The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-07-09


take katherine's Inheritance from her
that you will never lay claim 10 ii.
that YOU VIII never br1ray he secret OF
your birthand parcntagr.
Veronica sWulr il.
Kiss his lips. cried lady irandon:
"lncy wuuid open 10 bless Nou if they
cOuld.
Veronica kissed his lips.
Iii will lie between lis. father. size
said. This secret of ours.
Then thc started up in alarm. The
struggle had been too much for Lady
Brrndon- she had fallen to the ground.
The servants who came 10 her help
thought she was III from grief: and
they bore her with pitying words to
her chamber. while Veronica went
back 10 her room like one moving in Il
trance. Not for long had she been
heiress of Queens Chace-not for long
had she called herself Veronica Bran
don. Sir JaSper's daughter. All the
noblcr. higher. better part Of her ma
nature had been reused by Lady
Brandon's passionateappeal. She for
cot in her enthusiasm all that the
sacrifice would cost her. She remem-
bered only that she was securing
Natherine's happiness and saving her
fathers fair name.
She sat quite still and silent, while
the birds sung outside her window, and
the sunlight frightened the whole
glad wOrld--how many hours she never
knew. She reflected that her golden
dream was over, that she would be
Veronica di Cynthia now until she died.
Then she reused herself. The will
must be burned before she saw Lady
Brandon again. She would not read
it. That would simply renew her pain.
and could not benefit her. She must
destroy it at once. She went to the
box in which she had put it away, and
took it cut. She read. The last will
and testament OF Sir Jasper Brandon.
Baron of Hurstwood. etc" She kissed
the name, and her tears fell on it. How
could she destroy it? Curiously, in
stead of being written on paper. IL was
written on thick parchment that she
could neither tear nor cut. On this
June day there was no fire anywhere.
She could not go down TO the servant S
offices to burn it there. for she would
be noticed, and harm might come OF
il. The only way was to have tlre
made in her SittingrOom, and burn 1t
there. The bell was answered by
Clara Morton. pretty girl whom Slr
Jasper had advised her to take as her
maid. She carefully placed the will
out Of sight. and then, when the maid
entered, she asked her to light a fire
in her room.
a fire" repeated Clara Morton-"a
fire here, MISS"
Yes said Veronica.
But" objected the girl, lit is 50
warm-it is quite hot day, miss. l
am afraid the heat will be too much
for you"
"Thera is no warmth here" said
Veronica.
And the maid, seeing the shudder
that made her young mistress grace
full figure tremble, thought perhaps
she was really cold. Still it was a
strange thing to ask for on aJune day;
and more than once. as Clara Morton
lighted the fire. she said to herself
that it was unnatural, and that there
must be some reason for 1t. Still she
obcyed. But the fire would not light:
Three or four times il went out, and
each time Veronica had to ling again:
How bent she is on it," said the girl
to herself. What can she want a lire
for? There is something mysterious
about it,
At last the fire burned brightly: and
then Veronica fastened the door and
took out the will again. She held it
in her hands. looking first at the
parchment roll and then at the flames.
1t seemed to her as though she held
something living. Wealth, honor: for
tune. position, the honor OF a noble
name-these would all perish with the
document when she laid it on the
flames. Should she destroy it? Was
it not like taking the life of some llv-
ing thing?
Il will do it." she said. mot by
halves, but generously. | make this
sacrifice. and Heaven sees me. | make
it to secure my sisters happiness and
to save my fathers memory. l make II
with all my heart in return for thell
love for me-, and | shall never regret
it,"
Then she parted the Goals and placed
the parchment between them. IN a
few moments there was d thick smoke,
and. seeing no more of the parchment
she thought it was destroyed. She
watched the thick smoke as 1t rose:
what did il bear with it of hers?
There WAS some one at the door: who
could it be? She cried out, WHO is
it, And Clara Morton answered:
Il want you very particularly, If you
please, Miss di Cynthia" Veronica
opened the door, and the girl looked
wonderingly into her pale face.
Il have brought YOU cup OF tea,
MISS" she said: Il thought you want,
ed something" Her quick eye noted
the heavy smoke in the fireplace: she
withdrew without a word. In a few
moments she was back again. Miss
di CYNTHIA she cried, Il wish you
would come 10 my lldy's room: | have
knocked at the door several times. and
can get no answer. am afraid there
is something wrong
And Veronica fastened away. rot
noticing that she had left the girl IN
the room behind her.
FRO pv t.oSTrSI;EDl