St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-03-10

| have little sense until you met this
newspaper reporter, Browning. He
read poetry to you and turned your
| head He does not know how to
| make money or how to take care of
/ it,
| If he does not know how to make
money, he does know how to make
love, and that is more than you
can do" cried Laura, thoroughly
| provoked.
You are imprudent and foolish.
l suppose Browning is still waiting
| for my decision. If SO, tell him to
come in and l will soon make myself
understood"
Laura went to the parlor, and i'm
mediately returned with Browning.
| He was a strong built young fellow,
with bright, intellectual face, and
was manly in his bearing.
II have sent for YOU" said Mr..
Pendergrass, looking at him scorn
fully, ''in order to tell you briefly and
bluntly just what the situation is.
| If you and Laura marry l shall not
leave her a cent. l have arranged
everything If she cannot wisely be
entrusted with the property, then
it goes to the Foreign Mission
ary society. AS | am a religious
man, have always taken an interest
in the heather, and l hope the money
may be the means OF converting
many of them
q myself feel more interest in your
granddaughter than in the heather"
said Browning, CALAMITY although
he was very pale, land certainly L
do not wish to promote the mis-
sionary cause It her expense. But [
wish you and her both to under
stand that l am no fortune hunter,
and that if she loves me more than
she does the money, l love her
enough to marry her without it and
to rejoice then
''Spoken like one true lover" cried
Laura, her heart swelling with pride
and affection.
She ran to Browning and he clasp
ed her in his arms.
Mr.. Pendergrass, " the young man
cried, "here is something money can
not buy, that is worth more than
your whole fortune. 1t is pure, dis
interested love"
The old man gazed at the young
couple in astOnishment.
us it possible that you value what
you call love more than all Of my
money and the power it would
confer on the possessOr of ?"
cit is, they cried together, and
then looked at each other.
The old man at last was touched,
and the scales fell from his eyes. He
realized the truth Of what Laura had
said in regard to his having cheated
himself of the greatest blessing of
life. He cOmprehended that his life
had been failure, and that he had
cheated himself in spite of all his
precautions. This young and I'M
worldly couple possessed the secret of
happiness which he had never found.
He became greatly agitated, and
the effect upon him in his weakened
condition was very serious. He put
his hand to his side and cried:
"a spasm is coming. l believe l
am dying. Run to Lawyer Andrews
and tell him to bring both of my
wills"
Laura hesitated.
DO as you're bidden," said her
GRANDPA Their sternly. 81 have done
wrong, but l may be able to leave
the property to you yet"
Laura obeyed him. Fortunately
Lawyer Andrews lived in the next
house, and was at home. He rushed
to his safe, took from it a bulky
envelope, and followed the frightened
Laura to her home.
Mr. Pendergrass was sinking fast
when the lawyer arrived.
Have you both wills? ?" the dying
man asked eagerly.
Yes
A look of great relief came over
Mr.. Pendergrass's face.
"Then tear up the last will that
discriminates against my grand
daughter and retain the will made
several years ago, that leaves the
property to her Internationally"
AS Laura bent over her grand
father, tears streaming from her
eyes, he gasped the word "Forgive."
She pressed his hand and he was
dead.
At this moment a ray of sunshine
for the first time that dreary day
burst through the clouds, as the
great orb sank beneath the western
horizon, and the general gloom was
slightly relieved. There was a little
soul in the day after all, and so there
had been a little soul in the hard,
selfish man who now lay in the
embrace of death.