The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-09-02
Cecil's False Faith.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.
EE- J.. Il = e, z =
TT IS mOnStrOuS!"

Cecil was marching up and down
the long drawing-room at Wexford
place, his face angrily flushed, his brow
in heavy wrinkles, his whole frame
quivering with passion. Ihad just told
him the terms of Uncle Harry Well.
ford's will, for he had been in New Or.
leans when our uncle died and reached
home three days after the funeral. 1T
was a letter from Mr.. Hay" said, "tha:
almost killed Uncle Harry. We thought
he had made a new will, but it could
ot'be found"
Cecil's face frightened.
"A letter from Mr.. Hay! A new will!'
he said, musingly, but keeping his eyes
keenly bent upon my face. 'Why did
you think that?"
'Mr. Potter told Willard so; but we
could not find it nd-and-Willard
seemed to be pleased"
mo doubt! The cur! No doubt the
new&will gave me the rights of which
he has robbed me-
"Oh, Cecil, don't-please don't!"
pleaded. ''Willard is not cur or q
thief"
And yet said it falteringly, for was
not Cecil my cousin and betrothed and
Willard only my guardian under Uncle
Harry's will, and scarcely even a friend
as yet? I 81 -
But Cecil clenched his hands hard a
moment and said:
"Tell me again the terms of this IN
just will?"
Uncle Harry has left me the house
and $4,000, and to you 100000; all the
rest-the factory, the real estate in
New York, the bank stock-you know,
Cecil-all the rest goes to Willard!'
l shuddered at the oath that broke
from Cecips lips. "But Mr.. Hays let
ter?" he asked.
"Uncle was very i'll when that came
and he sent for Mr.. Potter at once. I
cannot tell you any more excepting
that a search was made for the will and
Willard seemed relieved when it was
not found
Cecil made no reply to this. His an
ger seemed to have been rising till it
made him speeches.. He strobe out at
the French window and down the gar
den path, while I threw myself upon the
sofa and cried as had seldom cried in
all my petted life. For Cecil was nv
betrothed, had been away more than a
year, and [ fancied 1 loved him. His
letters had been brief and cold for a
long time, and now, after one cold ca
ress' he had spoken only of Uncle Har-
rvs will-not one loving, tender word
TO me-doubly orphaned by our uncle's
death.
Willard was not our own cousin. but
Uncle Harry's stepson, and much older
than either Cecil or myself. We were
stln children when Willard was sent to
far1s to take charge of the importa-
tlons Tor our uncle's business and he
had lived there until Cecil went to New
orleans to control branch establish
ment. Before Cecil left we were for
mally betrothed.
But 1 knew that Cecil was not pleas
Ing Uncle Harry; that he was extrava-
giant, negligent of important business
affairs, and ugly stories of dissipation
came often to grieve us. Mr.. Hav. an
Immensely wealthy Louisiana planter.
who was one of Uncle Harry's friends
and business correspondents, had made
Cecil warmly welcome in his family.
and the letter that had so agitated
him had been at once destroyed. and
no hint of its contents given to me.
But long before this Willard had
come home upon business and Uncle
Harry would not let him leave again.
He was great contrast to Cecil.
Cecil, at rs, was the handsomest man
ever saw, with curling brown hair
and large blue eyes, smiling mouth
and perfect features. He was seven
years older than myself, but ten wears
younger than Willard. u
Willard, when he came from Paris.
was dark-haired, dark-eyed man, with
a grave face, settled habits of punctu-
ality, reserved manner; a man who
inspired confidence and whom Uncle
Harry, at nearly 70 years of age. re-
spected, which was high compli-
'ment,
was glad Willard was away upon
some business of the estate as watched
Cecil pacing up and down the garden
walks, restlessly beheading all my pet
flowers with his cane. # they quar-,
relied, I thought, with al shudder-
Cecil looked .murderous. Z 81
Then cried again until Mrs. Stone.
my old governess, who remained as
my companion, came in to comfort me.
The dear old lady was very kind, very
gentle, but she said little about Cecil.
and that little seemed to advise me to
think no more about him. It bewil-
dered mel Of course i did not expect
. wedding to follow funeral at once.
but why was Cecil to be treated like
one in disgrace? The new will NAV
have given him Wizards place and
property. He evidently thought 50.
He came in after an hour Or two, II
which he Had walked Of the worst of