The evening world., 1893-10-20

Yes, she was dead at last-Margaret
Demorest. Of Stony Lodge and the
shock OF her demise had shaken Bellevue
from centre to circumference For years
her numerous relatives. each with an
eye to the estate. had watched her
movements from a respectful distance,
which she herself had interposed be-
tween them, and their hearts had grown
sick with hope deferred.
Heart disease, the doctors said, when
she was found one morning with a smile
OF peace frozen on her stern and with
cred features. The relatives accepted the
verdict with due resignation. following
the remains of the dear departed" to
their final resting place mid an ostenta-
tious display. Of Grape. But when the
will was read the excitement of the
heirs-at-law rapidly ascended to fever
heat. Always eccentric in life, Miss
Democrat had retained that eccentricity
to the end n woven 1t into her last
will and testament.
With the exception of a few requests
to her servants, the whole of her prop
erty, landed and personal, to wit: Stony
Lodge. her present residence, with Its
beautiful park, which was a very Eden
Of loneliness; Rose Villa, her Winter re-
sort on Lake Helen, Fla. together with
. splendid house in town and money to
the amount Of 5000, 900, was to pass into
the sole possession of that one among
her kinsfolk who should discover the
hiding-place OF the twelve Demorest ru-
bies.
Should the gems remain undiscovered
after the lapse Of one year from the
date OF death the estate was to be sold
and a home for old maids founded with
the proceeds.
THE old cat!" muttered fashionable
Mrs. Meredith, viciously. 'She hid those
rubies herself, the spiteful thing!'
ut is too ~provokingl" pouted her pref
~ daughter Maude.
II shall contest the WILL" said thin
Tipped Reuben Gray. ut cannot stand"
/ Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorest's
I Liece and Reuben Gray her nephew.
The W were brother and sister and the
I nearest akin to the dead woman
' Next came MarSie Vane, child OF a
favorite nephew. who was to have
l been the heir rad he not displeased his
haunt by marrying against her VIII a
girl OF obscure p~arentage-"a pauper,"
Miss Demorest called her.
Harold Vane had died some years
back. closely ollowed by his wife, and
the one daughter. Margaret. was left
alone in the wsrld and utterly penniless.
Mrs. Meredith had taken her-for the
old aunt had remained obdurate-and she
i~as now serving In the capacity Of maid
10 her beautiful cousin Maude.
Margie Vane was not present at the
reading OF the will. Mrs. Meredith con-
lsidered 1t unnecessary, and Margie her
5belf had not the faintest hope Of being
remembered kindly by her ather's stern
lcld relative. When, therefore, they re-
tturned in anger and disappointment and
ave an account of the wording of the
' will Margie's hazel eyes opened wide
with wonder.
That afternoon and many ensuing af
%ternoons Mru, Meredith, Maude and Mar.
gle walked over to Stony Lodge and wan
dered fruitlessly about amid the trea-
sures Of bric-a-brac, %statuary, books and
rare old china.
On one Of these occasions Margie met
Will Demorest. a cousin several times
removed of her fathers. He was a
frank, handsome young fellow. with
dark blue eyes Inc close. curling. fair
hair. His was the genuine Demorest
face. the index Of a strong. noble char
Acter.
By occupation he was an artist ir
blowing. having learned the art ir
Venice. He had done considerable work
for Miss Demorest, with whom he wa.
q prime favorite.
s you thought you would nave a lool
for the rubies with the rest of u.s.
said Mrs. Meredith, with a sneer, al
she found the young glassblower ex,
amining h books in the library one
morning. "Yet I thought you abhorret
mercenary considerations"
II am not in quest of the gems,' VIII
replied, as his blue eyes rested in un'
mistakable admiration on Margie's fair
sweet face.
"Humph! I hope don't take mt
for a lunatic or fool. Will Demorest,'
was the scathing rejoinder.
"For neither, I assure you," said VIII
with a bow sOnly at present 1 am more
interested In pearls thar rubies. Cousin