Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-30

tbe IRE, ana IS0lkderr1 tiAe tDatIrE LVt
fully five minutes withSut speaking.
Once or twice be glanced furIirely st
the girl who stood there 50 patiently
before him awaiting MS decision. and
his hart softened toward her as Il
Away did soften when exposed 10
good influence.
Presently he asked. not looking into
her face
Can you throw any light upon
upon that painful business-rhe ar
seuic, you kE0wy'
Il know nothing about II beyond the
mere fact that saw MIS- Priolo place
IL quite ont Of the way in the morn
ing, and thar In the afternoon I took
the milk, TEA and sugar from the usual
places.
suppose l alter or entirely remove
that eodicil:' said Mr. Bower. hesita-
tlngiy. The lawyer has not left the
house; and. after all, I had no right
10 LET morbid fear OF mine destroy
another's peace
THAT would not do at all. she OBJ
jected gently. I'm no circumstances
that seem possible at present could
accept any money from You beyond
what is necessary while living as
do beneath your roof.
rs 1t that you are offended, az
grieyed at the wording Of the eo1ieils''
mo, I don't think it is that. To say
a thing or think j thing. IL Is all the
same; and as you say, You are bound
to protect yourself"
He WINGED a little. detecting tle
slight infection Of contempt in her
tone, and touched too by its deep sad.
ness
Il will think Ii oyer and let yon
know. ! am not sure whethe. have
the right to leave you utterly unpro-
yided for-destltute, in fact"
IF do not complain, surely no one
else has the right to do So"
''well, I viii see-I will see. II you
meet Mr.. Levison, will you ask him TO
come to me for a moment?'
She bowed her head in assent, and
was leaving the room, when a sudden
thought struck her, and she turned
round again and addressed him.
Remember she said, impressively,
that If. in opposition to my wish, you
leave me any money. either directly or
indirectly. you can not force me to
accept it,
And she went on, remember that
to serve you so without hope or ex-
pectation of reward is the only way in
which can assure you Of my graft
tude and rewin your loyeyour conf
dence. Give me at least a chance
He kept his face ayerted to hide a
moisture which had risen to his eyes
at the pathos and yearning in her
voice. When he turned again, she was
gone, and the door drawn 10 behind
her.
The tears were in her eyes too, and
her mouth. still trembled, as, going
around the corner OF tho stairs, she
encountered the lawyer coming up.
He stood on one side to let her pass.
"Mr Bower wishes to speak to
you" she said
"You have been with himY
yes" A sudden impulse moved her
to confide in him and seek his aid. Il
have been asking him to leave my
name out Of his will altogether" she
said, speaking very rapidly TO hide the
tremor In hes voice. II do not want
his money: and-will you try 10 per
suade him that It would be bestowed
more judiciously and received more
gratefully eIsewhereY
Il am so utterly in the dark in this
matter that | fear my advice would
have little or no weight"
"Still you must have guessed some.
thing OF the truth Mr.. Bower sus-
poets me OF having tried to poison
him"
NO one could believe it of YOU It
is too ridiculous, too monstrous."
She looked up at him gratefully, still
seeing everything through mist Of
tears.
Mr.. Leyison, studying her with an
intent expression in his dark keen eyes
and credlting unhesitatingly what she
said. thought that her character too
was not devoid OF nobility and gener-
osity.
"Yet, as you are innocent, why
should you hesitate to take the money
to which you certainly have some
claim? Why should You suffer through
a mistaken idea that would, / am con
fident, have never arisen If Mr.. Bow!
yer had been In perfect healthY
Elaine smiled sadly and shook her
head.
II do not care for money. 1t Is no
deprivation to me at all. Never hay-
ing possessed a fortune, l shall never
miss it,"
Il must remind you however that,
putting luxuries out OF the question,
there is a great difference between the
comfort you enjoy at present and alb
solute penuryp
Il dare say" she returned, inditfer-
entyl; but / am not afraid of being
poor. That-as things are now-seems
n minor evil"
But things, hope, will not always
he as they are now; and, Miss Warde,
will you remember that l will do any
thing can for you? If you want me,