Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-07-26

which was practically worthless. was
not his friend, nor in his confidence, nor |
in any way his debtor"
81 see" breathed Elfe. $50 we are
now the joint owners of that entire |
Musse:shell property" ~
Eyes, Elie, as you will see by letter
YOUR mother wrote you month ago.
declared Wynans, drawing handful OF
valuable papers from MS pocket anu
proceeding to dctach from them inc
misslve in question. "Kead UhlS'
Starting in glad surprise, as she recog'
nized her mothers handwriting, Ellie
pressed the letter repeatedly to her lips,
and then broke the seal and rea1 as lol'
lows:
My DARLING DAUGHrER-Mr. Wynans
saws your uncles will not do any hing Tor
YOU after am gone, but it is only right
that YOU should apply to them, especially
to vour uncle Hiram. Your father furnish
cd him with the capital which gave hlm MS
first start as merchant. Shou q he prove
a broken reed to lean upon, such VIII not
be the case with Perry Wynans. we nave
not known this dear friend long, but we
have known him intimately. He is honest,
kindly, and generous-all things good ana
noble How much it comforts me 10 know
that | leave you such q friend and protect
or. is only known to that God In whose
bosom / shall soon be at rest from my I"lalS.
Trust this man, darling, as you would trusI
me. The Musselshell lands 1T seems are De-
coming very valuable, and Perry call
him so because he seems like son 10 ms
will give you half they produce. Consult
with him whenever you need advice, and
remember that my last blessing will always
rest upon you both. Heaven be with you
both now and eveT. MorhE
Ellie had not read this epistle without
many a pause, as also with cmouons
which found repeated expression In tears
If seemed to her almost like message
from another world
"This letter confirms all you have told
me, Mr. Wynans," she sad at length,
handing it to him and inviting him 0y
gesture to read it.. "YOu will see how
much mamma thought of YOU"
Perry read the letter in"silenCe, tears
gathering in his eyes
"She was only too appreclat We OF inc
little | have done, o. could do" he SAID,
handing the letter back to Ellie, who
again pressed it to her lips and secured
it tenderly in her bosom. "At the mo-
ment it was written ] was not as fully
enlightened about the MusSelshell prop
erty as am now, but enough had be-
come known to render it certain that we
were on the road to fortune"
Ellie looked SO pleased at this asSur-
ancc that he FASTENED to add:
"The rel ortS / have received during
the past week from the Mussclshell read
like fairy tale. hardly dare give you
their substance, and so will let you look
them over for Yourself in the course or
the evening or tomorrow. 1t is enough
to say that we have on our land two OF
the richest gold mines which have ever
been found in America.
With what inte 1sity the girls glances
came back to his face.
allow nice" she murmurcd, with the
sweet simplicity of her years. "And how
| like fairy tale, as you say! l suppose
YOU will not remain in Uncle Hiram S
service moment longer?"
"No. Ellie. In fact, | am not going
back to the store / lie a brief note on
nv desk to that effect | remained un-
iii to day merely on your account My
idea was that your unclo would refuse to
do anything for you, and deemed it my
duty to resume my acquaintance with
you at the very point where your uacle 8
deal ngs ended
"How good of yOu Oh, if hadn't
met YOU at that sad, gloomy moment!
| was quite in despair. And now that
YOU have quit uncle's service and he has
cast me ofl?"
"Wc'l 90 to Montana together, if you
think well of the suggestion" declared
Perry. "NO father was ever kinder to
daughter than l will be to you, should
Won desire to bear M company to these
wonderful mines"
Effie sighed with gladness that was
too intense for utterance.
ooh, it has been the dream of my life
to go out to the mountains and valleys
of the great Vest"
81 fOreSaw how you would welcome
my proposition" said Perry, "and so
have engaged life long friend of your
mother end yourself to go out there witt
us-in fact, your dear old nurse, Mrs
Rankle."
Really? How delightful! Where /;
she?"
"She's at my hotel waiting for us"
"How thoughtful you are. don
know what mamma and / would have
done without dear Mrs. Rankle."
"You vii go with me to Montana
then?"
@As if 1 could refuse!" exclaimed
Elfc.
81 think we shall be able to start this
very afternoon" announced Wynans
"The truth is, your Uncle Jerry is still
in possession of our lands and mines, an(
is robbing us of fortune daily, so tina
am resolved to put in an appearance
there at the earliest moment poss16 "
"And shall we say anything to Uncle
Hiram about our Intentions"
Certainly not, Ellie. What is 'Uncl'
Hiram to you? But he'll not be far be
hind us, | think. He is in danger o
failing and losing everything he has il
the world, and his intention is to star
for Montana this very day. He ha
realized all the cash he could by all sort
of shifts and expedients-many OF then
grossly dishonest-and is going to rul
away, taking his son and daughter will
him. >"
aThen we may see them all in Mon
tana?" ~, .o.
"It's only too probable But whci
Won do he will be the 'beggar' and yo'
will ba rolling in your millions.
How Elfe's heart fluttered at TN
thourhtl What true prophecies sh
had been in warning Hiram Skidder o
such a change in their respective situa
! tionS
| and for all this have to thank you
Mr.. Wynans, she murmured, her eye
misty with her exquisite joy; "you who
until to-day, have been SO rarely a
hour in my presence! You have tolle
and thought for me while slept! Sure
tits the hand of God which has brough