boy | used to
walk in my sleep. l thought had out-
grown the habit, but it is evident that
I while in a somnambulistic state | hid
the viii, and under the SAINT influence
r found it again. '-Philadelphia Times.