The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24
THE LAST DOUBT.
BY DORA RUSSELL.

by Dora Russell
grown little pale before now. grew sud
denly red.
You have mentioned this in your will,
uncle2' he said.
Yes. lad. and not only mentioned Il,
but made 10 an absolute condition to your
succeeding TO any property of mine"
As his uncle said this, Roden turned
away from the bed. and began walking
hastily up and down the room. Then.
after a few seconds reflection. he came
back, ana tried 10 take hold Of the Old
mans twitching hand.
Uncle he said. Il should have told
you. perhaps ] ought 10 have told you.
but was afraid to disturb youth fact
To worry you-but I am engaged. posi-
lively engaged TO Winny Southwell. and
I cannot / am sure you will see this
cannot draw back in honor now"
You must find some way to draw back
II you want TO succeed to Greylands"
answered the squire. looking still eager
~ In his nephew's agitated face. Il
won't change mN mind-you must change
yours, Hugh. If you ever mean to be mas
ter here"
But. uncle" pleaded the young man.
1T is not only Of myself 1 must think
Winny-"
Tell her II she marries you she will
marry pauper-try the effect Of that"
said Mr.. ROden. with bitter sneer.
y
hastily; most unjustr'
y am not going TO argue with you"
said Mr.. ROden. Il have told you what
intend to do-and now, Hugh. as I am
tired, I Will wish you goodnight.
Some very mise rable hours were spent
by the young man after his dismissal
from his uncie's bedside. IT was indeed
a cruel alternative which was offered TO
him. To give up Winny or a large for
tune! And young Hugh Roden knew well
what the want of money meant. He had
felt II, and in his pocket at that very mo-
ment when his uncle had told him his
intentions, was a letter from his mother
fun of hope for his future and her own
This poor lady's life had been one long
and bitter disappointment. She had mar
ried in the belief that her future husband
would be very rich man. only TO realize
that a few years after their marriage he
became ruined one. and he ended his
became ruined one. and
he ended his life and his
spair. Then the miserable widow had been
forced TO turn to the man whose early
life she had blighted for the means of
subsistence for herself and her son. Old
Hugh Roden, of Greylands, had given
her these means with a sparing hand, but
he had refused to see either her or her
son, until one year before we find him ly-
ing on his death-bed Then he had sent
>
widow to understand that he intended
to make her son his heir. Mrs. Roden's
hopes for the future therefore, had, dur
ing the past year. been very high. With
ill-concealed joy she had heard that the
Squire Of Greylands was now supposed
to be dying. She had said. Poor
dear man." to her friends, they tell
me he cannot dive" and she
had written to her son again and again,
and told him TO be sure not to vex or
annoy his dear uncle" in any way; for
1t cannot last long now" she had added
Young Hugh, walking restlessly up and
down his bedroom in the small hours of
the morning, after leaving his uncle, knew
that II could not last long now; but knew
also that his uncle had willed his future
happiness away when he forbade him to
marry Winny Southwell, or become
pauper in the world.
He had promised to meet Winny on the
following afternoon. and when he left
the hanor house to do so
he had almost determined to
tell her what his uncle had said But
when he met her, looking so blooming
so happy, and so fair, he felt that he had
not strength of mind to say the cruel
words that might part them. He fingered
by her side. he held her hands as if he
were 10th to leave their soft clinging
touch. But once, when a heavy sigh rose
unbidden to his lips, and Winny looked
somewhat anxiously in her lovers face
to md the cause, he gave an uneasy
laugh, and tried to hide his bitter trouble
Yet before the day was over the girl
knew it. The doctor was leaving the
manor house, as young Hugh entered IL
after his interview with Winny, and 1t
suddenly occurred to Hugh. when he saw
him. that perhaps his old friend. Dr.
Ward. might have some influence with his
uncle. So Hugh beckoned the doctor into
the library, and after closing the door,
asked him if he had seen his uncle.
Yes, why do you ask me?" said the
doctor, who was a plain-speaking man.
of not many words.
The young man jerked out the last few
words with an effort, and the doctor still
kept his steady gray eyes fixed on his
face.
Because" hesitated young Hugh, '1ast
night he made a most extraordinary state
ment to me. You are his old friend, Dr.
Ward-do you know anything of a strange
clause in his will?"
mo, l do not" answered the doctor
fixing his steady grey eyes on the young
mans changing face
He told me-" continued Hugh, lab
solutely told me that-that he had left
everything to me, but with most absurd
a most extraordinary condition attached
What do you think of this condition, doc
tor? That l do not marry WINNER
well" he said, land what did you say
to this?"
II told him. answered Hugh, that l
was engaged to Winny-that my honor
and my feelings were alike bound to her."
And what did he say?''
That he had made up his mind that
If Winny married me. she would marry a
pauper, and that I was to tell her so
and that he had left this as an absolute
clause in his will"
Does Winny know?"
Il could not tell her, doctor-I have been
! thinlxing-you are his old friend-wiIl YOU
! speak to him? Tell him how unjust this
is-Wihny is most dear to me-most dear;
my future life would be wretched without
4 her, and l believe, nay, l am sure she
| loves me we'll She is good. she is pure
she is everything cannot part with her
will you tell him, doctor?'
Yes, but II he remains firm, what will
! you do?" asked the doctor.
( For moment Hugh hesitated; his color
/ changed; then he said:
II will marry Winny-yes. I will marry
/ Winny."
Give up fine estate for a young girls
! love- Ell, Hugh" said the doctor, as IL
/ half incredulously.
! ssNas ranea tad EJttqb ,,,ora er...t.- s,.r