The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-11-04
A STRANGE WILL.
It Brought Fortune and Happiness
TO Two Lovers.

u.s. nv ~ eNeA 90 A@oN
Demorest, of Stony Lodge and the
shock of her demise had shaken Belle
eue from center TO circumference. For
wears her numerous relatives, each
with an eve to the estate, had watched
her movements from a respectful dis
lance. which she herself had interposed
between them, and their hearts had
grown sick with hope deferred.
Heart disease, the doctors said, when
She was found one morning with n
smile of peace frozen on her stern and
withered features The relatives &C
cepted the verdict with due resigna-
ton, following the remains of the dear
departed" to their final resting place
amid an ostentatious display of Grape.
But when the will was read the excite
ment of the heirs-at-law rapidly
assembled to fever heat Always eccen-
trio in life, Miss Demorest had retained
that e~ccentricity to the end and woven
ii into her last will and testament.
With the exception of q 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 a
very Eden of loneliness; Rose Villa, her
winter resort on Lake Helen, Fla. to-
gether with a splendid house in town
and money to the amount OF five hun
dred thousand dollars, was to pass into
the sole possession of that n among
her kinsfolk who should discover the
hiding place of the twelve Demorest
fubies.
Should the gems remain undiscov-
cred after the lapse of one y0ar from
the date Of death the estate was to be
sold and a home for old maids founded
with the proceeds.
The old catt' muttered fashionable
Mrs. Meredith, viciously, "She hid
those rubies herself, the spiteful
things"
at is too p~rovoking!" pouted her
pretty daughter Maude.
Il shall contest the WILL" said thin
lippcd Reuben Gray. 1T cannot
stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorest's
niece and Reuben Gray her nephew.
The two were brother and sister and
the nearest akin to the dead
Next came Margie Vane, child of 4
f~avorite nephew, who was to AVE been
the heir had he not ~displeased his aun
by marrying against her will a girl of
obscure parentage-"a pauper," Miss
Demorest 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 remained obdurate-and
she was now serving in the capacity of
maid to her beautiful cousin Maude.
Margie Vane was lot 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 and disappoint-
ment and gave an ccount 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
Margie walked over to Stony Lodge and
wandered fruitlesslv about amid the
treasures 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 father. He was a
frank. handsome young fellow, with
dark blue eyes and close, curling, fair
hair. His was the genuine Demorest
face, the index of a strong, noble char
acter.
BY occupation he was an artist in
glass-blowing, having learned the art
in Venice. lie had done considerable
work for Miss Demorcst, with whom he
was a prime favorite.
so you thought you would have a
look for the rubies with the rest of u.s."
said Mrs. Meredith, with a sneer, as
she found the young glassblower exam
lining the books in the library n
morning. yet thought you abhorred
mercenary considerations"
II am not in quest of the gems" Will
replied, as his eyes rested in unmistak-
able admiration on Margie's fair, sweet
face.
"Humph. I hope you don't take me
for a lunatic or a fool, Will Demorest,"
was the scathing r~ejoinder.
For neither, | assure you" said Will,
with a bow. only at present j am
more interested in pearls than rubies.
Cousin Margie, may I show you the
house? | believe ] know it more thor
oughly han most people"
Margie shyly acquiesced, and the two
went off together, leaving Mrs. Mere
dith and Maude to continue their search.
Are you anxious to find the rubies
also?" asked Will, as they paused in the
china closet to admire the cut glass.
Il have not even looked for them"
answered Margie, with a bright smile.
They are magnificent gems" said
Will, and were never set. saw them
Just once, and they nearly took my
breath away"
al should like to see them" Margie
said, musingly; but oh, Will, were
they more beautiful than these exquis-
ito cups? Surely that is impossible"
The cups in question were, indeed,
exquisite. Blown of the costliest Vene-
tian glass, lily-shaped, with curled
leaves for saucers, and glowing with
rainbow tints, they resembled nothing
so much as a bed of gorgeous tropical
flowers.
Margie's eyes sparkled as she looked
at them.
How lovely! How dainty. How
fairy-like..- she exclaimed, breathless-
". .'See, Will; this one is exactly like
an opal with a touch of fire, and here
is an amethyst and here a glowing
emerald. Oh, Will, do look! See how
that strange glow, as Of hidden fire.
flashes from each! This n is jacinth,
this beryl, and--Will Demorest, here is
a ruby. Oh, the beauty! The real
gems cannot be more superb
As she spoke she took the ruby cup
into her hand. Will half started for
- aro- har hut lror-