The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-24
THE LOST WILL.

Elsie Rednor sat by the open win.
dow, her head resting upon her hand.
and, truth to tell, nearly asleep Sud
denly a 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 he 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 cold,
calculating nature and loved him for
what he seemed.
Come into the garden, dear" he
said coaXingly. "It is pleasant out
here, and l wanted to talk to YOU"
1T does look inviting" she said,
rising. But you must not ask me TO
stay long, Frank, for ought to 30
back to Aunt Martha now. left her
with Jane and came down for a breath
of the fresh morning air."
you look tired, you poor little daisy.
suppose you have been up all night,
rs usual. You will wear yourself out.
! must assert my authority and insist
that some one else shall take care Of
Aunt Martha part of the time I'm
not going to stand quietly by and see
my darling sacrifice herself to any
one" said the young lawyer in his
snaSte'ful way.
You make the case out a great deal
worse than it is" Elsie said. with a
laugh. II have some sleep every
night and am only little tired. Aunt
Martha would so much rather have
me with her than any one else. She
Is bttle-Only Il little-peculiar, you
know. She has done 50 much for me
that | am glad to make some slight
return for her kindness, for l have no
real claim upon her"
"Why not? You are her niece, are
you not?' he said quickly.
why no! | supposed you knew all
about it. My mother was Aunt Mar
tha's dearest friend, and dying when
! was two 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 allf' asked Gill
bert, with a half frown.
Not even distantly. You look yexed.
Frank. Surely you do not care, dear?
| would have told you this before IL
had considered it of any import
ance."
81 ann not vexed Elsie, only "A little
surprised. Has Aunt Martha any
relatives living"
"Only a cousin, Mrs. Wilkins, who
lives about twenty miles. from Alton.
They haven't been on speaking terms
for years. l never saw the woman,
but from what Aunt Martha says she
must be"
What Aunt Martha's opinion was
remained untold, for Jane came rush
ing out to them, crying:
'Miss Elsie! Miss Elsie! Do hurry!
Your aunts took ever so much worsi
She's rollin' up her eyes and tryin' to
say Somethin' and can't speak a plain
word. It's awful.' .l
She found her aunt gasplng 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
KEGS by the bed. sObbing bitterly.
Aunt Martha seemed to be strug-
CLING to speak, and looked eagerly at
the old-fashioned writing desk which
stood upon table near her managed
to articulate the words:
keep, keep"
"Of course | shall always keep it."
sobbed Elsie. ''Do not worry about
that dear"
Aunt Martha seemed partly relieved.
She ceased struggling to speak. Mrs.
Brainerd came in and was soon fol-
lowed by the physician. 1t was evil
dent that nothing could be done, how
ever. Aunt Martha's minutes on
earth were numbered.
The room was quiet now, save for
Blsie's sobs, which she vainly tried to
repress The dying woman had sunk
into insensibilMy, and they hardly
knew the exact moment when she
ceased to breathe. Mrs. Brainerd
gently led the 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
the house and ca me 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 / do" she thought, ''if
il We're not for Frank? He is so good,
so thoughtful! I wish were worthy
Of him."
She sent note to Mrs wilkins, In.
forming 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 support
ed Elsie with face indicative Of the
deepest sorrow but with q gladness
at heart which belied It, He had
learned from Lawyer Bentley Of will
in Elsie's favor. securing her Aunt Mar