The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-02-15
Miss ThOrne'S Will
AWYER NORTHBROOKE had just
driven away from Glenthorne. and

In AWYER NORTHBROOKE had just
driven away from Glenthorne, and
: ElIzaSeth Everill stood still 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, and Mr.
INorthbrooke had come down from Lon
don 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 Eyerill, pro-
vided she marry a man of title, | will
and bequeath all my worldly posses
sions."
"And if do not marry?" Miss Ever
ill had asked.
"You retain your inheritance" the
lawyer answered, with a smile. Miss
Thorne drew up the will herself, and it
is deficient on that point"
Elzabeth's mother, Miss Thorne's
sister, 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 Matilda Internationally.
She had held no communication with
the married sister till she read in a
newspaper of the death of Paul Ever
ill, and then she bad paid one visit to
the dismal London lodging where Mrs,
Everili lay dying. There had never
been much love between the sisters,
but Miss Thorne was willing to take
her sisters daughter under her care.
80, when the organist's wife was laid
beside him, their only daughter had
been brought to her mothers home.
Masters and governesses had been em-
ployed to perfect her education, and
her aunt had never wearied of instill-
png love of wealth and power and a
horror of poverty into the girls mind.
That her words had not fallen on bar
zen ground she would have under
stood could she have known her
niece's thoughts that evening.
She was thinking of scene that
had taken place there just five years
before.
Some old paintings had been sadly
need Of the attention that only a
&illful hand could give, and Miss
phorDe had heard Ralph Crosby favor
Pbly spoken of, and had asked him to
10 the work. Elizabeth had been
much in the long portrait gallery
while Ralph Crosby talked and paint
Ed, and at length he had forgotten
hat he was only struggling artist
Rnd she the niece OF the wealthiest
woman in the county and had spoken
bis love. Miss Everill could still re-
member the naughty stare and mock
ing smile Of her aunt when she spoke
pf her love for Ralph.
Love! Your mother loved Paul
Everin, suppose and you know some
Thing of her life. But make your own
Phoice. Marry this young man If you
will, but not one farthing of mine will
be yours"
And the girl had lain awake till day
break thinking of the sordid sur
oundings amid which her childhood
bad been passed, and of the poverty
"hiSh BIG sisii ouch AohSOfp S~~'
At last she was resolved to answer
NO. to her lovers pleading.
She wineed even now as she re-
called the grief that struggled with
contemptuous pity for her reasoning
when she told him the next day thai
she could not be a poor mans wife
md remembered the few bitter words
that fell from his lips as he turned
away without seeming to see her out
stretched hand. In the last few days
she had thought once OF twice, in
vague way, that If Glenthorne shou't
chance to be hers she would find
way Of letting him know that sh'
loved him still, that she had loved hin
always.
"Ahd now-and now," she said Il
herself, while the shadows grew deep
er In the corners of the wide library
''an insurmountable barrier divide
u.s." She clasped her hands tightly
and, with eyes that were dimmed b.
Tears, gazed into the glowing ember'
oh, Aunt Matilda, your very kindnes
Is hut cruelty. wonder where Ralp
IS now? Oh, almost wish / were
poor girl to-day. And yet, no
couldn't bear that!"
and the latter reflection was col
stantly passing through the girl
mind as time wore on. 1t was yer
pleasant to be mistress of the gres
Son'c md to have money nt commnn'