Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-01-24
So he had probably inquired and

Bwered quietly:
II am Dorothy Briton."
"And I am Neil Underwood"
They looked gravely at each other.
She was thinking that this interview
ought to end, and perhaps he sur
missed this, for he said:
you will not let me brighten you
away from this pleasant haunt of yours.
Rather than do so | will promise never
again to intrude."
my aunt" she said, hesitatingly.
II know; you and have both heard
the old story. But we did not build
this wall. If could, would have 1t
down."
1T seems inclined to come down of
itself" she said, smiling.
1T is time. Pity it was ever built"
And then they talked little farther;
and when Dorothy found herself alone
in her room that evening. she could
think of nothing but Neil Underwood,
and she had shy, delightful convic-
ton that he was also thinking of her.
This must not go on" she thought,
regretfully. 1T is not right-not for
me and not as regards my duty to Aunt
Janet"
And for a whole week she stayed
away from the summer house.
But it was strange how Neil Under
wood contrived to cross her path. Once
anti I'M I, l,f,n in rnt from
an errand in an obscure little suburban
street she was caught in sudden thun-
der storm.
He made her take necessary shelter
in a church porch, and there for more
than an hour, while the storm lasted,
these two stood talking together and oc-
casionally looking into each others
eyes. And everybody who has been
eighteen and twenty-five knows how
much eyes can tell.
But Miss Briton heard of this inter-
view and was furious. What hard and
bitter things she said of those I'm
derwOods" and of the Briton who could
be degenerate enough to forget the
dignity of her family and stoop to ac-
cept a fervice from their enemies who
had wronged and robbed them! And
her commands were positive that Dor
othy should never again. upon any oc-
casion. speak to Neil Underwood.
So some weeks passed and the girl
went no more to the summer house, or
alone to the town. And the old-time
people who visited Miss Briton would
occasionally remark that somehow Miss
Dorothy didn't look as bright and
cheerful as when she had first come
to her aunt's.
One day she was in her own room.
arranging her work in the drawers of
a little ebony writing-stand, which she
had found in the attic and taken a
fancy to.
CHANGING toward the open window
she saw, across the top of the brick
wall, Neil Underwood, slowly prone
nading one of the garden terraces.
His back was to her, and she watched
him until he turned at the end of the
walk when, with girlish shyness, she
instinctively drew back out of sight.
In the sudden motion the little ebony
table was overturned, and came with
crash to the floor
Dorothy stopped and lifted the
broken top. She found it to be lid.
closing by steel spring over shallow
space beneath, where no one would have
suspected such to exist. And in this
space appeared several old letters and a
folded paper yellow and crisp with
age.
The girl took up the latter and
glanced at the writing on the outside
Last Will and Testament of Paul
Patten," with the date. An old copy,
perhaps? But no. Was there not the
story of the lost will?
With eager haste she unfolded the
paper, and glancing hastily over the
first page, ran down stairs to her aunt's
room, her face pale, her eyes bright
with excitement.
ooh, Aunt Janet, see how you have
wronged them! Here is the missing
willw
Miss Briton read it with trembling
hands, and then sat like one dazed,
staring at the paper.
Il found it in the little ebony writ
table" Dorothy explained.
Yes. I heard my father say that
that table stood always by his uncle's
bed in his last illness. He kept his
medicines in the drawers. He must
have taken the will from the secretary
and placed it in the writing-stand And
his sudden death prevented his telling
where it was"
1t was memorable day in the annals
of Olney, that on which the long stand
ing feud of Briton- Underwood was
healed
I'VE have done you great wrong"
said Miss Briton, as she extended her
hand to Mr.. Basil Underwood, when for
the first time he stood beneath the roof
of the old homestead. 1--WE have ac-
cused you of crime of which you were
guiltless"
"And we have wronged you, though
llnWittingly." he returned, as he took