Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-23

Aunt PriScillay,~M or PETS
and q pair of wonn-o6cV Matthew
Corlett, but they were too lsi 70 De
taken into account PracsicslrS every
thing was left to George. ~.
The will was signed, sealed and Why
messed on the very morning on which
Hattie went to Gorragh Bay for the
second time and looked down upon a
battered hulk, without a living SOU on
board.
The lawyer heard the news when he
reached the gate He went back TO the
house ami repeated it.
The lad mag have escaped" said
my father. "WsS'there a boat on board
the lugger?'
YES. 1t is gone, l am told. But no
boat could have+ived long in such a sea
as there was outside"
"Well. the well shall stand for the
present." said my father.
But late in the afternoon news was
| brought that tho missing boat. bottom
uppermost, had drifted ashore near
SANDY. Two of'the lugger's crew, Tag
| CART and Q~ualGrough by name, were
clinging TO it at the time, and when
taken out Of the sea they were more
dead than alive They said they were
the only survivors.
According TO their account, they had
escaped under cover of the darkess,
knowing that the east channel was be-
ing carefully watched, they had stolen
across the bay, and gone round the far
end OF the breakwater. They had Lot
had any particular port in view, their
sole object being TO put a safe dis
lance between themselves and Gorragh
Bav. Although inceesant bailing was
necessary, they had no serious miShap
until they we're off Sandy, when the
boat was suddenly ~swamped. After a
time il floated again, bottom upper
most; Taggart and Qualtrough caught
hold of it, and thus supported them
selves until they were rescued. The
others they never saw again.
What had become Of them? The sea
answered that~guestion in its W sad
way. Next day it left two bodies upon
I the beach. Aver that it answered no
more for a time.
NV father waited no longer. AS the
death of George Vane would nullify his
present will, no. resolved TO make an
other without delay. But first he sent
for Alistair Grove.
Here he encountered an unexpected
difficulty. Groves dignity had been
seriously wounded. He said:
THE last tIme l went to the house l
was insulted. l am not going AZ his
bidding now"
NV father answered back: 81 like
your spirit, Gfove. Forgive me. Now
come"
Grove w~entahea, curiosity being too
much for him.
Had he known the reason OF the invi-
| tation he would, with all speed, at the
very outset have put his pride in his
pocket.
Ny father, rclad 10 . long dressing
gown, received him in the library. l
was there, of course, for the interview
concerned the things which in the nat
ural order of events would have been
mine. Grove. though had never given
him credit br much sensitiveness,
seemed to feel my presence. He
! located the scarce Of his uneasiness In
| the black marble urn which he had
heard so much about, yet now saw IL for
| the first time. But l was nearer to him
than that, for I watched him narrowly
| from a spot chose to his chair.
"You are a careful man, Grove"
said my father, with an inquiring look
at his visitor
"Yes, thank So" answered Grove,
WonderinGly.
81 believe you are" said my father,
| though rather as if musing than speak
ing aloud. "SYou don't drink, you don't
gamble; you are about the only man in
| this n~elghbo.hood who has not made
ducks and brakes of his property"
Raising his voice suddenly, he added:
II have a property which l want taken
care of; will you do it for me?"
"As agent?' inquired Grove.
GAS owners'
"Why, yes; I think l can do that for
you, Major Hey wood" Grove said hast
lily. ''Whera IS it situated? You don't
mean Croukvssh, do you?"
That is precisely what l do mean. l
had left it to George Vane; his name
shall still remain ia my will to show my
intentions; bIt as he is gone, poor lad,
l propose to have the estate to you-On
one condition, that you marry Rachel
Vane and hoAsit in trust for her and her
children.
Groves facs fell considerably at this
last clause.
But suppose she won't marry me-
he said.
Then she must take the conse-
quenceS. II you do all that q gentle
man can do / snail consider that you
have fulfilled that condition. Cronk-
wash will become yours absolutely. l
should like 70 benefit the Vanes in some
wav-it was my dear wife's wish-but l
want the property kept together, and l
am not going 20 leave it TO a girl who
may marry d wastrel, ready enough TO
fling it to the winds"
just {, "assented Grove; lust so.
Young men are so desperately extrava-
CANT nowadays. And you wish me, l
suppose, to send your Lawyers here at
ouce?"
II didn't say So" said my father,
sharply.
Grove hastily dropped the subject.
But before be left, he had already as
sumed the burden of ownership, and
was suggesting various alterations and
improvements; 8 line OF conversation
which clearly did not meet my fathers
approval. He regarded an heir as q
necessary ewl, and knowing no one bet
ter suited 20 his purpose than Grove,
was prepared to tolerate him. but that
was all. The chief motive which intlu-
epced him VIII appear later.
Grove carried his head very high as
he walked down the drive. At the
lodge ne stopped AMI looked in at the
door.