Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-28


But | am sure. madam"
sIt.is useless, sir. He relies upon me-
and is nervous if leave him for even a
minute" Her white hand fell in rhyth-
mic monotony upon the invalid's fore
head. Presently he reached up impa-
tiently and pushed it away; but, wait
| ing moment. she resumed her caress-
| ings, and he made no further resist
ance.
81 want my daughter to hear it read"
he said, querulously, reverting to a
thought unsposen.
"Oh, would not let her do that. SIR"
said Brodnar. "You will not permit
that, madam!"
''She shall hear it," said the woman.
ut pleases him; and he has good OBJ
| ject in it, am sure
| A professional man who had been
writing at a side table now came for
ward and read the dying mans will. a
notary standing near. The latter ex-
changed chances with Brodnar and
looked away, half smile upon his lips.
The document. after the usual recita-
tons and the naming of numerous
small legacies for family servants and
OtueTS, pTOceeueu as IOIlOWS.
"And the residue of my property. my
wife, Annette, having been amply pro-
| vided for by deed of gift during my
life. bequeath to my daughter. Fran-sT
ces Brookin, upon condition that she I
shall, on or before attaining the age.
of 81 years. accept as her lawful hus-s.
band Raymond Holbin, who has asked
her hand of me, my object being to prof.
! vide for the future of hayward girl
! Dy giving her guardian who is in all y
respects gentleman and worthy of
every confidence. But if my saidsa'
daughter, Frances. tails or declines toisa
marry the said Raymond Holbin witiastc
in the Limit of her minority, or irnmediss'N
ately after attaining her maiority,tr
/ then / will and declare that all thes
| property named and described as tf1esF
residue of my estate, after legacies
| specified have been paid. shall vesSaint Z
my wife Annette the said Frances stoit
become charge upon my estatefdnr-tp.
ing her life for sustenance and clothingr
only, unless it happens that she enters s.
into marriage contract with some one -
other than the said Raymond Holbin, Y
in which event the charge shall ceasea
| and the estate be acquitted of all de-sa
mands from her, her heirs or assigns.'',e s
Absolute silence followed the read.
! ing of the document. except that an ex-
clamation, half an oath, half grean.L
/ burst from the doctors lips. Heta4
slrode to the table and picked UP hiske
1 hat. but paused when his gaze fell upens4s
the figure OF the slender girl. She stood 81
erect, proudly looking at the group, hers
calm white face outlined against thest
damask curtains as the face of statue.a
He laid his hat on the table, and, mev-
! ing little nearer to her. waited. The q,
| sick man grasped the pen with fever-
ish energy and signed. the witnesses.
| Immediately attesting. The tall, grave
| woman took the legal instrument andsa
applied blotter. Then, folding it, she,s
placed it in her bosom. To the law 8
yer's embarrassed protest she said: ;la-
am the eXecutrix of this will,
and prefer to be its custodian. That I,
is your desire, dear, is it not-you
wish to keep the will here in thetG
house?' The exhausted Invalid nod
ded feebiy. 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
CT nI5 INV nov So !
| 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
ly she sank by his side and clasped
her hands upon his knees
"Father!" she said, gently, zone
word! Will you let me speak now?
We may be parting for all eternity
He opened his eyes and looked stead
lily upon her.
at 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-l have acted for the best
"Oh. you think So she said, shak.
| ing with half-suppressed emotion ana
hiding her face. 81 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 hayward land headstrong,
too. You are very like her as she was
when her fathers will made her my
ward-as she was when she passed
away"
"she is dead?"
Eyes, to us!" he waited For breath
and strength to proceed. IL husband
would have saved her.Sshe had a
right under the will-to choose--her
residence. A foolish aunt received her.
| She followed her own fancY,n