The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-06-07

two husbands graves employed the
money and the title to make life as en-
joyable as possible to a hard. selfish
and ambitious woman. The feeling be-
tween the two sisters had become 20
strained as to result in perfect estrange-
ment Mrs. Rodney derived no other
advantage from her rich relative than
an occasion allusion to ''my sister. the
Countess of Darlington. = where sls
thought such allusion was profitahl-
What she read in her sister s letter w;,
therefore all the more astonishing,
The countess, without any gren
warmth, set forth that she was illsaH
her doctors had advised her to atten
to any testamentary dispositions sint
might wish to make as q matter q
prudence. With thought of what wa
due to her own position and title an
also Of what would be right toward he
own kin, she had devised the bulk Of
her fortune to her niece, Florence, on
condition that within a year after the
decedent's death she should marry the
Earl Of Darlington, the eldest son of
her deceased husband. If the year
elapsed without such marriage having
taken place, the property was to go to
the Earl Of Darlington, who would add
the name of Gardner to these which he
had. If her niece. Florence married
the earl, moneys and investments that
would yield an income of $4,000 a
year were to be set aside and Mrs.
Rodney would enjoy this income for
her natural life. On her death they
were to go absolutely to Miss Rose Rod
| ney or her heirs. The Countess of
Darlington hoped in this way that her
duty toward her own family and to-
ward that Of her husband, and, Incl
dentally. to herself, would be perform
ed in manner suitable and advanta-.
geous to all concerned
In the event of the Earl of Caring
ton declining such union, the fortune
| Of the testatrix was to go entirely to
her niece, Florence Rodney.
Mrs. Rodney was in a feverish glow
by the time she had grasped the pur-
port of this sisterly letter It was so
| evident that the Countess of Caring
ton was striving to perpetuate her own
tough personality as far as possible for
her condition when she became a dis
embodied lady of title that the benefit
which would accrue to the Rodneys
did not stir any very sister]y gratitude
in Mrs. Rodney. But the benefit was
obvious She would be the mother of a
countess, she would have an income Of
$40, 900 and Rose would have pretty
prospect for girl as attractive as her
SELF Mrs. Rodney's wild fancy set her
at once to murmuring such phrases in
her small mind as my daughter, the
Countess of Darlington, I expect to
come over this summer" She even
went so far as to picture herself as the
grandmother of little Lord This and
little Lady That. It was intoxicating
reverie. But as the young Arabian
gentleman upset the splendid fortune
he had won, in his minds eye, from
the sale of his glassware by kicking the
glass to smithereens in an imperious
moment of opulent disdain, so Mrs
Rodney's large balloon of pride was
pricked when the thought arose that all
this glory was contingent on her
daughters consent to the proposed mar
riage. That she would not be too docile
in the matter she had sure Fremont
ticn. But since the astute old countess
had made the peace and comfort and
responsibility of herself and Rose de-
pendent on the decision of Florence,
there was hope she might be treason
able. Florence was not sentimental
girl and was clear headed enough. Even
Mrs. Rodney could not charge her eld-
est daughter with selhshness. Here was
room for heroic self sacrifice
When her daughter returned from a
good spin on her wheel, Mrs. Rodney
had had time to think it out. After
luncheon she said impressively: 81
have received a letter which will eur
prise you ALL The Countess of Caring
ton is deadl'
The family received the news with
different degrees of calm. Rose, as the
youngest, was the most impressed.
Miss Rodney was not impressed at all
and Uncle Josiah only gave a grunt.
lawful blow to lose our titled rela-
tive!' he sneered. $50 sudden and such
warm hearted womanI''
''Josiah, we must not forget that she
was our sister, said Mrs. Rodney. with
an air of propriety.
"It's only due to good memories that
we know it," observed the old mar
brusquely.
"She may have been little worldly
and certainly did not show much
thought Of u.s., assented Mrs Rodney
"But she has done very we'll by us ir
her will -
Uncle Josiah looked up incredulously
It irritated the old man to see Mrs
Rodney swelling with the importance
of something to communicate, especially
, when he was keen to know it.
"Umph What has che done2
''She has left her money to Florence
and an income for life to me-" replied
his sister.
Miss Rodney did look somewha
moved at this. It meant freedom ani
a living her own life. Despite herself
t che beamed joyously,