Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

AieAC llldL udu 80 eAClteu MISS MdlVl-
M, Westoyer continued his mental
notes.
His self control is superb. 1t is
really beyond his years. That square
lower jaw of his is set like steel trap.
Failure is impossible to man with
jaw like that. The world will hear
from Broxton yet. What a young Her.
cules he Isl He would be handsome
dog il the gloom in his eyes would
lift"
At which point in his summary
Thomas turned grave eyes toward
him, tapping the paper with one fin.
ger.
"Then, according to this, no one had
a right to sell Broxton Hall. could
not have sold it myself"
Exactly so. 1t is entailed. I sup
pose that came from the primogeniture
notions of it's English builder
Il suppose SOL Tom asserted. "The
Hall was built by an Englishman who
was my grandfather's partner in bust
ness. He lived there, and several mem.
bers of his family lie in our family
grounds"
Westover seated himself and brought
his head close to Toms to inspect
the paper again. "And you per-
ceive that this document is a signed
and properly attested agreement be-
tween your grandfather and the said
Englishman that its conditions shall
be binding upon his successors. 1 take
it that bold, handsome signature I'M
der the first grabbed one is that of
your father, Rufus N. Broxton."
Yes, written by him, l suppose,
when he came into, possession of the
property, binding himself not to sell
and binding himself to bind me-"
And when you came in you would
have done the same thing
Most assuredly. The conditions
were not at all unreasonable. 1t sim
ply binds each successive Broxron not
to sell Broxton-or, as 1t was then call
ed, WraXall-Hall to any one but q
Wraxall. this by reason of the several
members Of the family left on Ameri-
can soil.'
Clarence nodded his head impatient
~. "a sort Of revised entail'
'They Were entirely within their
rights to make such conditions as they
chose. My people were at liberty to
reject or indorse them''
"And no one but a Wraxall, acting
in concert with Broxton, could give
good title to the property"
$50 II mould caao,s fro,,, %b;e
'That makes things interesting for
father and me-
ut is strange that my guardian
should never have known Of the ex-
istence Of this paper
A long silence fell between the two
men. Tom broke it with loyal de-
Tense of the dead.
But then l don't know. It is but
small scrap of paper, easily lost
among the many he had to hoard. He
was my fathers friend. He was Div
las father. Peace to his ashes! Let
his mistakes sleep with him in the
grave and be forgotten sooner
Westover impulsiyely laid a hand
upon the one that rested on Toms
knee. His fine eyes shone with ap-
probation of the magnanimity en-
bodied in that defense of the dead
man.
"Broxton, take off my hat to you.
Any man who can talk that way in
face of-in face of wish you liked
me better. By Jove, do! 1t would
make me esteem myself higher to have
you call me friend"
Toms essentially sweet soul was not
proof against the winning smile that
went with these disarming words. The
gloom lifted from his sad face. He
even smiled as he answered frankly:
Il like you vastly better than did
half an hour ago, MISSIONER. Will that
do for beginningw
Thanks. 1t is gain. I will put
it down on my credit side. But to re-
turn to the business in hand. Broxton
Hall is yours. No one, not even a
Wraxall, could disturb your posses
sion of it,
Yes, to return to the business in
hand" For moment Toms blood
iAoIcu III TRIUMPH hlS eyes laSnetl
with the joy Of knowing the old place
| his own once more. But this phase
passed rapidly.
What would it avail him to take back
the old place now? 1t had been sold to
defray his expenses in obtaining an
education. He had spent all that it had
realized long since. And these men
had spent honest money in an honest
purchase, so far as they knew. He had
got beyond the dreamful stage of exist
| ence. At one time Olivia and BroXton
Hall were the twin objects Of his adora
ton. With Olivia married to another
man the old Hall would be desolate
abiding place.
His work lay far away in another
state. His work was all that was left
to him in life. He was glad he liked it
and that he was forging rapidly to the
| front as an inventor. The great dis.
appointment which had darkened all
the world for him did not lie in the loss
| Of his wealth. He had already come to
look on that as blessing in disguise.
He rather enjoyed owing everything to
his own brain and Drawn. But olivia