The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-12-22
A STRANGE WILL.
1t Brought Fortune and Happiness
to Two Lovers.

y eS, she was dead at laSt-Margaret
Dcmurest, of Stony Lodge - and the
shock of her demise had shaken Belle
we from center to circumference For
years her numerous relatives, each
with an eye 10 the estate, had watched
her movements from respectful dis
tancr, which she herself had intcrposed
between them, ard 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
withercd features. The relatives ac-
cepted the verdict with due rcsigua-
zion. following the remains Of the dear
departed" to their final resting place
amid an oStentatious display Of Grape
But when the viii was read the excite
mvnt OF the heirs at-law rapidly
asccndcd 10 fever heat Always ecccn-
tric in life, Miss Demorest had retained
that ccccntricity To the end and woven
IL into her last will and testament.
With the exception of few boqucSts
to her servants, the whole of her prop
nrty, landed and personal, 20 wit:
Stony Lodge. her present residence,
with its beautiful park. which was
very Eden of lovclincss; Rose Villa. her
gythcr with splendid house in town
aud money To the amount Of five hun
drcd Thousand dollars, was TO pass into
the sole possession of that one among
her kinsf1IE who should discover the
hiding place of the twelve Demorcst
ruul.s.
Should the gems remain undiScOv-
cred after the lapse Of one year from
~ ff to
sold and 81 home for old maids founded
with the proceeds.
The old catr- muttcred fashionable
Mrs. Meredith. viciously. ''She mid
those rubies herself, the spiteful
tEing.''
1t is too provoking" pouted her
pretty daughter Maudc.
II shall contest the will said thin
Tipped Reuben tray. lit cannot
stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorest's
niece and Reuben Gray her nephew.
The two were brother and sister and
the nearest akin 70 the dead woman.
Next came Margie Vaue, child of
favorite nephew, who was to have been
the heir had he not displcased his aunt
by marrying against her will girl Of
DemCrcst called her
Harold Vane had died some years
back. closely followed by his wife, and
the one daughter, Margaret, was left
alone in the world and utterly Penni-
less.
Mrs Meredith had taken her-for the
old aunt had remai&ed obdurate-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-
sidcrcd 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 and disappoint-
meut and gave an account of the word
ing of the viii Margic's hazel eyes
opened wide with wonder.
That afternoon and many ensuing
afternoons Mrs. Meredith, Maude and
Margie walked over to Stony Lodge and
wandered fruitlessly about amid the
trca~ ures Of bric-n-brac, statuary, books
and rare old china
on one of these occasions Margie met
VIII DcmCrcst, a cousin several times
removed of her father. lie was Il
frank. handsome young fellow. with
dark blue eyes and close, curling. far
hair His was the genuine Dcmorest
face. the index of "A strong, noble char
acter.
BY occupation he was an artist in
Class-blowing, having learned the art
in Venice lie had done considerable
yvorl, for Miss Demorest, with whom he
was a prime favorite.
so You thought you would have
lool, for he rubies with the rest of us, y
said Mrs Meredith, with n sneer, as
she found the young glassblower exam
iniun the books in the library one
morning. yet | thought you abhorred
merccnary considerations"
Il am not in quest of the gems Will
replied. rs his eyes rested in unmistaK-
able admiration on Margie's fair, sweet
face.
"Humph. hope you don't take me
for lunatic or n fool, VIII Demorest,
was the scathing rejOinder.
For neither, assure you, said Nlu,
with a bow. ''Only at present | am
more Interested in pearls than rubics-
Cousin Margie, may | show you the
house? ! believe ! know 1T more thor
ougEly than most people.
Margie shyly acquiesced. and the two
went of together, leaving Mrs Mere
dith and Maude To continue their search
Are You anxious to find the rubies
also?' asked VIII. as they paused in the
china closet % admire the cut glass
Il have not even looked for them,
answered Margie. with bright smile.
They are magnificent gems said
VIII. and were never set SAW them
Just once, and they nearly took my
breath away"
Il should like To see them" Margie
said, musingly; but oh, VIII, were
they more beautiful than these eXquis-
itc cups? Surely that is impossible"
The cups in question were indeed
exquisite. Blown of the eostliest Nene-
tian glass, hly-shaped. with euried
leaves for saucers, and glowing with
rainbow tints, they resembled nothing