Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-06
Lord Lynnc'S Choice
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

time, he said, "and then I will see
Miss Lynne"
He felt it needful that he should be
alone. He wanted to realize his po-
sition-to feel at home in it, before
the scrutinizing eyes of the world
were upon him.
Only three hours ago and he was
poor, comparatively obscure, and was
beginning to lose himself in a pleas
ant love-dream. 1t was only three
hours since he stood with Florence
Wyverne, trying to read the secret of
her blushing face and shy, sweet
eyes. Yet it seemed to him mat he had
lived life since then. He was in a
new world.
They were not all light or selfish
thoughts that passed through his
mind. He resolved not to live in vain,
but to use the position, the influence,
and the rank that would be he to
good purpose. When that hour was
over he rang the bell, and asked the
servant who answered it to show him
to the room where Lord Lynne lay.
Then he knelt by the side of that 81
lent figure, for whom all the glories
of the world were over. He was not
ashamed to pray that when he too
came to die, he might not have lived
in vain.
In the simplicity of his brave and
noble heart Philip, now Lord Lynne.
made high resolves; and in the dark
est hours of life he did not forget
them. Then he went to the drawing
room and asked to see Miss Lynne
and Miss Agatha; but they begged
him to excuse them. Miss Lynne
was not well, and Miss Agatha was
with her. The hoped that for the
next few days he would excuse them
from leaving their own apartments.
"Of course he thought-"quite
right. l was foolish to think they
could see me, and talk as if nothing
had happened
Although he did not see his cousins,
Philip did not allow them to forget
his presence; and Miss Lynnes little
page declared he was tired of carrying
Lord Lynne's MESA ges,-now it was a
bouquet of the most magnificent flow
ers; then some very rare fruit, or a
book he thought would interest them
thus not an hour in the day passed
without some communication between
the cousins
They were busy days, too; for Mr..
Gregson, the family solicitor, was in
the house, and all the arrangements
for the funeral Gevolved upon him
and Philip, so that he had but little
time to think of his new position, or
to realise it during the four days that
elapsed between the old lords death
and his burial, which was arranged to
take place on the Monday; and tie
viii was to be read Immediately after
wards
1t was a dull, rainy day, and dreary
enough looked the long black, process
sion, winding among the trees in the
park. 1t was over at last; Stephen
Lord Lynne was laid by his father;
the vault was closed; the mourners re-
turned home; the blinds that had
been kept close were thrown open,
and the light of day once more found
its way into the sumptuous apart
ments of Lynnewolde
The will was to be read in the Ii
brary. Lord Lynne, Sir Henry
Leigh (the late lords dearest friend,)
Mr.. Gregson, with his clerk and an
other solicitor, were present The two
young ladies had both declined to ap-
pear; they requested Mr.. Gregson to
wait upon them afterwards; and he,
who knew the terms of the will,
thought it quite as well they did so.
A bright fire burned in the CRATE;
the library, large and very hand
some room, looked doubly cosy and in
viting when, through the large win
dows, was seen the dull leaden sky,
the dripping trees, and the incessant
falling rain.
Il shall not detain you long, gentle
men" said Mr.. Gregson, as his listen
ers grouped themselves round him. Il
know the will is not a very complicat-
ed one, for L drew it up myself"
Not very complicated certainly, but
very strange. Philip, Lord Lynne
had wondered at times about his
uncle's money; he had wondered |
whether he should have any share of |
it, but he never for a moment dream
ed of anything so strange as the be-
quest he now heard. After some few |
legacies and annuities to old SER
wants, Mr.. Gregson read
ITO my nephew, Philip Lynne, who |
me, and who by right of en-
tail enherits Lynnewo1de, I give and |
oequeath the exact half of my fortune,
The sum of two hundred thousand |
pounds, on one condition, which is. |
that within the next two years he
shall marry one of my daughters,
[nez or Agatha Lynne. To my
daughters I leave the sum of one !
hundred thousand pounds each.
eff my nephew does not comply with
his condition, l leave to my daughters
he sum of two hundred thousand
each, the whole of the fortune I re-
,eived from my late wife being thus
equally divided between them"
Four executors were appointed and
with the usual formalities the will t
closed.
"a very just and equitable WILL" re-
marked Sir Henry Leigh, as Mr.. Greg
son folded up the parchments: this
condition, to my mind, being a re-
narkably pleasant one"
Lord Lynne made no remark. Of all
possible contingencies, he had least
this. He had thought it very
probable that his uncle might not
cave him anv money at all Int |