The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-02
THE GRAY SLANT.


 It is difficult to imagine romance connected with anything so worn and shabby. There are rents in 1t large enough to put a mans head through there are spots on it that would shame the original flock from which the fleece was snorn--in truth. there is not e trace of either good looks or useful- ness in the legacy bequeathed me by my most respected grandmother.
 l had never conidered myself more vain nor selfish than men ordinarily but the test imposed on me by my grandmother's will cannot call it her good will'-devoleped both sell fishness and vanity to degree that came near wrecking my happiness.
 From my earliest years 1 had been reared to the Idea that some day, if Providence decreed her decease before my own-I would be sole inheritor of my grandmother's wealth. Though the manner of her life was both sim pie and frugal, and she showed no ex- travagant tastes except in her large and continued charities ', 1 never doubted that the estate was a large one. And though in my years of asso- citation with her she rarely lavished on me those indulgences so dear to a boys heart. and even when grown and I went into the profession of law. she gave me more moral than monetary encoura cement, I felt sure always of her affectionate intention towards me. Imagine then, on hearing of her sudden death, my surprise and chag- rin. coupled with my grief. when the executors, two days after the sad event. handed me the following Last Testament" of my grandmother:
 ITO my grandson. Ralston Leigh and to his heirs forever. give and be- queath my entire estate. with all real and personal property. stocks. bonds to be his to hold. sell. dispose of as he will from cate of my death. and I do hereby append list of same -" Here followed minute details of my grandmothers estate. "If," the deli- cate handwriting went on, while my eye travelled quickly down the page, If he promises to wed no girl who will not wear at the time of the ceremony openly in the church. wherever 1t be, in such manner that 1t may be seen of all, the gray shawl that. for nifty years has been to me and to others. a faithful covering through many changes and sorrows of life." Here followed an account of this apocryphal wedding which was to make or mar my fortune. The bride to be must "also wear a wedding gown of satin and tulle and orange blossoms!" Nc dress of King Cophetua's beggar-matd would satisfy this whimsical grand mother of mine.
 Therefore, I must remain poor man ! to the end of my days unless l married and that the girl, on that happy day. must wear before not less than 50O d. nha axxyl ha hoA l often shacked my sensibilities as being | most Inappropriate covering for such regal woman as my grandmother. | For my grandmother was a regal wo-
 man. Tall with a face of Venus de l Milo crowned with snowy hair. Hef dress was always black and around l her neck and wrists she wore small | bands of real lace-no jewelry, no oth- | CT adornment.
 l had never understood her tenacious
 hold on that old shawl. It was sort | of foster child to her and she seemed to consider it her bounden duty to look
 out for 1t from the cradle to the grave.
 1 had known it only in it's dotage. The worst feature of this disreputa- | ble unattracvtive friend to my grand | mother was that it had not only GOV
 cred her well kept shoulders, but had | often been a mantle of charity for days at a time to stray dogs and cats and l even human waifs picked out of the | cold for warming.
 | And so 1t was on this relic of de- parted glory that depended my fortune i and happiness. I hardly believed any
 sane girl would so disigure herself for | my sake, or even for the money, great | as it was.
 At the time of my grandmother's loss
 was enamoured of a beautiful girl l but being poor barrister had not | dared to more than give evidence of | my admiration. But with the certain | ty of securing sufficient compensation
 should she make the brief sacrifice | mentioned by my grandmother, lost ! no time in declaring myself seriously Of course, at the same time I told her | of my grandmother's conditions. She
 laughed and said:
 T don't believe it is half as bad as you make out! Bring the shawl for my | inspection.
 This I did the following day--box | and all. For my grandmother had left | it carefully wrapped in tissue paper and laid in a sandalwood box, whose cost alone would have bought 5Ot l shawls. I saw her lips quiver as il l she. would cry, and I put my arms | tenderly around her. It is too much to dSh. QedF, lSu II
 "No-o-o; but don't you think we might get the fortune without it?" The thing was hideous and enough to make a woman shu ider at the bare | suggestion of wearing 1t, but I knew | then that my grandmother understood
 human nature. for this girl didn& love me. If not willing to do so much-I could not call it so ''littIes-for us
 both. I knew that some day she would falter at the more serious and real | drawbacks of life. And the, proposal to get the fortune by foul means | shocked me.
 Well-her tears and hesitation were
 followed by final rupture between us. For five years after this I strug- | gled at my profession hopeless of at- | taining a fortune except through stren
 uois efforts of my own. 1 should Ger.
 tainly ask no girl whom 1 did not love
 to marry me. Doubtless there wert
 women who would have married mt
 and worn any number of old gray
 shawls for the sake of the money. but
 was not seeking that kind.
 Sometimes l was ready to tear iay
 grandmother's will into shreds--.lnC
 might have done so if the eNerutor.
 had not held so close to it--and thus
 leave myself free to act and do as
 pleased. Then I would think bette
 of 1t. I had resolved to marry nont
 did not love. and after one expert.
 ence I was convinced no girl would
 marry me unless affection outweighec