The morning news., 1897-03-14

and have left nearly ali my things in
London"
Never mind, dear Inez." said Ralph.
mo change OF apparel could make you
look more lovely in my eyes"
"Oh, tie! fie! no compliment, please"
lnez replied. And when they left the
library Inez found a maid awaiting her
Ralph belied his own words when he
found her awaiting him In the drawing
room wearing a plain. tightly -ftNng
black silk dress, cut square In 'front.' ahd
with no ornament but white rosebud
which she had selected from the flowers
which the housekeeper had thoughtfully
placed In her room; for he fairly started
with surprise, and thought he had never
seen anyone look so lovely.
Dinner over, he asked her to bring her
letter with her and to accompany him to
their uncles room The old man seemed
all the better for his rest, and welcomed
Inez most affectlonately.
Poor dear" he said, what a brute
you must have thought mel But 1 shall
do my best to make amends now.
He little expected to see such a grace
full, lady-like girl, so refined in every
movement, and so charming withal, and
when she offered him her mothers last
message, the poor old invalid fairly broke
down.
After a few moments. however, he said
nothing 10th, although with much emo
tion, read the last message from the dead.
In this, the writer detailed her family
history, and her msfortunes and finally
besought him, for his own brothers sake
not to leave her poor orphaned child un-
protected, or uncared for, and to believe
that anything he did for fer would be re-
corded in heaven.
All present were deeply moved by the
reading of this sad epistle, and the old
man took Inez gently by the hand and
said:
THANK God have found you, dear;
your future is to some extent in my hands,
and 1 accept, with unfeigned pleasure the
responsibility your poor mother has placed
upon me. l shall not be very long with
you, but when l am gone, you will find
have endeavored to make amends for a
great mistake of which l am heartily
ashamed.
Inez leant over the old man, and ten
DERBY kissing him, said:
Il do hope you will recover, dear uncle,
and / shall only be too happy In nursing
you back to health again, If possible. Don't
think of the past or worry about any
thing. You are indeed too kind to me- but
l am deeply grateful"
She could say no more, and sobs almost
choked her utter4nce, but she took his
wasted hand. and kissing it passionately
sobbed out, Good night, dear uncle" and
| accompanied by Ralph left the room.
A few short weeks passed, during which
Ralph and Inez did all they could to
| smooth the death-bed of the poor old man
| but the end was now near.
| A few days before his DEATH Ralph and
Inez sat beside him, and Ralph told the old
| old story Of his love for his cousin to the
| dying man. sweet smile passed ovei
| the old mans face, and he could only mur.
mur. God bless you BOTH" as he JOINED
| their hands together. 1t was his last act
for he rapidly merged into unconsciousness
and three days afterwards he passed away
and they laid him with his fathers.
After the funeral it was found that hi
had bequeathed all the possessed to Ralph
and Inez, in equal proportions.
soon afterwards they both left Folgate
| for time. Ralp to settle his affairs in
| London, and Inez to stay with some oi
| his friends in the neighborhood, until the
period of mourning was over. Then they
married, and lived happily together ever
| afterwards"
| In due time Inez presented Ralph with a
son and heir, and thus was preserved the
ancient family of the Vernons of Folgate
| Towers.
L