The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-02-01

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faultless curves revealed b. the cinging
folds of the short. shabby habit, the
delicate perfection of throat and ears,
the brilliant assurance Of the large eyes
which looked unwaveringly into his
own.
Il need friends more than money, she
said finally.
"And l." he returned lightly, may
say need money more than friendsl
Your want is the easier one to supply
She drew quick breath. You do
need money! she asked intentiy
Badly" he returned smiling.
She put both hands ont inpnlsively as
she had at their first meeting. And
am sure You need rest. Tomorrow we
will talk.
The dogs had risen as she did, and
stood in various attitudes of attention.
The deaf mute, who it seemed to Vim
cent lurked like an Afsite invisible till
he was wanted, appeared with his far
ing candle. The young man took the
fine. neryy hand extended, and pressed
it ever SO slightly.
81 shall live for tomorrow, he said,
with rather more gallantry than he COM
monty INDUCED in.
Then, IN his warm, quiet chamber,
with south rain dashing at intervals
against the pane, he lay awake only
long enough to wonder what sort OF an
Arabian Night adventure was this
which had befallen him, and to draw a
dreamy contrast between this young
Virginian and the women of colder tints
and lesser curves and charter manners
the girls of his social set who gave him
grudging waltzes and short tete-a-t etes,
and said to their mamnias: .sOh don't
be frightened We know well enough
that Alex Vincent can't marry for ages
to come.
Vincent locked from his window the
following morning upon scene which
remained long after in his memory. The
April sunshine flooded the rolling coun-
try. The grain was springing, the orch
ards in bloom. The lane through which
he had come last night had border of
magnolias just in bud In the distance
the mountains rose in warm tints of pur-
pie and gray.
He descended to the parlor. The break
fast table was laid, the windows wide
open, and in the flooding sunshine Miss
Dane and Miss Chatworth were exam
lining the black gowns in which the fam
lily were to be dressed for the dead mas
ter.
Later came the lawyer from Queens
town and the old minister from Bar
more, and Gideon Danes last will and
testament was solemnly nnsealed and
read aloud. Gideon Dane was man of
substance. He owned broad. rich acres,
-four mills and herds Of cattle. Besides
he had numerous investments which
were duly described And he gave and
bequeathed all these things to his next
of kin, Gwendoline Dane and Alex Vim
cent, with the hope that their ages be-
ing suited and their interests one, their
lives and destinies might be united
The lawyer read these words in a dis
tinct. formal tone, and paused. There
was stir of sensation through the little
company, and Vincent and Gwendoline
were the only two who did not exchange
giances.
At noon there was grand dinner
served. Soon after the guests mounted
their horses and rode away Vincent
lighted cigar and strolled down the
lane under the budded magnolias. The
secret was out. Old Gideon Dane had
chosen to provide protector for his
heiress in this medieval fashion. They
had queer notions, these Southerners, re-
garding family obligations.
Turning, he saw Gwendoline and her
great white hound Blanche coming slow
ly toward him
Would you like to see where grand
pa is buried?' she asked
He assented. and was about to throw
away his cigar
Don't throw it away" she said lit
tie nervously Cant you treat me-
and she laughed shortly--.as if were a
man; or at least as if you were under no
restraint in my presence"
No he said 81 cannot. The cigar
is no sacrifice"
But" she said, as ne walked by her
side, .swe have got to be quite frank
with each other, and we might as well
throw overheard as many formalities as
we can. Don't you think sop
Possibly
They walked on in silence. the dog
dropping her delicate pink nose within
Gwendoline's palm.
Mr.. Vincent" said the young lady at
last. Il had no intimation Of the precise
nature of my grandfather's will. or
should not have sent for you as did.
even though simply obeyed his injunc-
tons. What want to say is that the
clause which-places me under your pro-
lection is no way binding, as of course
you know, and for the sake of simplify
ing things wish to say that we viii re-
gard it as if it had not been written.
"Unquestionably you have such a right
Ito ignore this clause-legally and NOR
ally, Miss Dane For my own part, do
not feel SO free. need not particular
ize, but permit me to say that have
made decision. shall make no claims
to the estate under your grandfather's
will"
She turned slightly pale You feel
that your inheritance is conditional?
Eyes"