Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-19
81 beg your pardon, madam. "

81 beg your pardon, madam"
The girl was moving away when a
young man, fearless of a stepmother's
frown, drew her to his side as the doc
tors voice was herd again:
"No need to run away, my dear
There is no secret but what sill the
world will know soon"
"All the world need not know save
for your own headstrong folly" ex-
ella med his helpmate with emphatic
austerity. ''Listen to me, Alexander
Whitaker; You will repent this quixotic
business-too late"
The doctor only shook hi hea I. He
did not peak, for now again Lemuel
Wash was with tn, m, and all the former
insolence was redoubled.
well, my rash aud Impulsive
friends, and with an evil smile he tap
ped legal-looking paper IN his hand,
sis this interesting little docum ent to
be public property?"
'4es, and L care not how SOON" For
once peaceable Alexander had the val
or Of his great namesake. 81 am
weary of fraud and deceit"
''Even as l am weary of all this mys-
terry" pat in his son. "Be good enough
to say what there is to say, sir, and
theu-' with grim significance.
''Ce tainly,'' Mr.. Wash bowed in
mock humility; 'I hasten to obey.
Mine is simple tale. Merely this: As
next-of-kin to an only sister, deceased,
MIR. Alexander Whitaker is here in
comfortable possession of Southfield
Manor aud something like four thou
sand a year. because that esteemed
lady was supposed to have died IN
testate. A mere matter OF detail, but
Devert ueless, a mistake. You see Miss
j ulia Whitaker happened to make q
willp'
Made will" This was indeed un-
expecte f; but Paul saw confirmation in
his fathers face, and his own was sore
ly troubled.
at is true, nv boy. And 1 think
think 1 am glad of it," with certain
grim despair. ''The money can go. 1t
has brought only sh lme and dishonor.
i always expecte1 it. My sister hated
us all, and. rather than we should have
a penny of her wealth, would have
made hundred wills
"hardIy necessary" With a cruel
smile, MIR. Wash was unfolding his
BoPOis iou VIII huNi IIlH Out luOI
tnan enou.h 1t leaves everything of
sessed to be devoted to the better elu-
OF 'psychical phi nomeua, W tn
the exception OF small legacy to her
gooi friend Lemuel wash"
"Ahl You benefit by this remark
able will?"
"Not much of benefit" The legatee
seemed by no means enthusiastic, and
he declined to notice the young mans
sneer. ''Ir is hardly fabulous sum-"
Lemuel spoke truly. His finger in
dicated a beque5t of one hundred
and Pauls swift suspicion OF
forgery seemed unwarranted. No one
woul play a dangerous game for so
small a stake with all the board before
him and y ct the young man had a
doubt for every pound.
You are the anthor-that is, you
di covered this precious will?"
The other changed color at the word,
but he rejOinad:
EXACTLY. | was told where it was,
and brought it to this house, suppos-
ing, not unnaturaliy, Dr. Alexander
Whitaker might have an interest in not
divulgIng it You know" with cool
lyon know poor men, such
as Y, ur humble servant, must watch
their own Interests"
"And / have sacrificed honor, fair
anne, for my interest,"" broks in the
doctor. ''The man tempt me, and
yield d. As he slys, the rascal 'ook
care of himself, by ruthless plum Ter.
ing, that Used the price of his silence
hx-
than his insOlence aud extortion."
sis it true, father?"
The elder man bowed his head in
shame as he whispered one word, and
his son looked up from the document,
ealously guar ed by its discovere 20
AK, "How did you become possessed
Of this will?"
Paul had scanned it in every detail,
but the professional eye could detect
no flaw. All the prescribed forms were
correct. The "Juia Whitaker" was
ittested by two witnesses, who had
,igned in Miss Julia's presence, and in
he presence of each other. And it was
lated some time before her death,
when. after tremendous quarrel with
he doctor, and the doctors wife, the
had made her home in the far
north, and renounced them all
"You have the right to ask. | was
guided thereunto by what you call the
lead lady; but the studies ich We
1ursued togeth taught us there is no
ieath. Her spirit-hand gave 1t into
nv hand of hesh.'
Paul smiled in derision.
''Please spare US that. This is the
century, and too prosaic
or occult myst ries. Surely there is
better explanation to give us?"
"There are things which our dim,
human intelligence is powec-
ess to explain. The secrets of Nature
ire not all solved" said Lemuel ~
"Miss Julia Whitaker ha
eft this earth, and vet her ethereaiized
kape is | ere, with me, even now"
One of the listeners WINGED un asiIy.
n the tesh, the doctors sister h ID
aughed as before.
al commiserate the gentleman who,
~ his own confession, betrayed her
ust. Our deceased relative, who Is
lot deceased, has a genuine grievance,
md even a shade might feel annoyed"
MIR. Wash attempted no answer to
hat argument. He was still iealously
yutrding the Will, and now he looked |
Up with an uneasy g ance, for Psul's
,Ountena ce was changing before him,
IS the bright spriny sunshine pc ed |
q and touched the paper, aud ban
eTlng sternness sounded IN his next !
words:
Mistakes will happen with the b st
eguIated spir It's, and they have be Il,
Ike ourselves, taken in by au impu-
lent forgery" He ierked aw y tie |
,sper, and held it up so that the light |
ould shine through the nanufac urer's !!
lame woven therein. "Witterer, JeDks, |
nd Benjason," he read aloud-'a firm
hat atcommenced business exactly twelve |
uonths aft the date OF this lying |
raud. The office where 1 was articled |
to draw up the deed of part
Iership. 1t Is curious coincidence,
mt the spirits apprec ate a joke on
his day-the First of April, you know
when fancy we must make up our
l. a.