Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-05-12
THE
MISSING WILL


81 give and bcqucath all the rest, resi-
due and remainder of my property to my
brothers wife, Mrs. Chester Cannon,
and her daughter, Clara Cannon, in fee
simple forever" etc. Thus read Lawyer
Burton iii his deep, rich voice.
The assembled company gasped, most
ly with surprise, and some with anger.
Mrs. Cannon and her daughter, however,
attired in the richest, heaviest mourning
costumes, applied their black bordercd
handlcrchicfs daintily to their eyes to
hide the joy that shone therein. In all
the company there was no one more sur
priscd at the Strangencss of the will
than the young lawyer himself, but he
prudcntly kept silence and watched the
newly made heirs keenly.
When the reading of the document hal
ended, there was much comment on the
injustice of the will, and the party gath
cred round a tall, slight girl, with golden
hair and pale, sweet face, and urged her
to contest it. She, however, merely shook
her head, and. advancing to Mrr, Gan
non and her daughter, congra: ulated
them on their good fortune Then she
slipped from the room amid the confu-
sion and found herself face to face with
her tiancc, Lawyer Burton.
Marion" he said, there is some mis-
take here. Your grandfather drew up
a will leaving all to you only a fortnight
ago six months after this other will was
made. | have Il copy of that will, but we
must find the original. l am sure he did
4. :. IL. L,
his papers and in his lbrary?'
YES" she said YEARLY, pushing back
the bright hair from her white brow, but
eluding his embrace. Il will make the
search. but | have no hope of finding it."
And she slowly climbed the stairs.
Frank Burton's heart was wrung as he
saw her ascend. He remembered her two
years before, young girl in short frocks
and a face that seemed to reflect the
sunshine and was all laughter and happi-
ness. Her grandfather in fit of anger
at Il story concocted by the clever Mrs
Cannon drew up will cutting off his
grandchld with 5000 and leaving the
bulk of his property to his brothers wife
and child. Later, however, when the old
man became i'll, Marion was sent for,
and she nursed him untiringly, at the
same time carrying on the management
of his large house, and the anger died in
his heart. Sending for young Burton.
he drew up Il new will, revoking the first,
and leaving all to his dearly beloved
grandchid.
After the old mans death, however, it
was impossible to find any will but the
first one, and by that they had to abide.
Almost Immediately Mrs. Chester Gan
non removed to her new home and it
was evident from the first that Marion $
presence was undesirable except in the
capacity of head houSekecper.
But Marion was not idle She dill
gently went through her grandfathers
papers for the missing will, but to no
avail. She searched the library with sim
liar success, and at last wrote to Frank
Burton and told him of her fruitless
search.
'Mrs. Cannon goes away tomorrow for
two days" she wrote. Gould you not
come up and look yourself? You are so
much more clever than l."
Burton smiled at this little naive state
ment and acquiesced to her suggestion.
At . the next afternoon he entered the
homestead of his former client and found
Miss Hitler awaiting him. The young
man thought he had never seen her look
ing so beautiful. The dead black of her
gown seemed only to bring out more
plainly the brightness of her hair and the
exquisite tints of her complexion. A lit
tie color had crcpt into her checks, and
the shadows beneath her violet eyes only
served to enhance their beauty.
For two hours he searched, tapping the
panels for secret hiding places, and on
the lockout for secret closets and draw
erS. but. like Marion, he was unsucccss-
full He felt sure that the Gannons had
something to do with the disappearance
of the instrument, but was equally pos
tive that they would not actually destroy
the will.
Prank, will you grant me favor?'
asked Marion at this point.
"Of course, dear; with all my heart"
he said.
For an answer Marion held out her
engagement ring to him. Her face was
white, but her eyes were steady and her
mouth determined. The young man look
ed down at the pretty baublc lying in her
rosy palms and then at the girls pale
face.
you mean he began.
Eyes, yes" she said hurriedly: ''lct
us end it all. | would only be a trouble
" 'ou III !oni P'oiS""iot ~" NA1''' "'-
pennlcss."
The young lawyer turned and took her
sad little face between his palms and
said:
Marion, you do not love me; is it so?'
"Not love you." she repeated with a
quick blush and a reproachful glance
you know my heart"
81 fear | do not" he said, "if you can
thuS eaSilV break our engagement No.
dear. will not release you. | want you,
and not your thousands" And he would
have kissed her but that she turned
away.
"No, no." she cried 81 will not hinder
your rapid rise in the profession, and if
| were your-if did not give you up |
should be a hindrance to you" And she
pressed the ring into his unwilling hand.
In sudden anger he threw it far from
him, and it fell into the fireplace, where
the fire was ready for the match.
"Oh. Frank! My pretty ring" cried
Marion. and in a moment she was seach-
ing among the logs and paper for her
ring.
Suddenly Burton heard q glad cry and.
frning. saw Marion, with crimson
checks and cleaning eyes, Glancing
quickly through the missing will. Bur
ton made sure it was the original will
and then turned again to the girl.
I'm so glad we did not break our en-
gacement," she said shyly, as she crept
into his arms. the diamond sparkling once
more on her finger.-Boston Post.
Her Knowledge of It.
The young woman had been typewriter