The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-05


his old aunt was very i'll, and dying, and
wanted to see him.
NO." said George stubbornly. "If she
wants to see me at all. it's only because
she feels now how badly she treated me.
She doesn't care for me. and / don't care
Tor her, and I'm not going to go down
there and play the hypocrite and pretend
/ do"
There was a lofty high-mindedness
about this that made him feel proud OF
himself. But his wife. gentle aad woman
like. was inclined to be more forgiving
IF the poor, unhappy old lady feels
now" she said, "how much she wronged
end neglected you, her remorse must be
dreadful | know che must be naturally
selfish and cold-hearted, or l don't see
how she could have helped loving you.
dear. But try to forgive her now. Al
least. 60 and see her and try to forgive
her"
There was something in all this that
soothed and fiattered him, and he allowed
himself to be Sc far persuaded that he
promised To speak to Mr.. Grellin tomor-
row and see what he could do about il.
He mentioned il next morning to Mr..
Grellin, and was saying how unwilling he
was to 60 when his partner interrupted
him.
GO" he said earnestly. go at once.
If YOU are too late you will never forgive
yourself. Every word you say against her
now will rise MP and haunt you afterward
You do not know all. My lips are sealed
while she lives, unless she gives me leave
to speak. Go. tell you; go at once.
George was startled by his partners We
hemence, and did not know how TO reply.
He went away. and hurriedly made some
4 "A -. ~s.,l
within an hour; and as the dusk Of even
ing was beginning to fall, he passed ong
the quaint. quiet, bered streets
Of the little town, past the prim little
house where he had once lived with his
aunt, to the humber house where she
was now dying in her one little room !;
| nav, where she was lying dead.
she died an hour ago," said the Rev.
MIR. padley, who met him at the door Il
was with her ct the last. Her last words
were TO ask il you had come"
He felt a momentary pang OF self-re-
| proach. He might have como earlier; he
always wished he had. Yet underlying
his regret was q vague relief OF which he
was ashamed; Tor he had lost faith in
himself on the way down; things had &C.
Cured 10 him that he had lost sight of
| before. and he had begun TO doubt wheth-
giveness. So strongly did this feeling
grow upon him that 1t snatohed aside the
mask of seli-deceit which had so long bid
| den his own folly aud meanness from
| himself. and his sense of shame and hui
| initiation almost helh him back from 60
| ing to her at ALL Ii held him back now,
and he had not the heart TO 10 into the
darkened room and look upon her dead
face.
During the next few days, while he was
staying i'm the town, he somewhat recOv-
cred his self satisfaction. Ito made a
| compromise with himself and owned that
there had been faults on both sides, but
told himself that ii his aunt had only
treated him differently there would have
been no faults ut all on his side. or on hers
either. He had no cause TO love or regret
| her, and in the course OF couple OF days
had got over tho shock OF her death, aud
was able to think Of other matters.
One thing he must arrange before he
| went back nome, and that was as TO Aunt
| Pettiier's money. he was her only rea-
tive, and unless she had left q will leaving
| il to some one else, IL would all come TO
him. She might have leit il all TO Mr..
Dadley probably she hal he had been
scheming for IL. and had great control over
her Anyway, he would see about that
before he went back.
IL was n bright, sunshiny afternoon
when no followed poor old Aunt Pettifer
TO her grave; a lonely grave, standing
quite apart against the low wall OF the
| churchyard.
As he WAS going away. after the last cad
rites were over, Mr.. Dadley came after him
and with him back toward the town.
81 am sorry 10 speak Of business matters
| ha aafA ~ |
YOU will be returning TO London, and no
| doubt you would like to dispose of any
questions concerning your aunts estate
before you go.
"Well. yes" said George, az think /,
would DO better. Did che leave any
will ?"
"Yes."
TN whoae favor?"
"Well." hesitated Mr. Dadley. $50 far as
il goes | suppose IL is in mine"
III thought "a much" sneered George
Mr.. Dadley flushed up holly, but re
strained himself.
AT YOU will call at my house this even
ing. will chow you everything. IL vii
be more satisfactory" he said, and turned
away without waiting for reply.
George went back 10 his hotel in M
happy frame of mind. He felt that he hac
| been trlChcu. MT. ltdu cH nhu bFlCktN
him. He had taken advantage of Mise
Pettiier's weak. dependent position to do
fraud her only relative OF his rights. The
more he thought of il the more i.l-used h'
felt. the more indignant he became; and
at last, when he set out just after dark fol
Mr. Dadley's house. he had fully made uI
his mind to let that gentleman under
stand what he thought OF him.
He was ushered into the comfortable
well-lighted study. where MIR. Dadley wa
waiting for him
Perhaps, sir, he said, as he seateC
himself, you will tell me shortly how ny
aunt has left her affairs"
There is her will, said Mr. Dadley
"you will sec bv that she appoints me soil
executor and leaves everything to me
with G. request that | will pay her debt
and funeral expenses"
George took the document, which wa
very brief and read it and found it was t
the effect Mr.. Dsdley had stated. III,
flung il back across the table.
Every good, sir! he cried anCrily. a..
shall contest that document She would
never have signed that except under un
due influence. l am her only relative
you know thatP"
Eyes" said Mr.. Dadley quietly; "bu
when tell YOU that she has not even lief
enough to pay her few debts and funera
expeuses-
Then. sir" George holly interrupted
/ \