The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-04-18
CT APTER V-Continued.

duA tue cAcCuCT1X Oh CnlS WILL,
and prefer to be it's custodian. That
is your desire, dear, is it ~not-you
wish to keep the will here in the
house, The exhausted invalid nod
ded feebly. At this moment the door
opened and Raymond entered the
room. The elder woman, with an
angry flush upon her face, walked
rapidly towards him, and the law
yer passed out with the notary.
"Fool!" she whispered, ''you endan-
ger it ALL" She drew him into a
bay window, where they began an an
mated discussion. Brodnar had but
one free moment but in that moment
he acted. The girl had been left
standing by her fathers side. She
alone caught the sentence whispered
to her by the physician; her eyes fol-
lowed him as he walked slowly away
and then returned to rest upon the
sick man. Gazing into his wan face,
| all her tenderness came back. Sudden
~ she sank by his side and clasped
her hands upon his knees.
'Father!" she said, gently, lone
word! Will you let me speak now?
We may be parting for all eternity"
He opened his eyes and looked stead
lily upon her.
"''1t is for eternity" he said. And
then, somehow, his hand found her
head and rested there gently. "You
are proud, Frances, and hurt, but the
time will come when you will know
that-1 have acted for the best"
"Oh, you think So" she said, shak-
ing with half-suppressed emotion and
hiding her face. II know you think
so. But"
listen, Frances! You have cous-
in whose name has long since ceased
to be spoken in my family. She was
proud-and wayward-andhe adstrong,
too. You are very like her as she was
when her fathers will made her nv
ward-as she was when she passed
away"
''She is dead?"
''Yes, to us!" he waited for breath
and strength to proceed. "A husband
would have saved her. She had a
right under the will--to choose-her
residence. A foolish aunt received. her.
She followed her own fancy"
II would not talk of it, father. It
excites you.'
II must! She was always-heedless
of advice--self willed-jealous-A
then she--disappeared - leaving - a
note-and disgrace! let her go.
| She is dead to mel" After a pause he
continued: II have seen you drifting
away-Frances! d1sobedient-unlov-
ing-I would save you-if could.
Weep no more-1 have forgiven; I
have forgiven-!" The girl lifted her
face quickly, indignant and agonized.
"You have been deceived, father; oh.
SO basely deceived. I am not way
ward-I have never yet disobeyed you.
If you had permitted I should have
been with you night and day."
IF had permitted!" ..
Eyes. 1t was you, they told me-"
she brokenly said-"it was you who
sent me among strangers to school,
you wished me never to come into
your room"
"Frances!"
1T is too late now," she said in
anguish, 'sbut I cannot part from you
without telling you the truth. I love
you, father. I would have been
your dear daughter if you had not
put it beyond my power"
"Child! What*is it you are say
ing?'
DO you not understand, father ?"
she said, passionately, edo you not
know that that woman has for years
deprived you of your Independence
| of your freedom? Now she has taken
your property! Can't you see it? You
have been robbed of erything-and
T.! Oh, she has preyed, upon your
hottest feelings; she has turned you
against your own child-the child to
whose mother you promised to guard
and guide!"
He raised himself in his chair. A
look of fright was upon his face.
"See!" she cried, there is the wom-
an with her son dividing your prop
erty before you are dead. Oh, they
think am harmless, now; am not to
to be feared! the die is cast, the will
IS signed, and you, father, have be-
trayed your only child into the hands
+ of her bitterest enemy"
He was speechless and pale. His
dull eyes were fixed on the girls.
But no." he said family, this can
not be. it cannot be! My child, you
are wronging a good woman-and
Raymond-he has been very kind, SO
very kind!" -
You are blinded, father; you are
unsusPectdng. Tell me, have they
ever said that for months have been
eager to be with you; that?" ..
''You, Frances! Why, you refused
over and over She sank her head
upon her chair.
''And you believed that of me? 1t
was untrue cruel, cruel invention,
Mother and son caught the sound
Of her agitated voice and would have
come over from the bay window, but
IN p,~@1 !, l. =,