The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-09

expected to see q child, for such she was
IN the opinion of each one. but the slender
girl, cad in deep mourning dress, had
lost something of her girlish look. Her
young tace shone out, white and fright
cheu' the sad, sweet eyes were filed with
lear and not even the faintest rose color
made Its way into those pale lips.
Mt. Preston placed a chair for her, and
then proceeded to unfastcn the will. He
was lawyer. not given to sentiment;
put something like pity stirred within Aim
as lie looked at the desolate girl-the sad
Eouhg face. the heavy, weary eyes
Then he began to read. The late earl
mad III some respects done his duty. He
had left handsome legacies to Joan and
Stephen Homes. his faithful followers;
nc mad left twenty pounds to Lady Darel,
that she might buy a mourning ring. To
his daughter, Hilda Dunhaven-there WAS
no pretense of calling her heloved-to her
he left the whole of her mothers fortune,
on one condition-that within twelve
months after his death she married his
heir Leonard. Earl Dunhaven. If she
refused to marry him within this stated
time the money was TO be divided between
| different charitable institutions. and she
was to have one hundred year for life:
II she consented to the maria ge and Lord
Dunhaven refused his consent, the money
was to lie by at interest and descend to
his children. In no case and under no
circumstances was the money to belong to
the young earl.
The lawyer read out. in his grave. deep
voice. the words traced by the dead earl's
hand.
Tell my daughter for me that there has
been no pretense OF love between us;
| wanted a son-she came in his stead. The
| only way, it appears to me. in which can
| set matters right is by ordaining the mar
riage of the man who inherits my title
| with my daughter. who should. in strict
| justice, inherit her mothers money.
| have no money of my own to leave, but
| by my own efforts l have almost doubled
| the fortune my wife left to me. BY these
means the money and the title will go to-
gether Tell my daughter from me that
she must not refuse: that if she refuses
l shall not rest even in my grave
A sudden cry interrupted him. The girl
had sprung from her seat, and stood be
fore them With up,ifted hands.
Not rest in his grave!' she cried. ooh
what shall l do? Would he come back to
me all white and cold as l saw hm?"
Her whole figure trembled with fear
| her white face qu!vered Mr.. Preston has
| tened to her and took the trembling hands
| in his.
"AIy dear young lady" he said, "pray
calm yourself; those are but idle words
Every man rests in his grave, because il
| is the will of heaven that he should do so
You must have been terribly frightened
lie saw that she was beside herself Will
fear
Il am frightened" she said "Wher
ever go, by day or by night, in darkness
or light. see that face before me, whit,
and cold
Then Lady Darel rose from her seat
and going to the terrified girl, sat dow
| by her side.
'Hilda,' she said. "this is either COW
ardice or love of sensation. Both ar
quite unworthy of 4 Dunhaven: let u
have no more of it. You have interrupt
ed the reading of the WILL"
Her proud manner quieted the youn
girl and subdued the rising hyster;a. Th
lawyer continued:
81 wish my daughter to marry Lor'
Dunhaven on her seventeenth birthday
until then l wish her to reside with Lad
idfel. biIlHS lne year OF NeI feSlucilc
Lady Darcl is to receive the sum Of thre
thousand pounds for the expenses sh
must incur. | leave five hundred pound
for my daughters trosseau. and repea
again my urgent command that in thi
matter she obeys me-"
''That is ALL" said Mr. Preston, as h
folded up the papers, While the three mos
concerned looked bewi.dered at each 9th
ey.
The most charitable thing we can sa
is that the late earl was mad,' said Lor
| Dunhaven.