Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-03-07
MISS TnORNE'S WILL.

ia just driven away from Client horne
and Elisabeth Everill steod Tor 9
moment on the broad terrace, and then
with sigh, turned and entered the
house. Only that day her aunt. Miss
Matilda Thorne, had been buried, AID
Mr.. Northbrooke had come down from
London TO read the dead woman's will.
1t was simple enough, and those who
had known Miss Thorne intimately
hardly wondered at its wording:
To my niece, Elizabeth Everill, pro-
vided she marry a man Of title, l will
and bequeath all my worldly posses
sions"
And il do not marry?" Miss Evsrill
had asked.
You retain your Inheritance" the
lawyer answered with smile Miss
Thorne drew up the will herself, and 1t
Is deficient on that point"
EHzabeth's mother. Miss Thorne's sis
ter. had run off with Paul Everill, the
organist Of the church. before she was
Is. Her father had forbidden her name
to be mentioned In his hearing. and at
his death Glenthorne had passed to Ma
tlda Internationally. She had held NO
communication with her married sister
till she read in a newspaper Of the
death Of Paul Everill. and then she had
paid one visit to the dismal London lodg-
ing where Mrs. Everill lay dying. There
had never been much love between the
sisters. but Miss Thorne was willing TO
take her sisters daughter under her
care. So. when the organist's wife was
laid beside him, their only daughter had
been brought to her mothers home.
Masters and governesses had been EN-
ployed to perfect her education and her
aunt had never wearied Of instilling a
love Of wealth and power and a horror
Of poverty into the girls mind. That
her words had not fallen on barren
ground she would have understood
could she have known her niece's
thoughts that evening.
She was thinking Of a scene that had
taken place there just Ave years before.
Some old paintings had been sadly in
need Of the attention that only a sk,ilful
hand could give. and Miss Thorne had
heard Ralph Crosby favOrably spoken
OF, and had asked him to do the work.
Elizabeth had been much in the long
portrait gallery while Ralph Crosby
talked and painted. and at length he
had forgotten that he was only a strug-
Cling artist and she the niece of the
wealthisst woman in the county and
had spoken his love. Miss Everu could
stfll remember the naughty stare and
mocking smile Of her aunt when she
spoke Of her love for Ralph.
Love! Your mother loved Paul Ey-
GRILL. 1 suppose, and you know some
thing Of her life. But make your own
choice. Marry this young man II you
Will. but not one farthing Of mine will
be yours"
And the girl had lain awake till day
break thinking Of the sordid surround
tngs amid which her childhood had
been passed. and Of the poverty for
which she had such a horror. till At last
she was resolved to answer NO" to her
lovers pleading.
She WINGED even now as she recalled
the grief that struggled with a con-
temptuous pity for her reasoning when
she told him the next day that she
could not be a poor mans wife. and re-
membered the few bitter words that
fell from his lips as be turned away
without seeming to see her outstretched
hand. In the last few days she had
thought once or twice. in a vague way,
that II Glenthorne should chance to be
hers she would fnd a way Of letting
him know that she loved him still, that
she had loved him always.
s'And now-and now" she said to her.
self, while the shadows grew deeper In
the corners Of the wide library, IAN
tnsurmountable barrier divides us"
She clasped her hands tightly, and. with
eyes that were dimmed by tears. gazed
Into the glowing embers. "Oh, Aunt
Matilda, your very kindness Is but cru
city. 1 wonder where Ralph is now?
oh, almost wish were a poor girl to-
day. And yet, no-I couldn't bear
that?'
And the latter reflection was con-
stantly passing through the girls mind
as time wore an. 1t was very pleasant
to be mistress of the great house and
to have money at command. Under
her rule Glenthorne became q very
pleasant place indeed; and before the
year was ended 1t was whispered that
Lord Arthur Kendall was very much In
love with her.
Elizabeth heard Ralph Crosby's name
mentioned several times later, when she
went to London. He was occupied up
on work that was to make q name for
him, some said. Others hinted that he
tbot
her heart should beat so quickly At the
sound Of his name. She had resolved
to accept Lord Arthur. He was rich
much richer than she-and quite At the
top Of the social ladder. Certainly she
lid not love him: he was hardly a man
whom any woman could respect. Any
how she did not respect him, and yet |
she would marry him. They were un- |
,ongenial spirits. she knew. but what of |
hat?
In such a mood she was going one
night TO a great ball given by one OF !
he most fashionable women In London.
Lord Arthur would be there. and prob |
IDLY she would say Yes" to his plead
ngs that night She rather thought she
would as she stood before a mirror
when her maid had given the finishing
ouches to her toilet. She had on q
white dress. and pearls were on her
eek and amid her dusky hair; she was
idiantly beautiful
Six years ago." she muttered six
ears and more since the day Ralph
'rosby said"
She turned away. Now and again a
re!ing came over her that she could not
feeling that her wealth
nd her beauty were not to bring her
and she had grown impa
lent with herself for feeling -. Cen