The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-01-02

vue from center to- circumference. For
years her numerous relatives, each
with an eye tothe estate, had watched
her movements from a respectable dis
lance, which she herself had i~nterpoeed
between them, and their hearts had
grown sick with hope deferred.
Heart disease, the doctors said. when
she was found one morning with a
smile of peace frozen on her stern and
withered features. The relatives ac-
copied the verdict with due resigna-
ton, following the remains of t
dear departed to their final resting
place amid an ~ostentatious display of
Grape. But when the will was,read the
excitement of the heirs at-law rapidly
assembled to fever heat. Always eccen-
trio in life, Miss Demorest had retained
that eccentricity to the end and woven
it into her last will and testament.
With the exception of a beg tests to
her servants, the whole of her property,
landed and personal, to-wit: Stony
Lodge, her present residence, with it's
beautiful park, which was a very Eden
of loneliness; Rose Villa, her winter
resort on Lake Helen, Fla, together
with a splendid house in town and
money to the amount of $500, 600, was
to pass into the sole possession of that
one among her kinsfolk who should
discover the hiding place of the 10
Demorest rubies.
Should the gems remain undiscov-
cred after the lapse of one year from
the date of death the estate was to be
sold and a home for old maids founded
with the proceeds.
1.-THE old catr' muttered fashionable
Mrs. Meredith. viciously. "She hid
those rubies herself, the spiteful thingI'
1T IS too provokingl" pouted her
pretty daughter Maude.
II shall contest the will" said thin
Tipped Reuben Gray. ut cannot
stand"
Mrs. Meredith was Miss Demorest's
niece and Reuben Gray her nephew.
The two were brother and sister and
the nearest akin to the dead woman.
Next came Margie Vane, child of a
favorite nephew, who was to have been
the heir had he not displeased his aunt
by marrying against her will a girl of
obscure parentage-''a pauper," Miss
Demorest called her.
Harold Vane had died some years
back, closely followed by his wife, and
the one daughter, Margaret, was left
alone in the world and utterly penni-
less.
Mrs. Meredith had taken her-fort the
! old aunt had remained ob~durate-and
she was now serving in the capacity of
maid to her beautiful cousin Maude.
Margie Vane was not present at the
reading of the will. Mrs. Meredith
considered it unnecessary, and Margie
herself had not the falntest hope of be-
ing remembered kindly by her fathers
stern old relative. When, therefore,
they returned in anger and disappoint-
ment and gave an account of the word
ing of the will Margie's hazel eyes
opened wide with wonder,
That afternoon and many ensuing
afternoons Mrs. Meredith, Maude and
Margie walked over to Stony Lodge
and wandered fruitlessly about amid
the treasures of brio a brac, statuary,
books and rare old china.
On one of these occasions Hargie
met Will Demorest, 8 cousin several
times removed of her father. He was
a frank, handsome young fellow, with
dark blue Eyes and close, curling, fair
hair. His was the genuine Demorest
face, the index of a strong, noble char
acter.
By occupation he was an artist in
glass blowing, having learned the art
in Venice. He had considerable work
for Miss Bemorest, with whom he was
a prime favorite.
80 you thought you would have O
look for the rubies with the rest Of us"
said Mrs. Meredith, with a sneer, as
she found the young glass blower ex
amining the books in the library one
morning. "Yet I thought your alb
horred mercenary considerations.
ST am not in quest of the gems"
Will replied, as his eyes rested in IN
mistakable admiration on Margie's
fair, sweet face.
"Humphl 1 hope you don't take me
for a Iunatic or a fool, Will Demorest,"
was the scathing rejoinder.
For neither, I assure you," said
Will, with a bow. "OnIy at present I
am more interested in pearls than