Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-14
THE LOST WILL.

anu, LfuLn 10 tell, nearly asleep. Sud
denly rose fell into her lap. Startled
she looked up. Just outside stood
Frank Gilbert, her betrothed lover.
Elsie blushed with glad surprise at
the sight Of him, and indeed be was
not unpleasing 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 a cold,
/ calculating nature and loved him for
! what he seemed.
| Come into the garden, DEAR he
! said coaxingly. 1t is pleasant out
! here, and want to talk to you
1t looks inviting" she said ris-
ing. But you must not ask me TO
! stay long, Frank, for [ ought to go
back to Aunt Martha now. l left her
with Jane and came down for a breath
OF the fresh morning air"
You look tired, you poor little
daisy, L suppose you have been UP all
night, as usual, You will wear your
self out. | must assert my authority
and insist that some one else shall take
| care of Aunt Martha a part of the
time. I'm not going to stand quietly
by and see my darling sacrifice herself
to ally one" said the young lawyer in
his masterful way.
You make the case out u great deal
worse than it is" Elsie said, with a
laugh. Il have some sleep every night
and am only little tired Aunt Mar
tina would so much rather have me
with her than any one else She is a
Httle-Only ittle-peculiar, you know.
She has done 50 much for me that | am
glad to make some slight return for
her kindness, for | have no real claim
upon her.
Why not? You are her niece. are
you nOt!' he said quickly
Why, no! l supposed you knew all
about it. My mother was Aunt Mar
tha's dearest friend, and dying when
was , 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 at all?' asked Gil
bert with a half frown.
Not even distantly. You look
vexed, Frank. Surely you do not care,
dear. l would have told you this be-
fore If l had considered it Of any i'm
portance.'
Il am not Vexed, Elsie, only a little
surprised. Has Aunt Martha any rel
atives liying?'
Only cousin, Mrs. Wilkins, who
oh
haven't been on speaking terms for
years. l never saw the woman, but
from what Aunt Martha says she
must be-
What Aunt Marthas opinion was re-
manned untold, for Jane came rushing
out to them, crying:
Miss Elsie! Miss Elsie! Do hurry!
Your aunt's 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 on her face which
told even the inexperienced Elsie that
she was already in the grasp OF the
grim destroyer. The girl sank on her
knees by the bed, sobbing bitterly
Aunt Martha seemed to be struggling
to speak, and looked eagerly at the
old fashioned writing desk, which
stood upon a table near her, managed
to articulate the words:
Keep, keep"'
''Of course, [ shall always keep it."
sobbed Elsie. DO not worry about
that, dear"
Auns Martha seemed partly relieved.
She ceased struggling to speak. Mrs.
Drainerd came in and was soon fol-
lowed by the physician. 1t was evi
dent that nothing could be done, how
ever. Aunt Martha's minutes on earth
were numbered.
The room was quiet now, save for
Elsie's s>hs, which she vainly tried to
repress, The dying woman had stink
into insensibility, and they hardly
knew the exact moment when she
! ceased to breathe. Mrs. Brainerd
! room, and being as wise as she was
/ kind did not try to comfort her with
words. Young Gilbert remained in the
! house and came forward with SYM
pathy and offers of assistance
Poor Elsie! The blow was so sud-
den, so unexpected, that she was al
most crushed.
What should 1 do she thought, IF
it were not for Frank? He is so good,
so thoughtful! I wish l were worthy
of him.
She sent a note to Mrs Wilkins, in
forming her of her counsin's death and
Of the day appointed for the funeral.
No notice was taken of this, which sur
prised no one.
At the grave Frank Gilbert sup
ported Elsie with face indicative Of
the deepest sorrow, but with a glad
ness at heart which belied it. He had
learned from Lawyer Bently of a will
in Elsie's favor, securing her Aunt
Martha's pretty cottage, with its ample
grounds and $4,000 in government
bonds.
"Ouite comfortable little property
he thought complacently. LAS soon
as I can induce Elsie TO name our
wedding day we can settle down here