Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-30
and a mustached mouth brushed her

cheek.
"Ernestp she exclaimed, starting up.
Eyes, dear, it is /" said Ernest Low
ton, and he kissed away the tears. 81
met Lawyer Dunnet few moments ago
and he told me the whole story, else l
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 will had not SO
mysteriously disappeared l should have
sailed tomorrow for South America"
"Oh, Ernest~ she gasped. "How
cruelw and then Nesting close beside
him she forgot all about her disappoint-
ment in the enjoyment of 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 will which John
Wilcox had found was probated, and he
took possession of the dead mans estate.
Having been a very careless man 80 far
as business was concerned, Jabez Fields
had left his affairs in a decidedly COM
plicated state, and Lawyer Dunnet was
kept busy trying to evolve order out of
chaos. Alice had been wife about five
months when her husband was stricken
with low fever. Alice nursed him
faithfully, and their little hoard grew
smaller and smaller until only 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
menaced she plucked up the courage to
ask her rich relative for small loan
Wilcox had taken up his residence at
the old mansion, and there she found
him busy in consultation with Lawyer
Dunnet. Timidly and in halting SEN
tences she made known the nature of
her business.
II never loan money except on good
security" said the rich man when she
finished, and Alice, with great pain 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 low voice, and he placed a
bank bill in her trembling hand. II
stop here tonight and will call to see you
tomorrow"
Sobbing her thanks she passed out into
the night and hastened with feet steps
to the bedside of her husband. The doc
tor was with him, and he whispered to
her that the crisis had passed, and if
there was no relapse Ernest Lowton
would soon be well.
In the morning. much to her surprise,
Alice received note 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 neighbor she hurried on out to
"Oakdale." A servant ushered her into
the library, where John Wilcox and
Lawyer Dunnet received her. The latter
sprang up as she entered and grasped
both her hands.
81 congratulate you, Mrs. Lowton," !"
he said. "The missing will, which
makes you your granduncle's sole heir
ess, has been found, and Mr.. Wilcox will
make no contest"
"The will foundr' echoed Alice.
"Yes, and I'm left out in the coldl"
snarled John Wilcox. "A1low me to
congratulate you," and he stalked an
grily from the room.
''It's very strange story" began the
lawyer when the door closed after the
irate man, and he drew his chair toward
the one on which Alice sat in stupefied
wonder. hardly believing her ears. "You
know that when I was here the night
after the funeral of Mr.. Fields that the
will, which makes you his sole heiress,
mysteriously disappeared. Last night
slept in the room that occupied on that
unfortunate occasion. When l awoke
this morning the will 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 prowling
about the garden fully dressed at q
o'clock this morning. Then l remem.
bered that when was boy used to
walk in my sleep. thought had out
grown the habit, but it is evident that
while in somnambulistic state l hid
the will, and under the same influence
found it again. ."-Philadelphia Times.