Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-03

of the rest of the clan; so don't count
your chickens before they are Matched. :"
She thrust the envelope into his
hand.
whats this?" demanded Royal.
"Read for yourself" she gleefully
answered, land prepare to make obei-
sance unto me. I am very important
parsonage"
Royal drew the paper from its en-
velope and slowly unfolded it. As he
caught its import he gave vent to q
whistle of establishment. 1t bore date
of few months previous to Miss
Royals death, and was very concise
and simple. 1t was a codicil to the
former will, and provided that in event
of the death of her nephew, John Hart
Royal, previous to his marriage with
his cousin Phyllis Royal the property
should pass to the girl entire, and
/ further provided that, should Phyl-
lis blindness continue, the property,
duly placed in the hands of trustees,
should be charged with her maintenance
during the term of her natural life;
after which it was to be distributed ac-
I
Royal drew long breath as he put
the paper back into its envelope.
"How long have you had this?"
"Since before Aunt Anne died She
gave it to me one day and told me to
keep it in my desk until after my we'd
ding day. If anything unforeseen
should happen was to give it to Mr..
Brandon or Nina"
Royal pOndered,
Il wonder what could have suggested
the idea that John Royal might dieY'
he observed thoughtfully.
aunt Anne was very nervous for
more than a year before her death, -
Phyllis explained. That paper was
drawn up The spring we were here first
about my eyes. There had been ter
Srible epidemic in Vienna, where John
was-a sort of plague; the papers were
full of it, and John, being physician,
was of course all the time exposed to
the infection. Aunt Anne was terribly
uneasy about him
and You have known the contents
of this paper-how long?"
Ever since Nina told me Of John 5
death. | never thought of it at all be-
fore. There was no reason why |
should. Nina and | opened it then,
but | wouldn't let her say anything
about 10 TO you, nor would | tell you
myself. This question of money had
bern so large, so disastrous factor in
the plans for nay marriage to John, that
/ wanted our decision to be unintluenc-
ed by it in any way. OF course, Pm
glad about it-more than glad. 1t
proves 10 the world that which l knew
so well, that Anne really cared about
my future. And" her face softened
and broke into shy smiles as she slipped
her hands into his-'I am glad to bring
something more than just myself TO
the man who sacrificed himself for
me"
Royals answer may be left to the
Imagination of those similarly situated.
And so it came to pass that there was
4 suit after all, and the lawyers had u
hand in the matter. Not that it amount
ed to much. being only the necessary
legal incarnation without which no
property in the commonwealth may
change hands. The only point to
be established was the time OF
John Royals death, and this the
evidence Of the young physician and
the colored nurse sulliced to do. The
negro deposed to having stopped the
dead mans watch at ten minutes to 70
soon as BRET had done lef' him good.
There might have been room for argu
ment here, as the marriage was over al
precisely that time, but the young doc
tor declared that when he, not caring to
bear the whole responsibility, had left
the room in search of the fotel proprie
tor, it had been a good half hour earlier
and the patient was then in articulc
norris.
The little story went abroad and
caused much local interest. Phyllis was
feted and made much of among her old
friends and neighbors, and treated as
though she were q very extraordinary
young woman indeed. And no wonder
for in this prosaic age it is but seldom
that woman can lay claim to the honor
of having inspired knightly devoir.
THE END.