Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-04-06
Lord Lynne'S Choice
BERTHA M. CLAY
BERTHA M. CLAY.

those few words made upon him. He
had known for many years that at
some future time he should be Lord
Lynne, but it had always seemed to
! him remote contingency: he had not
| built upon it. He had never attempted
TO realise the time when Lynnewolde
would be his, and he should be Lord
Lynne. 1t came to him now With a
sudden shock that seemed TO divide
him at once from his past life, and
open wonderful future to him. Like
one in a dream, he followed the man,
who showed him to his room,
Il wish to be alone for short
time" he said, "and then | 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
/ tife"Tscf atinizing 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 tnat he had
lived life since then He was in
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 HI" 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. They hoped that for the
next few days he would excuse them
from leaving their own apartments.
"Of course" he thought-"quite
right. | 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 Lynne's little
page declared he was tired of carrying
Lord Lynnes messages, now 1t 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
for the funeral devolved upon him
and Philip, so that he had hut 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
will was to be read Immediately after
wards.
II was dull. rainy day, and dreary
enough locked the long black process
sion winding among the trees in the
park. II 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
it's way into the sumptuous apart
ments of Lynnewolde.
The will was to be read in the IL
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 IL quite do wen tiits Hlu 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.
II shall not detain you long, gentle
men," said Mr.. Cregson, as his listen
ers grouped themselves round him. j
know the will is not a very compicat-
ed one, for | drew 1t up myself
Not very complicated certainly, but
very strange Philip, Lord Lynne
had wondered at times about his
uncles money; he had wondered
whether he should have any share OF
il, but he never for 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
TO my nephew, Philip Lynne, who
[ succeeds me, and who by right Of en-.