Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-02
"CERIS."



boon up the chimney for century,
"Wipe It with paper. then; don't waste u
clean towel upon II. What signifies little
soot2 There, that will do. Give II me-
give IL me at oncep And, having elutched
her property, Miss Ramsden thrust It down
beneath the bed-clothes. 81 don't think 1t
would have struck anybody to search in that
place." she muttered, with q feeble chuckle.
Nov you can light the fire IL you choose |;
1t is cold for the time Of year."
Not for many days longer was Miss Rams
den vexed by the sight OF blazing Goals or the
taste Of unnecessarily potent beef-teR. As
her strength ebbed her mind began to wan.
dor, and It was only at intervals that she
spoke intelligibly or took any notice OF what
was going on around her. One afternoon
tho doctor announced that she had scarcely
any pulse and that the end was near.
"There isn't much to be DONE" he said to
Chris. "Stlmulant, OF course. il you can get
her TO swallow it"
The dying woman suddenly opened her
eyes and interrupted him. "Gin," she said,
twill do. It's the cheapest"
Those were her last words. Before morn
ing she was dead, and the wealth which she
had spent her life in painfully amasssng was
hers no more.
Man, according to the Psalmist, heapeth up
riches and cannot tell who shall gather them !;
but the law OF the land, as Mr.. Compton, who
hastened to Balaclava Terrace as soon as he
heard OF tho melancholy event, remarked, is
kind enough I'm consideration OF the payment
Of certain duties) to allow him some voice in
the matter; and what Mr.. Compton was very
anxious TO find out was whether Miss Rams
den had availed herself Of that privilege. The
deceased lady having had neither kith nor
Kin, with the exception Of Chris, 1t seemed to
devolve as much upon him as upon anybody
else to make the requisite search; and he was
rewarded by the discovery of a will Of quite
RECEIPT date, and singularly few provisions.
In this instrument he found himself nomi-
mated as co-executor with the late Miss RAMS
den's banker; and It was his pleasing duty
to announce TO his cousin that she was the
sole inheritress Of her aunt's estate, subject
only TO the deduction OF an annuity Of ESQ,
payable to my old servant, Martha Stubbs."
On the day Of the funeral Chris was mado
acquainted with tho fact that she was con-
siderable heiress; but It was not until some
weeks later that anything like o correct esu-
mate OF the value OF her possessions could be
arrived at. The late Miss hamsden's bankers
held her securities; but the amount OF specie
which she had kept in her own hands was
only ascertained after every nook and Granny
In her house had been thoroughly overhauled
Tue box which Chris had withdrawn from its
place OF coneealment up the chimney was
stuffed full OF bank.notes moro Of these were
discovered In eupboards Of which the keys
were not at FIRST forthcoming; the hearth
stone OF an unfurnished bedroom which
showed signs Of having been disturbed, was
lifted and disclosed a heap OF between 800
400 sovereigns. By the time that every pos.
sible investigation had been made, Mr.. Comp
and uninvested, reached the respectable fig.
uro OF E90,0 900.
"Anu am to have the spending OF all that?'
Chris inquired, when she was told what the
probable income arising out of this sum
would be.
well, yes" answered her guardian; "the
annual income will be payable to you, until
you come of age, whom the capital, together
with what you have inherited from your
father, will be at your absolute disposition. 1t
Is perhaps rather pity; but 50 it is"
II shall never be able to spend it." said
Chris.
Possibly not; but others will no doubt be
willing to spend it for you, Now, as to Mr..
Richardson"
"An is over between him and NO." inter-
rupted Chris, quickly. 81 have broken of
the engagement, and he has left England. 1t
Is quite agreed that we are to be strangers
henceforth."
Mr.. Compton said he was very glad indeed
to hear that, but seemed trifle incredulous
1T Is not improbable" he remarked, that
when Mr.. Richardson hears how greatly your
| means have been increased you may be put to
| some further Inconvenience by his-er-im-
portunities. In such an event your best plan
would be to refer him to me. His power to
injure you Is less, distinctly less, than it was
a month or two ago"
II don't think he wants to injure me at
all, said Chris. 'and even II he did I don't
see how no could"
"oh, he could-after a fashion. l pointed
| that out to you In Paris, as you may recollect.
not an IL e.
his conduct since that time has been such as
to warrant our breaking of the engagement
or course, you do not forget that there arc
two other men who are in possession Of your
| seoret?"
"There need be no secret about the matter" "
Chris returned; II don't think should care
very much II oil the world knew that had
run away from Aunt Rebecca. 1t may have
been foolish thing to do but can't see that
| It was disgraceful."
Surely you can see, Christina, that that is
| not the point. The point is that both these
men believe that you ran away to meet Mr.
Richardson; and II you were to deny that
until you were black In the face 1t is in tho
last degree improbable that they would be so
simple as to accept your denial"
Chris looked distressed and remained silent
for few moments. IT should not like Mr.
Severne to think so badly Of me-" she said at
last. "Why should he not accept my word?
He is q gentleman. As far as that goes, Mr..
Ellacomb is gentleman, toby birth"
The lawyer made a grimace. "My dear
| Christina" said he, "the fact that man is a
gentleman does not compel him to give
| credence to absurdities. These two men saw
| you In Paris in the company of a-well, let us
| say an individual, to whom you appear to
have told them that you were engaged, add
ing very gratuitously, that you had run away
from England. II you now inform them that
| your engagement is at an end, that you only
met Mr.. Richardson by chance, and that you
ned from your aunt's house because she had
poisoned your dog, they may, out Of polite
ness, pretend to believe your story; but of
course they won't really believe it. We're
in their place I certainly should not"
"Well," said Chris, in despair, at can't be
helped. Very likely shall never meet either
of them again. want. II I may, to go as
soon as possible to the Lavergnes. They
have written to me since Aunt Rebecca died,
begging me to pay them a visit, and they
| EnOv al ahOut HAVING RIM auyaNy Would