The Portland daily press., 1894-06-05
THE LOST WILL.

Elsie Rednor sat by the open window,
her head resting upon her hand, and, truth
to tell, nearly asleep. Suddenly rose
fell into her lap. Startled, she looked up.
Just outside stood Frank Gilbert, her be-
trothed lover.
Elsie blushed with glad surprise at the
sight of him. and indeed he was not I'M
pleasing to look atwith his fine form, good
features and dark eyes and hair. She did
not know that under this fair exterior was
hidden a cold, calculating nature and
loved him for what he seemed.
Come into the garden, DEAR" he said
coaxingly. 'It is pleasant out here, and
want to talk to you.
s'It does look inviting" she said, rising
"But you must not ask me to stay long,
Frank, for I ought to go back to Aunt
Martha now. I left her with Jane and
came down for a breath of the fresh morn
ing air.
You look tired, you poor little daisy.
I suppose you have been up all night as
usual You will wear yourself out
must assert my authority and insist that
some one else shall take care of Aunt Mar
tina part of the time. I'm not going to
stand quietly by and see my darling sacri-
fee heDeelf to any one, said the young
lawyer in his masterful way.
"You make the case out great deal
worse than it isl Elsie said, with laugh.
II have some sleep every night and am
only little tired. Aunt Martha would SO
much rather have me with her than any
one else. She is a little-only little
peculiar, you know She has done SO much
for me that I am glad to make some slight
return for her kindness, for have no real
claim upon her"
"Why not? You are her niece, are you
not?'' he said quickly.
why, no! supposed you knew all
about it. My mother was Aunt Martha's
dearest friend, and dying when I was 2
years old left me to her care. She has been
mother to me all these years"
''And do you mean to say you are not
related to her at ALP" asked Gilbert, with
half frown.
"Not even distantly. You look vexed,
Frank. Surely you do not care, dear?
would have told you this before if had
considered it of any Importance. %
II am not vexed, Elsie, only little sur
prised. Has Aunt Martha any relatives
living?''
"Only cousin, Mrs. wilkins, who
lives abo d 90 miles from Alton. They
haven't been on speaking terms for years.
I never saw the woman, but from what
Aunt Martha says she must BEL
What Aunt Martha's opinion was re-
manned untold, for Jane came rushing out
to them, crying:
miss Elsie! Miss ElsieH Do hurryl
Your aunt's took ever SO much worsel
She's rollin up her eyes and tryin to say
soInethin and can't speak a plain werd.
It's awfull'
She found her aunt gasping for breath,
with look on her face which told even
the inexperienced Elsie that she was al
ready i'll the grasp of the grim destroyer.
The girl sank on her knees by the bed, Sob
bling bitterly.
Aunt Martha seemed to be struggling
to speak, and looking eagerly at the old
table near her managed to articulate
the words:
Keep, keep!''
'.Of course I shall always keep it"
sobbed Elsie. lido not worry about that
DEAR
Aunt Martha seemed partly relieved
She ceased struggling to speak. Mrs.
Brainerd came in and was soon followed
nothing could be done, however. Aunt
Martha's minutes on earth were number
ed.
The room was quiet now, save for Elsie's
sobs, which she vainly tried to repress
The dying woman had sunk into insensi-
bility, and they hardly knew the exact
moment when she ceased to breathe. Mrs
Brainerd gently led the weeping girl from
the room, and being as wise as she was
kind did not try to comfort her with
words. Young Gilbert remained in the
house and came forward with sympathy
and offers of assistance.
Poor Elsiel The blow was so sudden,
so unexpected, that she was almost crush
ed.
were not for Frank? He is SO good, SO
thoughtful! wish were worthy of him. %
She sent a note to Mrs. Wilkins, inform
ing her of her Cousins death and of the
day appointed for the funeral No notice
was taken of this, which surprised no one
At the grave Frank Gilbert supported
Elsie with a face indicative of the deepest
sorrow, but with gladness at heart which
bclied it. He had learned from Lawyer
Bentley of will in Elsie's favor, securing
iiCI 11ul1o 4hol P1CUuy COuUetSSO3 Will
its ample grounds and $4,000 in govern
ment bonds.
'Quite comfortable little property, :"
he thought complacently. LAS soon as /
can induce Elsie to name our wedding day
we can settle down here very cozily That
story of hers worried me little, for if the
old lady had neglected to make will
could hardly be expected to burden myself
with portionless wife. Elsie is sweet
girl, and it would be hard to give her up,
but a man must look out for the main
chance. However, it's all right, and I'm
| glad of it.''
But ii Frank Gilbert sympathy was all
outward show there was another man
whose heart was filled with sincere pity
md hopeless love for Elsie. Poor Hugh
| Clifford! He had loved the girl ever since
| he was her champion at school, If Frank
| Gilbert had not appeared upon the scene
| with ibis handsome face and polished man
ners, Elsie would have accepted Hugh
| when he asked her to be his WIFE AS it
| was, she refused him gently, but decidedly.
Aunt Martha, who was Hugh's conf
! dant, sympathized with him.
And now the funeral was over and search