The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-12-09
A STRANGE WILL.
It Brought Fortune and Happiness
to Two Lovers.

Yes, she was dead at last--Marrare
Dcmorcst, Of Stony Lodge - and th
shock Of her demise Ind shaken Belle
vuo from centor to circumference. Fo
years her numerous relatives, eacl
with an eye TO the estate had watche,
her movements from respectful dis
tancc, which she herself had internose,
between them, und their hearts ha,
grown sick with hope deferred.
Heart disease, the doctors said. whet
she was found ono morning with ,
smile OF peace frozen on her stern ant
withered features. The relatives ac
cepted the verdict with due resipno.
lion, following thcremains of the ..dea,
departed" TO their final resting place
amid an ostentatious display Of Grape.
dlut when the will was read the excite.
ment OF the hoirs-at-law rapidlv
assembled To fever heat Always ecccn-
tric in life, Miss Demorest had retained
That eccentricity TO the end and woven
Il into her last will and testament
with the exception Of few bcqucsts
TO her servants, the whole of her prop
cr'y' landed and personal, to wit:
+ stony Lodge, her present residence.
with It's beautiful park, which was a
very Eden of lovcliness; Rose villa. her
winter resort on Lake Helen, Fla. to-
Rether with splendid house In town
and money to the amount Of five hun.
ared thousand dollars, was to pass into
Tue sole possession of that one among
hcr kinsfolk who should discover the
hiding place of the twelve Demorcst
rlbies N''
! Should the gems remain undiscov.
cred after the lapse - o.a yo,, fr,,,.
the date OF death the estate was " 30
sold aud Il home for old maids founded
with the proceeds,
"'The old cat" muttcrcd fashionable
Mrs Meredith, viciously, "She hid
those rubies herself, the spiteful
thingl"
ut Is too provo!sing!" poutcd her
pretty daughter Maudc.
u shall contest the will" said thin
Tipped Reuben Gray. at cannot
stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorest's
niece and Reuben Gray her nephew.
Tho two were brother and sister and
ING nearest akin TO the dead woman.
Next came Margie. vanc, child Of
iavorite nephew, who was to have been
the heir had he not displeascd his aunt
oy marrying against her will girl of
OBSCURE parentagc-''a paupcr." Miss
pemorest called her.
Harold Vane had died some years
back, closely followed by his wife, and
The one daughter, Margaret, was left
aione in the world and utterly penni-
less.
Mrs. Meredith had taken for the
ola aunt had remained obdurate.-and
she was now serving in the capacity OF
maid TO her beautiful cousin Maude.
hargie Vane was not present at the
reading. OF the will. Mrs. Meredith con-
0aered It unnecessary, and Margie her
seii had not the faintest hope of being
remembered kindly by her fathers
Stern old relative When, therefore,
they returned in anger and disappoint-
nent and gave an account of the word
ing OF the will Margie's hazel eyes
opened wide with wonder.
mat afternoon and many ensuing
silernoons Mrs. Meredith, Maude and
Marg'e walked over to Stony Lodge and
wandered frnitlessly about amid the
ueasuresof bric- -brac, statuary, books
and rare old china.
MN vn one OF these occasions Margie met
"iil Demorest, cousin several times
.emoved OF her father He was a
rank, handsome young fellow, with
dark blue eyes and close. curling. fair
aair. His was the genuine Demorest
acter.
,py occupation he was an artist in
slassblowing, having learned the art
= venice, He had done considerable
"ork Tor Miss Demorcst, with whom he
was prime favorite.
20 you thought you would have
.ova LOT the rubies with the rest of us"
ss ss'u mrs. Meredith, with a sncer, as
ir, ss iound the young glassblowcr exam
nH the books in the library one
nosnlng' Yet thought you abhorred
"creenary considerations"
,.-,. am not in quest of the gems, WIN
sh,a pneu' as his eyes rested in unmistak-
face. oA a sie iair' sweet
q. nnmphl | hope you don't take me
NJ. -. lunatic or a fool, win Demorest,r
- 70, sne scathing rejoinder.
v,.s lor neither, assure you, said WIN,
mora sn ! bow. Only at present I am
CO... CO.. interested in pearls than rubies.
So' ousln Margie, may show you the
ouss,l oUuss1 believe know il more thor
My Ma.y than most people,
wsns large Z shyly acquicsced, and the two
d,th on together, leaving Mrs. Mere
'.u ia. ana Maude to continue their search.
alsos,, nss you anxious TO find the rubics
ehiDs IU. a, asked VIM. as they paused in, the
I ~ siOset to admire the cut glass.
ans,.n nave not even looked for them, !"
'Iswered .,N, Margie. with d bright smile.
wan Wy are magnificent uclns.n said
lust 81 o,'s and were never set. / saw them
brea,bn m Gnse, s' and they nearly took my