The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-05-21
CHAPTER Nxvl1.
HEADING OF r1lE WILL.

~ - - .v-t|-. .
READING OF rIIE WILL.
Assistance was soon procured, and Sir Os-
waid was carried To his room; DR.. IIclmstonc
was sent for, and when he arrived the whole
house was in confusion. Lady Darrell wrung
her hands in the most graceful distress,
Nov, Elinor," said Lady Hampton, pray
do not give way TO anything OF that kind.
1t is Il fortunate thing for you that | am here.
Let Inc beg of you to remember that, what
ever happens, You are magniticently provided
for, Sir Oswald told ne as much. There is
really 1T need to excite yourself in that fash
ion"
While Lady Darrell, with Il few graceful
eXclamations and a very pretty show of sor-
row, managed to attract all possible sympa-
thy, Pauline moved about with a still, cold
face, which those best understood who knew
her nature. 1t seemed Incredible TO the girl
that anything unexpected should happen to
lier uncle. She lad only just begun to love
him; that evening lad brought those two
proud hearts closer together than they had
ever been; the ice was broken; each had u
%glimmcring perception of the real character
of the otller--a perception that in time would
have developed into perfect love. 1t seemed
too hard that after he had inst begun to like
her-tliat as soon as Il fresh and genuine Sell
t!mient was springing up between them-lie
must die.
For it had ONT to that. Care, skill, talent,
watching, We're all iii vain; he must die.
Grave-faccd doctors had consulted about
him, and with professional kcclncss had
seen Mt once that his case was hopeless. The
ailmcnt was Il sudden and dangerous one
violent inflammation OF. The lungs. No one
.A,.II - f-, Nl,. -,,I. I.. -s.,.,. -.
Oswald had complained OF pain during the
day, but no one though: that it was anything
of a serious nature. His maniler, certainly,
had been strange, with q sad pathos quite
unlike himself; but 10 one saw in that the
commencement of u mortal illness.
Lady Hampton frequently observed how
fortunate it was that sic was there. To all
inquiries rs to the health of her niece, she
replied. Poor, dear Lady Darrell is bear.
ing up wonderfully; and with the help OF
pathetic little speeches, the frequent use Of
a vinaigrette, a few tears, and some amiablc
sclf-condolcncc, that lady did bear up.
Strange to say, the one who felt the keen.
est SORROW, the deepest regret, the tr,est pain,
was the niece with whom Sir Oswald had
continually found fault, and whom he lad
disillhcrited. she went about with a so:row
on her face more eloquent thar words. Lady
Hampton said it was all assumed: but Lady
Darrell said, more gently, that Pauline was
not n girl to assume Il grief she did not feel.
So the baronct died after a week of severe
illness, during which lie never rcgaincd the
power Of speech, nor could he make himself
Ineligible. The most distressing thing was
that there was evidently something which he
wished to s~ay-scmcthing which lie desired
to make them understand. When PM;iiue
was III the room his eyes followed her with
a wistful glance, pitif,l, sad, distressing: lie
evidently wished 10 say something, but had
OF the power.
With that wish unexprcssed he died, and
they never knew what it WAS. Only Pauline
thought that he meant, even at the last, to
ask her forgiveness and to do her justice.
Darrell Court was thrown into deepest
mourning: the servants went about with
hustled footsteps and sorrowful faces. lie
had been kind to them, this stately old mas
ter; and who knew what might happen ul-
der the new regimen Lady Hampton was,
she assured every one, quite overwhelmed
with business. She had to make all arrange.
mcnts for the funeral, TO ordera nil the mourn.
ing, while Lady Darrell was supposed to be
| overwhelmed with sorrow In the retirement
of her own room.
One fine spring morning. while the pretty
blucbells were swaying in the wird, and The
hawthorn was shining pink and white III the
hedges, while the birds sang and the sui
shone, Sir Oswald Darrell was buried, and
the secret of what he had wished to say OF
have done was buried with him.
At Lady DarTell's suggestion, Captain
Langton was sent for to attend the funeral,
1t was a grand and stately procession. All
the elite of tie county We're there, NIL the
tenantry from Audieigh Royal, all the
friends who had known Sir Oswald and re.
spected him.
Was he the last of Darrell" one asked
Lot apotheI; aud many looked at the stately
dark-Gyed girl wfrpAorc the name, wonder
ing how he had left his Qroperty, whether
his niece would succeed hinf;sQr his wife take
all. Ii ytalseJ of this in spbdued wills
pers as the funeral coTtcIe wound Its wayt t.
the church, they talked of it aftertlls colliI
had beeil lowered into the vault, and they
talked Of 1t as the procession made its way
back to Darrell Court.
AS Lady Hampton said, It was a positive
relief to open the windows and let the bless
ed sunshine in, to draw up the heavy blinds
to do away with the dark, mourning aspcc,
Of the place.
Everything had been don't according t.
rdle-no peer of the realm could have had q
more magnificent funeral. i ady Hampton
felt that In every respect full honor had beer
done both to the living and the dead.
Now" she wisely remarked, .therc l.
nothing to be done, save to bear I'D rs wei
rs 1t Is possible"
Then, after a solemn and dreary dinner
The friends and invited guests went away
md the most embarrassing ceremony of nj
had to be gone tlrough-thc reading of til,
will.
Mr.. Ramsdcn, the family solicitor, was Ii
attendance. Captain Langton. Lady Oar
rcll, Lady Hampton, and Miss Darrell tool
their seats. Once or twice Lady Hampton
looked with a smile of malicious satisfaction
Mt the proud, calm face of Pauline. Their,
was nothing there to crafty her-no queer
could lave assisted at her own dclllroncmen
with prouder majesty or prouder grace
Some Of the old retainers. servants who hat
been in the family from their earliest youth
said there was not one who did not wish Ii
his heart that Pauline might have Darrell
Court.
Lady Darrell, clad in deepest mourning
was placed i'll a large easy-chair in the ccnte
of the group, her aunt by her side. She look
ed extremely delicate and lovely i'll her blacl
sweeping robes.
Pauline, who evidently thought the cere
mony MI empty one, as far as she was con
cernea. stood near the table. She decline,
the chair that Captain Langton placed fn
her. Her uncle was dead; she regretted hin
with true, unteigned, sincere sorrow; but tn
reading OF his will had certainly nothing t
10 with her, There was not the least sliad
ow on her face, not the least discomposur
in her manner. 10 look at her one woul,
never have thought she was there to hear I'll
sentence of disinlleritance.
Lady Darrell did not Look quite so tran
quill; everything was at stake FOR ller. Sh
held her dainty handkerchief to her face les
the trembling of her lips should be seen.
Mr.. Ralnsden read the will, and its con
tents did not take any one much by surprise
The most important item was a legacy Of to-
thousand pounds to Captain Aubrey Lang
ton. To Pauline Darrell was left ali annuit
OF five hundred pounds per annum, with tn
strict injunction that she should live at Dal
rel Court until lier marriage; If she neye