The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-10-05
HIS FALSE FAITH.
sit is monstrous |"


heavy wrinkles, his whole frame quiv-
ering with passion. l had just told
him the terms of Uncle Walter Well.
ford's will, for he had been in Florida
when our uncle died and reached home
three days after the funeral. 1T was
a letter from Mr.. Hay" said, 'that
almost killed Uncle Walter. We
thought he had made a new will, but
it could not be found"
Jacks face frightened.
"a letter from Mr.. Hayl A new
will" he said musingly, but keeping
his eyes keenly bent upon my face.
why did you think that3'
Mr.. Porter told Willard so; but we
seemed to be pleased"
mo doubt-the curt No doubt the
new will gave me rights of which he
has robbed me-"
"Oh, Jack, don't-please don'tl" l
pleaded. willard is not a cur or a
thief"
And yet I said it falteringly, for was
not Jack my cousin and betrothed and
betrothed and Willard only my guard
Ian under U0cle Walters will, and
scarcely even a friend as yet7
But Jack clinched his hands hard a
moment and said:
Tell me again the terms of this I'm
Just will9"
Uncle Walter has left me the house
and ten thousand dollars, and to you
thirty thousand dollars; all the rest
the factory, the real estate in New
York, the bank stock-you know,
Jack-all the rest goes to Willard"
I shuddered at the oath that burst
from Jacks lips. But Mr.. Hays let
ter9" he asked.
Uncle was very i'll when that came
and we sent for Mr.. Potter at once. l
cannot tell you any more excepting
that a search was made for the will
and Willard seemed relieved when it
was not found"
Jack made no reply to this. His
anger seemed to have been rising till it
made him speeches.. He strobe out
at the French window and down the
garden path, while I threw myself upon
the sofa and cried as l had seldom
cried in all my petted life. For Jack
was my betrothed, had been away
more than a year, and l fancied that l
loved him. His letters had been brief
and cold for a long time, and now,
after one cold caress, he had spoken
only Of Uncle Walters will-not one
loving, tender word to me-doubly
orphaned by our uncle's death.
Willard was not our own cousin, but
Uncle Walters stepson, and much
older than either Jack or myself. We
we're still children when Willard was
sent to Paris to take charge of the i'm
p~ortations for our uncle's business and
he had lived there until Jack had gone
to Jacksonville, Fla, to control a
branch establishment. Before Jack
left we we're formally betrothed.
But / knew that Jack was not pleas
ing Uncle Walter; that he was ex
travagant, negligent OF important bust
ness affairs, and ugly stories of dissi-
patton came often to us. Mr.. Hay, an
Immensely wealthy Floridian, who w8s
one Of Uncle Walters friends and bust.
Dess correspondents, had made Jack
warmly welcome in his family, and
the letter that had so agitated him
had been at once destroyed, and no
hint Of it's contents given to ne.
But long before this Willard had
come home on business and Uncle
Walter would not let him leave again.
He was a great contrast to Jack.
Jack, at twenty five, was the hand
soonest man I yer saw, with curling
brown hair and large, blue eyes, a
smiling mouth and perfect features.
He was seven years older than myself,
but ten years younger than Willard.
Willard, when he came from Paris,
was a dark-hsired, dark eyed man,
with a grave face, settled habits OF
puuctuality, a reserved manner, a
man who inspired confidence, and
whom Uncle Walter, at nearly seventy
years OF age, respected, which was a
high compliment.
1 was glad Willard was away upon
BUSINESS of the estate as l watched Jack
pacing up and down the garden walks,
re stlessIy b~eheading all my pet flowers
with his ane If they quarreled, 1
thought, with a shudder-Jack looked
muTderous.
Then 1 cried again until Mrs. Stone,
nv old o-nvarnesa who had rnmained