The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-10
A WEDDING PRESENT.

Nov for il, 4" said to myself as !
undid the Irvine binding my precious
volumes together and prepared to ex-
anime them more carefully than had
had time to do since unearthed them
from the little, dark, secondhand book
shop that afternoon. There was nothing |
remarkable about them; no rare editions
of we'll known classics. no long for.
gotten books, valuable from their very
obscurity, merely few bound volumes
Of old magazines and couple OF the
novels which had delighted me as
boy, and which from old association
were more precious in their original
type and polished leather binding than
in the spruce modern editions Best OF
all was copy Of Dickens master
Humphreys Clock. with he woodcuts
that cannot now be reproduced.
When / had gone more than half
through the second volume. came up
on large sheet Of thin paper, covered
with neat, cramped writing. l took IT
out and looked at it. A moments in
spection showed me that il was will,
written throughout il the handwriting
of the testator, Michael Darcy, and dat
ed two years before. 1t left interest in
the farm Of Carrignalea, with stock and
| implements, to the testator's brother,
Patrick Darcy, who was also named
residuary legatee. while the sum Of eS,-
600 in railway stock and other invest
ments was bequeathed to my late
wife's niece, Anastasia French" 1t
was, as far as could judge, and had
had some experience in matters OF the
kind, properly executed, signed and
| witnessed.
It was odd to find an important docu-
ment Of this sort hidden away between
the leaves Of a book. Had Patrick Darcy
and Anastasia Ffrcnch been left with
out their inheritance in consequence?
wondered. would make some inquiries
about the matter next day. II would be
easy to find out all about Michael Darcy
of Carrignalea. Meantime, the will
could remain between the leaves OF
Master Humphreys Clock. i"
But the morrow found me flying along
by express train to the bedside OF my
only son, who had met with danger
ous accident. And for many weeks
could think of nothing but him and OF
the best means Of snatching him from
the extended arms of death. And when.
by Gods mercy, he was once more as
safe from those clutches as any one OF
us can ever be, Michael Darcy, his will,
heirs and executors, had faded out OF
my mind as completely as II they hac
never entered it, and the will was rest
ing undisturbed in its hiding place
. among my books.
Some 10 months later / went in ,
,, regular course Of my practice to visi
an old friend, who was suffering iron
an acute attack Of pneumonia She wa
an elderly lady, living alone some tw'
> or three miles outside the city. Her serv
ants were faithful and attached, but Il
: the absence Of relatives l thought
better to insist on the services OF
, trained nurse. AS the patient gre,
better and had time to notice less i'm
U portant details perceived that Siste
Anna, besides being an excellent nurse
= was a very attractive young woman
She had pretty brown hair with golde
. lights in it waving and ripping all owe
= a we'll shaped. well set head; her eye
!" were dark brown, and her complexion
. though pale, clear and healthy looking
. She was fairly tall and well built, wit
u a look of strength and vitality pleasar
j 70 see. Her voice was low toned an
r nleasant. while her choice of words an
~ manner Of speaking showed her 70
- an educated woman.
.e Late one October afternoon, after
V hard days work. l drove down to LII
y fallen to visit my patient, whom ! ha
=, not seen for two or three days.
- where is the sister," asked durir
- a pause in the gossip with my old frier
10 which succeeded our brief profession
: interview. =,
l. LOOK out Of the window" was Il
"a reply.
W went over to the deep bay windo
u which formed one end Of the room, al
=" looking across the long garden, stretc
ing behind the house, beheld Sister A
T. + ma. her prim cap laid aside, her pref
IN head showing above the soft gray shay
:; in which she had wrapped herself, al
:" walking by her side tall figure whi'
did not at first recognize. This W
no Laurence, Mrs. Powers nephew.
was clerk in a bank and hoped soon
be made manager Of country branch
The young people were by this tir
coming mp the steps leading from
wv garden, and presently they entered &
nd room. Sister Anna came forward
10 sneak TO me, a pink flush on her usual
.ss male cheek, new light in her pref
;v' brown ewes. Laurence Moore stood
hind her. an expression Of supreme CO
%. tent ON his handsome face, while Nj
20 Power looked on, quiet and keen eyed
81 am afraid it has to be q long
"a g.oement. Z" said Mrs. Power. 18th
N. cannot think of marrying until Lauren
No. h = manager, and even then it would
nm wiser TO wait until he has saved son
No thing. You know mine Is but lie
:. come SO that beyond some plate or
10; outfit of table linen can do nothing
nat help"
sister Anna made 10 clear that
80 did not mind waiting. Then the cow
20 sation drifted to the subject OF form
A. talk about artificial hearts made OF
the dia rrL Der. which were warranted
ave cording to Sister Anna, never to ach'
MD "Come. Anna You cannot knt
in. much about hcartaches at any rate. y
eft "Indced had many one the til
ne of my uncle's DEATH" she answcr'
,en az do not know what should hs
hs. done had not been compelled TO ro'
-ts ...I .yoxl ~