Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-10


burial was to take place early the next
forenoon.
During the night we had heavy
thunder shower, and In the morning
when | came down everything looked
unusually bright in the clear, morning
sunlight came up the path and
started back in astonishment to SEQ a
man lying In the bottom Of the grave.
On close examination II proved TO DO
Edwaid-dend lie had probably wan
dcrcd aside from the path In the dark
ness, aud, falling, his head had struck
the opposite side OF the grave, break
ing his neck.
81 hurried down TO the village for
help; and there found great excite.
mcnt prevailing. Squire Edmunds
mansion had been struck by lightning
the night before, and both tho old gen.
tlemnn and his invalid wife had been
killed One chimney was demolished
and the end OF the mansion badly shat.
tered, but no fire was discovered.
"Wo carried Edward home, and the
three bodies lay In state till the day Of
the funeral, when all wcro buried In
the lot over there ON the hill
AT the funeral Alice was accom-
panied by n iinc-looking young man
who was stranger 60 all tho towns.
people. Many conjccturcs were made
rs 20 who this stranger might be, cs.
pccially as he rode home with Alice In
the Edmunds carriage.
"Thc next day after tho funeral
Alice received motto from the law
yer summoninR her TO call at his Office.
Good morning, Miss Elmunds,'
said Lawyer Atwood, Ms Alice up.
reared In answer to his summons: 4
beg pardon for intruding In the midst
of your sorrow; but there Is n matter
~ business which must he attended TO
very soon. | believe your twcnty.nrst
birthday will occur nest Monday, will
II uutY"
."'lcs, sir, answered Alice.
"'And suppose you understand that
tho desire Of both your father and your
uncle was that you and your cousin Ed.
ward should be married and so keep
the property in the family9
81 do Alice replied.
"Now,' continued the lawyer, your
Uncle Roberts will provides that Ed
ward shall inherit nil his fathers prop
crty ut the ugc Of twcnty-onc. In case
he died before that ngc II should como
into your possession on your twenty.
first birthday. That gives your unclc's
half Of all the property To you next
Monday. Hut your fathers share
stands in u peculiar manner In case
Of your death before the ngc Of twenty
one 1t was TO go to Edwnrd; that part
Of the will is clear; but knowing that
the objection 10 the union was all on
| your part, and wishing To make this
union sure, your father intended Ia
make provisions that II you passed your
twcnty-Grst birthday without marry.
ing Edward tho property should pass
into his hands. OF all this you are
aware, but your father also willcd that
Mt Edwards death your portion of tho
property which he had inherited should
go TO the town TO found hospital aud
public library.
"'According TO these provisions yor
would inherit your unclo's part Of the
property next Monday and your father
part would go to the town"
"llcrc the lawyer hesltated momen
and then continued:
81 don't like this way of forcing
young people to marry against thci
will, and don't think promise wrung
from one at such time ns your promise
was made should be binding | hnv,
studied your fathers will carefully
and find that the language used In tn,
document leaves, by II technicality, on,
chance for you TO acquire tho Who'll,
property.
THE will provides that II you pas
your twenty-hrst birthday "withou
marrying" the property shall go TO you
cousin. Now, by u slight oversight, 4
does not specify whom you shall
marry
"And with n pleasant good morning
the lawyer bowed Miss Alice out.
1.-THE next Sunday there was quie
wedding at the mansion on the hill, an
II then transpired that tho youn
stranger was Richard Prescott, Jr.
"And so the property was kept Ia
gethor, and Richard and Alice lived |,
the old house surrounded by famil,
Of boys and girls"
Here tho sexton paused and appeare,
wrapped In memory. At length brok
his reverie with tho question;
"And so the new grave is for Alioe7'
yes" he answered, "for Alice; deA
Alice. II was her last request of IN
that should dig her grave myself"
"And what became Of the gardener7
l asked.
"ohl yes, yes, the gardener" he said
rs II he but half understood my que.
ton. And then rousing himself, b
said: 1.-THE gardener; well, you sc
Richard went TO college and then m
wife died, and couldn't bear TO b
alone, and 80 came back and beoam
sexton of the town. Here ! could b
near the old home, and Alice Away
came TO sec me often, and my life wa
happy, until Richard came TO live I
the old mansion and could call Alic
daughter, and then had the old hous
again. But l could never give up th
care Of tho cemetery"
) As the old sexton ceased speaking
the sun burst out again, and, biddin
him good day, Isauntered forth ON M
ramble over the old town where | wa
passing my summer vacation. -Davi
q. Davidson, In Boston Budget.