The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-12-09
A STRANGE WILL.
It Brought Fortune and Happiness
to TWO Lovers,

It Brought Fortune ana Happines.
< to TWO Lovers
Yes. she was dead ut last-Margarc
s De1nOrcst, of Stony Lodge nnl tn.
shock Of her demise had shaken Belle
vue from center to circumference Fo,
years her numerous relatives, eacf
with On eye to the estate, had watched
her movements from n respectful dis
lance, which she herself had intcrposed
between them, and their hearts had
grown sick with hope deferred.
Heart disease, the doctors said, when
she was found one morning with q
smile OF peace frozen On her stern and
withered features. The relatives &C
ceptcd the verdict with due rcsigna-
ton. following the remains Of the ..lcar
departed to their final resting place
amid an ostcntatious display of Grape.
But when the will was read tho excite
anent OF the hcirs-at-law rapidly
assembled to fever heat. Always cccen-
tric in life, Miss Denorest had retained
that ecccntricity to the end and woven
II into her last will and testament.
With tho exception of n few requests
to her servants, the whole Of her prop
crty. landed and personal, to wit:
Stony Lodge, her present residence
with its beautiful park, which was q
very Eden of loneliness; Rose Villa, her
winter resort on Lake Helen, Fla. to-
Eethcr with n splendid house in town
and money to the amount of FIVE hun
drcd thousand dollars, was to pass into
, the sole possession of that one among
her kinsfolik who should discover the
hiding place of the twelve Demorest
rubics-
Should the gems remain undiscov-
cred after the lapse of one year from
the date of death the estate was to be
sold and 4 home for old maids founded
with the proceeds.
1.-THE old cat!" muttcrcd fashionable
Mrs Meredith, viciously. ''She hid
those rubies herself. the spitcful
thing!''
ut is too provolsing!" pouted her
pretty daughter Maudc.
II shall contest the will,'' said thin
Tipped Reuben Gray. 1T cannot
stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorests
niece and Reuben Gray her nephOr.
The two were brother and sister and
the nearest akin to the dead woman.
Next came MarEic Vane, child of q
favorite nephew, who was to have been
the heir had he not displcased his aunt
by marrying against her will n girl of
obscure parcntage-''a pauper," Miss
Demorest called her.
Harold Vanez had died some years
back. closely followed by his wife, and
the one daughter, Margaret. was left
less.
Mrs. Meredith had taken her-for the
old aunt had remained ob1urate-and
she was now serving in the capacity Of
maid to her beautiful cousin Maude.
Margie Vane was not present at the
reading of the will. Mrs Meredith con-
sidered it unnecessary, and Margie her
self had not the faintest hope Of being |
remembered kindly by her fathers |
stern old relative. When, therefore, |
they returned in anger aud disappoint- !
ment and gave an account of the word |
ing of the will Margie's hazel eyes !
opened wide with wonder.
That afternoon and many ensuing
afternoons Mrs. Meredith, Maude and
Margic walked over to Stony Lodge and
fruitlesslv about amid the
treasures of bric-a-brac, statuary, books
md rare old china.
On one of these occasions Nargie met
Will Demorest, n cousin several times
of her father. He was n
frank, handsome young fellow, with
lark blue eyes and close. curling, fair
hair. His was the genuine Demorcst
face. the index of a strong, noble char
acter.
BY occupation he was an artist in
having learned the art
N Venice. He had done considerable
work for Miss Demorcst, with whom he
was a prime favoritc.
so you thought you would have a
ools for the rubics with the rest of u.s.
aid Mrs. Meredith, with a snccr, as
The found tho young glassblowcr exam
ming the books in the library one
"Yet thought you abhorred
nercenary considerations" .
II am not in quest Of the gems" Will
eplied, as his eyes rested in unmistaiz-
bile admiration on Mnrgic's fair. sweet
ace.
"Humph! I hope you don't take me
or q lunatic or a fool, Will Demorest,"
vas the scathing rejoinder.
For neither, assure you" said Will.
With bow. only at present I am
more interested in pearls than rubies.
,ot1stn Margie, may ] show you the
ouse? believe know it more thor
uRh1y than most people," 9
Margie shyly -ncquiesced, and the two
vent on together. leaving Mrs. Mere
18th and Maude to continue their search.
Arc you anxious to find the rubics
isO?" asked Will, as they paused in the
hinn closet to admire the cut glass.
have not even looked for the1n,"
Margie, with q bright smile. c
They are magnificent gems" said
VII, .sand were never set. saw them
ast once, and they nearly took my :
zl(6th NvyaysS I