Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-11-18
TtF : : = 2 > : . g . G. = . . =
!. CeCil'S False Faith. ;
4 BY ANNA SHIELDS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lit is monstrous!"


Cecil was marching up and down
the long drawing-room at WEXFORD
place, his face angrfly flushed, his brow
in heavy wrinkles, his whole frame
ouivering with passion. l had 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 letter from Mr.. Hay" l said, that
almost killed Uncle Harry. We thought
he had made a new will, but it could
not be found"
CeciTs 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 -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'tl"
pleaded. "Willard is not a cur or q
thief"
And yet said it falteringly, for was
hot Cecil my cousin and betrothed and
Willard only my guardian under Uncle
Harry's will, and scarcely even friend
as yet?
But Cecil clenched his hands hard a
moment and said:
Tell me again the terms Of this un-
just whip"
"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 Cecil's lips. But Mr.. Hays LET
ter?" he asked.
Uncle was very i'll when that came
and he sent for Mr.. Potter at once.
cannot tell you any more excepting
that 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 il
made him speechless. He strobe out al
den path, while I threw myself upon the
sofa and cried as I had seldom cried in
all my petted life. Fer Cecil was my
betrothed, had been away more than @
year, and fancied loved him. His
letters had been brief and cold for &
long time, and now, after one cold CT.
ress, he had spoken only Of Uncle Har
iy-,r'
10 me-doubly orphaned by our uncle'i
death.
Willard was not our own cousin, but
Uncle Harry's stepson, and much Older
than either Cecil OF myself. We werc
still children when Willard was sent tc
Paris to take charge of the importa
tions for our uncle's business and hi
had lived there until Cecil went to New
Orleans to control branch establish
ment Before Cecil left we were for
mally betrothed.
But i knew that Cecil was not pleas
ing Uncle Harry; that he was extrava.
CANT, negligent of important business
affairs, and ugly stories of dissipation
came often to grieve us. Mr.. Hay, al
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 it's 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 n great contrast to Cecil.
Cecil, at 20, was the handsomest man
ever saw, with curling brown hall
and large blue eyes, a smiling mouth
and perfect features. He was sever
years older than myself, but ten years
younger than Willard.
willard, when he came from Paris
was dark-haired, dark-eyed man, with
grave face, settled habits Of punctu
atty, n reserved manner; man who
inspired confidence and whom Uncle
Harry, at nearly 10 years of age, re
spected, which was "A high compli
mcnt.
I was glad Willard was away upon
some business Of the estate as watched
Cecil pacing up and down the garden
walks, rcstlessly beheading all my pet
flowers with his cane. II they quar-
relied, / thought, with a shudder--
Cecil looked murderous.
Then I 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
-.
and that little seemed 10 advise me tr
think no more about him. 1t bewll
Eered mel OF course l did not expect
a wedding 10 follow u funeral at once
but why was Cecil TO be treated like
one in disgrace? The new will may
have given him Wizards place ant
property. He evidently thought 70.
He came in after an hour or two, II
| which he had walked off the worst o
his rage, but there was look In hi
| eyes that was worse than hot anger
| and he said:
| THAT will must be found!"
"There was n thorough search mad
for til" Mrs. Stone said, coldly.
| "Yes, by interested purtlesl" wasth
sneering reply THE house IL yours
| Marian, no Wizards. ! ask your per
mission TO look for the will"
gave It and then escaped TO my owl
room. lie would look for the will, pei
haps fad II, ard willard would lose hi
inheritance. And 1 was not glad!
horrible weight oppressed me as
thought of Cecil master In Wellfor
| Place-master Of the factory-my hui
bandl
At the last thought the scale'' fell {
Last from my glrlish eyes, and kne'
that my love for Cecil was but the ma
ural affection of a child for life con
! panion. exalted to an ideal perfection b