The Irish standard., 1894-04-07

ont of this life sooner than have been
expecting. don't know whether or
not yon were very great = surprised at
the contents of your father :; will, but
I must believe so; because he seemed
to have got fully reconcil-d to you and
Hannah both, and l suspected was
more fond of you than of your brother.
I want us to talk with each other about
it in as much confidence as-as is con-
sistent with the different relations We
bear to Mr.. Amerson. Can we not,
Cullen?"
Certainly. sister You NAV sneak
with what freedom you feel to be pru-
dent, and what you say will have my
full respect and proper consideration.
So shall speak with you; and the first
I'd like to say is this: trust you bring
no message from brother, at least not
one In which is a proposal to me OF any
Sort
II bring no message, Cullen; none
I told Mr. Amerson this morning that
/ should stop by here to-day. am sure
from his words that he was glad to hear
it. Tell me, first, weren't you sur
prised?'
Eyes, indeed; for in his last sickness
father said to me more than once that
he had been thinking about making q
wiz, but that-but that he had decided
not"
did he give any reason for such de-
cision?'
"He did: but, my dear sister, doubt
fin the circumstances--it would be
proper to say to you what that reason
wasp
''Tell me- Cullen; tell me, dear
brother. ! think you know that ask
only in the hope Of rendering some
service to you, if that is possible.
But, besides the grief feel about this
matter, ! am haunted with fears. Tell
me, dear, for all sal1es.''
'Then will. Father, when entire
ly possessed in understanding, said
that he had been kept from MAX
ing will by brother, who suggested
that he and l could settle the estate
between ourselves without need of
help from the courts
eyes, that's what ! was sure of.
Cullen. I know what I owe to your
brother. What I am going to say is
with full sense of that obligation.
owe something to you, also, and there
are debts of yet higher, far higher
dignity Cullen, my solemn convic-
ton is that your father believed he
had no will
"Rut, sister, Arthur Dabney, who is
. good lawyer, tells me that is not
what the law calls revocation of a
once-existing will. and that any
amount of proof of such belief would
have no effect-wouldn't be even
listened to by the court" ......
"Is that SOP" she said, with profound
awe.
$50 Da bney says"
Rejecting awhile, evidently study
ing what words she should employ, she
said:
"Rut, Cullen, suppose-for instance,
suppose your father actually did de-
stroy paper which he took to be his
will? merely ask for information
IL doubt if that would affect the
case notably, sister, unless it could be
proved very clearly that the paper so
destroyed had been fraudulently sub
stituted,"
Il don't suppose that could be done."
she said. in a low voice, looking down
upon the floor. Then suddenly she
spoke with animation:
But, Cullen dear, you know, at least
Mr.. Amerson says, that all the land
out here and the large tract on the
Oconee were bought since the will, and
therefore didn't pass by it?"
Il am aware of that, sister," he
answered, with some retracting in
tone
She regarded him with much eager
ness.
If ! could so arrange it, as I'm sure
I could. wouldn't you take both of
those places?-knowing without a
doubt" she quickly added, what your
father wished?"
Il couldn't take any more than what
it would be recognized universally
that was entitled to, sister,"
mot for my sake?''
Not for yours, dear sister, nor for
anyhody's, because such an act would
subtract from my self-respect, by seem
ing equivalent to compromise with
brother, which I have resolved not to
make"
''Oh, my Lord, what can be done in
this case? Are you, then. going to do
nothing to get at least some of your
rights? l don't know what to say or
what to do!''
She looked around the room in de-
spair.
The case is in Dabney's hands, sis
ter; but he has my instructions not to
move in it for the present, no matter
what grounds he may suspect he has,
Her quick sense saw the tenderly
compassionate motive Of his breast,
and, laying her head upon his shoul-
der, she wept and wept. At length,
lifting herself, she looked into his face
with much tenderness. saying:
My dear brother, l could not invent
words to express how much I admire
your nobility and your gentle true
heartedness. l know that if Mr..
DIbney should discover or should
.helieve himself to have discovered
any grievous fraud in this un-
happy affair, you will give me,