The Portland daily press., 1894-06-05
Auns Martha had seemed SO, anxious about
s,7rt 1.aforc hor death

JuS VI OEdWlnS up Ul6 Will,
but was obliged to believe that for some
unknown reason Aunt Martha had de-
stroyed it and neglected to make another.
''If it were any one but Mrs. Wilkins
Elsie thought, Il could bear it better, but
it really seems as if auntie couldn t rest in
her grave with that woman in possession
of her house. I have Frank left, and al
though we shall be poor at first will try
my best to make him happy"
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilkins did not long re-
main in ignorance of the fact that no will
was to be found and game to Alton in
great triumph. Elsie, who had not yet left
her old home, received them with quiet
dignity Mrs Wilkins announced her in
tention Of moving over and taking pos
session of the house that week.
II always did like this part of the coun-
try better than our county" she said to
her husband, land am coming right
away You can stay over there and see
to sellin off the furniture, cause we won't
need none of it here, and you'd better rent
the house if you can" Then, turning to
Elsie, who felt almost suffocated with in
dignation, she said sharply, II s'pose you
have got another place to stop, haven't
you, Miss Rednor, for 'twouldn't be very
convenient to have you here after we
Gomez"
Il have no intention of taxing your hos
pitality in the least madam replied FL
sic calmly, 'but you seem to have forgot
ten that there are certain forms of law
which must be complied with before you
can take possession. advise you to see
Lawyer Bentley at once, and for the pres
ent allow me to wish you good morning."
''Impudent hussy!" said the irate wom-
an as the door closed upon Elsie's slight
form. Thinks she can drive us off that
way, does she? Well, come along Ephra-
i'm. I guess it won't do no hurt to go
and see the lawyer anyway"
So the worthy couple sought the law
yer's Office, where they learned to their
dismay that it would be several months at
least before they could obtain possession
of the much desired property.
Elsie took up her abode with good Mrs
Brainerd, who had kindly offered her a
home, and wondered why Frank did not
come to see her. Could he be ill? No, she
would have heard of it. Pride kept her
from going to the office to inquire for him
On the fourth day a letter came.
"How strange of Frank to write instead
of coming himself" she thought, with
strange sinking at her heart.
She opened the letter with trembling
fingers.
DEAR EIsIE-I hardly know what to say. I
sympathize deeply with you in your double af-
Fiction, but it will be years before my circum-
stances will allow me to marry, and it would
be the height of selfshness to ask YOU to wait
for me an uncertain length of time. / do not
consult my own feelings in this matter. only
try to see what is for your best good, and there
fore will hold you no longer bound. Remember
me always as your most affectionate friend,
FRANK GILBERT.
II will answer this letter while I feel
strong" she said, and taking pen and pa
per she wrote:
Mr. GILBERT-I fully agree with your opin-
ion concerning our engagement and thank you
for kindly releasing me. Yours sincerely.
ELSIE REDNoR.
She sent the note and Joined the family
at the tea table soon after as her absence
might have occasioned surprise. She
forced herself to appear as usual and sue
ceeded so well that no one observed any
thing strange in her manner. But that
evening she said to her friend:
'Iwant to tell you something dear Mrs
Brainerd. My engagement with Mr.. Gil
bert is broken off .
Mrs. Brainerd suspected the truth, but
only said quietly:
well, my dear, I presume you have
some good reason for 1t. - And Elsie loved
her the better because she said no more.
When Frank Gilbert read Elsie's note,
he felt piqued and annoyed. OF course he
was glad to get out Of the affair so easily,
but for Elsie to take it SO coolly hurt his
vanity. He hardly knew what sort of an
swer he had expected-certainly not what
he received. AS he had as much love for
her as he could have for any one except
himself, he soon began to regret the step
he had taken.
Hugh Clifford had much to do with the
rapid healing of her wound. He had been
so unobtrusively kind, SO watchful of her
comfort in many little ways when she was
in need of sympathy, that at last she be-
gan to wonder at her blindness in prefer
ring Frank Gilbert to him. Truly, Hugh's
reward was coming, and when one day he
ventured to ask again if there might be
hope for him in the future she hid her
blushing face upon his breast.
II hope that Aunt Martha knows how
happy we are'' said Elsie as the two sat
together in the pleasant September after
noon. 'sShe would be so glad. Is there
anything wrong with my writing desk,
Hugh? You seem to be giving it close at,
tention.''
The desk stood open upon the table, and
Hugh had been observing it closely.
''Would you mind emptying this, dear,
that may. examine it a little?" he asked.
Wondering at the request, she complied
For half hour he was busily engaged
with the desk; then with a triumphant ex-
clamation he held up thick folded paper.
Elsie turned pale.
"Open it, Hugh. am afraid to-
Well, of course you know what it was
the much looked for will, hidden in a Sc.
cret drawer in the old desk. Hugh's
trained eye had noticed a discrepancy in
the size of one of the compartments and
the outside of the desk and had set his
wits to work to discover the cause, with
this happy result.
Elsie tired in vain to check her hyster-
ical sobs.
Forgive me, Hugh" she said. ''It is
only because I'm SO happy And that
dreadful Mrs. Wilkins can't have the dear
old home, and I'm almost sure Aunt Mar
tina knows. New York Journal.
Legislatson Regarding Insect Pests.