Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-03-26
THE BURNED WILL.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

had been engaged to my cousin Ken
meth for two years, and the course of
true love had run as smoothly as pos.
sible.
Nobody objected. Nobody prophe-
sled evil for the future.
In fact, my uncle Graham, Kenneth's
father, had been delighted when he dis
covered our liking for each other.
/" 1t was what hoped from the first, I"
he said. "Bessy will make a good
wife, and she is the only girl know that
/ should like to have about the house.
OF course, you will both live with me.
and everything have will be Kenneth's
when 60"
Was ever beginning more auspicions1
When left boarding school and came
to my uncle's to live, had never seen
him or my cousin. had been left an
orphan as little child, and knew / was
to keep house for my uncle Graham when
was old enough; but he had been
abroad, Kenneth at school and college,
and had only been able to wonder what
my unknown relatives were like.
How delightful it was to find them
charming, to be made much of by them,
to be petted by the servants so that my
housekeeping was a mere position of
| dignity involving no responsibilities,
and finally, to know that in Kenneth
bad met my fate.
had nothing to lose. as those have
who leave a happy home for an unknown
future, but everything to gain.
Life had just begun for me. For six
months no cloud arose upon my horizon.
How could l fancy that storm was
broodingG 1t came in most unromantic
shape.
That important period in a young
mans history, the election day on which
he casts his first vote, had arrived for
Kenneth, and he voted for the wrong
man. still think 1t was for the wrong
man, for it is not in woman's nature
to set politics before love.
Kenneth voted for the man of whom
his father disproved. 1t was terrible
surprise to my uncle, great shock, an
uncomfortable offense.
| He believed that Kenneth respected
his opinions, would be guided by them
in all things.
He reproached him bitterly at first, and
placed the matter in such light that
my sympathies were his, and l re-
preached him also, though rather by
tears than in words.
OF the question itself knew nothing,
but my uncle was a large man with a
loud voice, and confidence in himself
seldom equaled.
Besides, he had been in Office, and it
appeared to me that he must know
which was the right man in the right
place.
Kenneth talked great deal about his
principles and how a man could not
change them to please anybody. The
house rung with reproaches, arguments,
and finally with abuse.
Kenneth uttered words he never should
have spoken to his father, and my uncle
was horribly offensive.
One day they were at it hammer and
tongs, and in order to escape the noise l
went out for walk.
On my return found my uncle, white
as a sheet, pacing the library floor.
He paused on seeing me, and lifting
his hand toward heaven, cried out:
"Stand where you are, Bessy, and
listen to me. From this time forth Ken
meth is nothing to me, nothing to you.
| 10 DOln VI ub HC - uCuu
"Unclew l gasped.
"Not a word, /" said he =" not word.
l have turned him out of my house. /
had reason. ! am justified. Tomorrow
l shall alter my will. Kenneth shall
never have one penny OF mine. I'll make
you my hciress-you-you Do you
hear mel You stuck by me. You are
all fave noww
| And my uncle flung himself upon a
sofa and buried his face in the pillows.
In vain l pleaded, in vain / wept.
Nothing touched him.
hoped time would change his resolu-
ton, but he never faltered.
What had become OK Kenneth l did
not know. He never wrote to me. He
never sent any message. He had been
vexed with me during the last few days.
And rs time went on l made up my mind
that he no longer loved me. He could
easily have communicated with mutual
friends had he desired TO do so.
/ had loved him dearly. This sudden
separation made me very miserable.
Twas vexed with my uncle. but could
not leave him. He had been a hale
hearty, middle aged man when the quar-
rel took place.
From that time he broke down rapidly
changing before my eyes 70 GA old man