Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-08-17
CHAPTER III.

Inc morning air had gwen MIN Drlgnt
color, and there was a strange look, Sir
-Joycelyn thought, of his dead sister about
the eyes and lips.
Eyes, l want you, Austin; come in and
shut the door. l want to talk to you on
a very important subject. You must give
me all your attention. l am a rich man,
Austin, he began; F" rich man. | have
more money than any one thinks"
II am very glad" said Austin, utterly
at loss to understand why this was
said.
Then, besides being rich, I am amb-
tious. l have never married and the rea-
son why is my secret-it will be buried
with me; still 1 am ambitious. In future
years l want people to tell how old Sir
Joycelyn, the millionaire, was the first of
long line of baronets, each Of whom
was more famous than the last, and all
this, an old mans dreams, will be carried
out if you will help me, Austin"
''You know that I will help you, uncle,
and shall be glad to help you," said Aus
tin.
THAT is right, for you are my own sis
ter's son. You have your mothers eyes,
Austin, and I always loved her best. Now
listen to me. have decided to make you
my heir-to leave you everything l have
in the world"
''But, my dear uncle-Cyrill what of
sCyril?' cried Austin.
II will provide for him-I do not, of
course, intend to leave him penniless: he
shall have a commission in some crack
regiment, and plenty to keep up the posi-
ton. But my fortune must not be divid
ed. Let people tell how Sir Austin, who
succeeded Sir Joycelyn, was scholar,
poet, and a statesman-many Of our
.grandest statesmen have been poets. No
second place for Sir Austin Vernon
He looked up at his uncle.
How can be Sir Austin Vernon" he
asked, when my name is ChandosT'
by letters patent. You may safely
trust all that to me. mean to make
the house Of Vernon famous as the house
of Howard-a strange ambition for an old
man. You will be Sir Austin Chandos
Vernon"
And he wondered at the gentle, hope
full smile that came over the fair young
face.
Austin was thinking to himself:
IF all this comes to pass, l may ask
her whom my soul loves best to be my
wife. can lay fortune title and position
at her feet. Lady Vernon; the very name
seems to suit her stately beauty. Lady
.Lenore! If 1 could make her queen, l
would"
Then he reused himself to the fact that
Sir Joycelyn was talking to him.
Il have made my will, Austin, and,
let me die when l may, you will find that
you are master Of one of the noblest for
tunes in England. But-and now comes
the essence of what I had to say-all this
is yours on one condition, and one only.
Austin raised his eyes, full Of wonder,
to his uncle's face.
What is that, uncle?' he asked.
1T is very pleasant one; it is simply
this-that to be my heir you must marry
Miss Elsa Grey"
Austin looked up at him, while the
flush died from his face and the light
from his eyes.
"Then l shall never be your heir, un-
Gle; for I shall never marry Miss Grey"
''Stop." cried Sir Joycelyn; do not be
rash, 1 pray you, l beg you, Austin, my
best beloved nephew, my dead sisters
son, do not be rash! You will be greater
than prince when you are lord Of these
estates -joned-Eastwold and Moules-
mere. There will not be another such
property in England, believe me-
MY dear uncle, l can never marry
Perhaps at least you will tell me
why?' he cried, angrily.
Il can tell you easily; do not like her;
she is vain and foolish. 1 never could
like her."
what on earth does that matter? 1
am not asking you to like her-only to
marry her." replied Sir Joycelyn.
And again Austin shook his head
No" he said Il should never marry
anyone whom l did not love, not for all
the wealth of India"
Then before nightfall my new will
shall be made, and you shall be disinherit-
ed" said Sir Joycelyn.
II will bear the loss of the inheritance
If you do not take your affection with it,
uncle"
But Sir Joycelyn rose in his wrath; he
spoke with angry words such as the
Young poet listened to with shame and
regret. He quoted the words Of King
Lear; he cursed the boy he had loved as
his own son, who would not yield one
within to please him. BE drove him from
his presence with angry words; he would
listen to no excuse, no reason: all he did
was to cry out that the one he loved best
had proved ungrateful to him, and that
his life was burden.
Before night his lawyer had come, and
against the lawyers advice Sir Joycelyn
signed a will which made the nephew he
did not like his heir.
Before that week was over there was
dread gloom and CONSERVATION in that
stately mansion of Eastwood, for the
valet, going to his master at the usual
hour, had found him dead in his chair.
When the doctors came, in hot haste,
they said that he had been dead two or
three hours, and that his death resulted
from heart disease of long standing. They
asked if he had received any sudden
shock, and were told by Austin that he
had been displeased over some business