Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-07-11
THE LOST WILL.

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 UNI
pleasing to look at with his fine form, good
features and dark eyes and hair. She did
not know that under this fair exterior was
hidden cold, calculating nature and
loved him for what he seemed.
Come into the garden DEAR" he said
coaxingly. sit is pleasant out here, and
I want to talk to you.
st does look inviting" she said, rising.
"But you must not ask me to stay long,
Frank for l ought to go back to Aunt
Martha now. I left her with Jane and
came down for 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. l
must assert my authority and insist that
some one else shall take care Of Aunt Mar
tina part Cd the time. Pm not going to
stand quietly by and see my darling sacri-
flee herself to any one, said the young
lawyer in his masterful way.
"You make the case out q great deal
worse than it is, Elsie said, with laugh.
II have some sleep every night and am
only a little tired. Aunt Martha would so
much rather have me with her than any
one else She is little-only a little
peculiar, you know. She has done SO much
for me that am glad to make some slight
return for her kindness, for have no real
claim upon her"
not?' he said quickly.
''Why, no! l supposed you knew all
about it. My mother was Aunt Martha's
dearest friend, and dying when was 2
years old left me to her care. She has been
a mother to me all these years"
And do you mean to say you are not
related to her ut all?" 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 d little sur
priscd. Has Aunt Martha any relatives
living?"
"Only cousin, Mrs. Wilkins, who
lives about 20 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 boz
What Aunt Martha's opinion was re-
manned untold, for Jane came rushing out
to them, crying:
Miss Elsie! Miss Elsie! Do hurry!
Your aunts took ever SO much worse!
She's rollin up her eyes and tryin to say
somethin and can't speak a plain word.
It's awful!'
She found her aunt gasping for breath,
with look OH her face which told even
the inexperienced Elsie that she was al
ready in tho 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 tho old
fashioned writing desk which stood upon
a table near her managed to articulate
the words:
keep, keep!'
''Of course l shall always keep it, :"
| S'A'sSj
dear"
Aunt Martha seemed partly relieved.
She ceased struggling to speak. Mrs.
Brainerd came in and was soon followed
by the physician. 1t was evident that
nothing could be done, however. Aunt
Martha's minutes on earth were number
cd.
Tho room was quiet now, save for Elsie's
sobs, which she yainly tried to repress.
Tho dying woman had sunk into insensi-
bility, and they hardly knew the exact
| moment when she ceased to breathe. Mrs
Brainerd gently led tho 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 tho
house and came forward with sympathy
and offers of assistance
Poor Elsie! The blow was SO sudden,
so unexpected, that she was almost crush
| cd
| "What should I do, she thought, ''if 1t
were not for Frank? He Is SO good, SO
thoughtful! wish were worthy of him. y
i She sent 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 face indicative of the deepest
sorrow, but with gladness at heart which
| belied 1t. He had learned from Lawyer
Bentley of will in Elsie's favor, securing
her Aunt Marthas pretty cottage, with
Its ample grounds and $40, 900 in govern
ment bonds.
"Quite a comfortable little property, "
4 ne thought complacently. "As 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
and 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 his handsome face and polished man.
ners, Elsie would have accepted Hugh
when he asked her to bs his wife. As II
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
began for the will. To the surprise of all,
1t was not to be found Lawyer Bentley
and his partner assisted in the search, and
you may we'll believe that Gilbert at least
searched faithfully, but all to no avail.
Everything that could afford hiding place