Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-08

II want my daughter to be present"
said the sick man, fretfuliy; II want
her to hear the will read before l sign
it, doctor"
81 am here. papa" said the girl com
ing slowly forward and standing quiet
" near him. lie looked into her face
long and intently, his own softening.
81 would suggest" said the doctor.
rising and addressing the elder WON
an, that we leave them alone for a
few moments; he see ms tribe bright
err just now" She fixed her black eyes
upon him steadily, and Slight smile
moved the hard lines of her mouth.
at would not do. Frances is excit-
able and excitement is contagious"
"But am sure madam !"
at is useless. sir. He relies upon me.
and is nervous if leave him for even a
minute" Her white d fell in rhyth-
mic monotony upon the invald'S fore
head. Presently he reached up impa-
ticntly and pushed it away; but, wait
( ing a moment. she resumed her careSs-
/ ings, and he made no further resist
! ance.
want my daughter 10 near u reau'
ne sald' queruIous'y' re'ertiNg 70
| thought unspoken,
"Oh, l would not let her DO that, sir"
sa1d Brodhar. on Will not permit
that. madam'
She snail near H. salu me woman
at pleases him. and he has a good OBJ
! ject in it. am sure
professional man VINO mao oeen
writing al a SIDE tame no" came Tor
ware ana reao 'ne NNlh2 man WILL
notary stanG'hg near, ne Ia''er eS-
changed gIan'cS win broohar ana
looked away ma 81 ne upon ms Ilps'
ne doculnen'' aI'eF the usual reci'a-
tons ahc the naming OF numerous
smah IeSac'cS lot I"'NllN servants anu
others ProceeoeH as io'Io"S'
Ana the RESCUE OF my property my
wire. Annette haNIh@ oeen amply pro-
vIded Tor oy ceed OF EIit during my
NE, bequea'h 10 my daughter ryan
ces brookln' upon oonoltlon that she
shall, on or before attaining the age
OF 81 years, accept as her lawful hus-
band Ray mond Holbin. who has asked
her hand of me, my object being to pro-
vide for the future of maynard girl
by giving her a guardian who is in all
respects gentleman and worthy of
every confidence. But if my said
daughter, Frances. fails or declines to
marry the said Raymond Holbin with
in the Limit Of her minority, or immedi-
ately after attaining her majority,
then l will and declare that all the
property named and described as the
residue of my estate. after legacies
specified have been paid. shall vest in
my wife Annette. The said Frances to
| become a charge upon my estate DUR
ing her life for sustenance and clothing
only, unless il happens that she enters
; into a marriage contract with some one
other than the said Raymond Holbin,
in which event the charge shall cease
and the estate be acquitted of all de-
mands from her. her heirs or assigns"
Absolute silence followed the read
ing of he document, except that an ex-
clamation. half an oath, half a groan
burst from the doctors lips He
strobe to the table and picked up his
hat, but paused when his gaze fell upon
the figure of the slender girl. She stood
erect, proudly looking at the group. her
calm white face outlined against the
damasb curtains rs the face of statue
lie laid his hat on the table, and. NOV
ing little nearer TO her. waited. The
sick man erasped the pen with fever
ish energy and signed, the witnesse.
immediately attesting. The tall. grave
woman took the legal instrument and
applied blotter. Then. folding il. she
placed it in her bosom. To the law.
yer's embarrassed protest she said:
81 am the executrix of this will,
and I prefer to be its custodian. That
is your desire, dear, is il not-you
wish TO keep the will here in the
house," The exhausted invalid nod
ded feeby. 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 ewes fol-