Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-01

! snce.
81 want my daughter to hear it read"
he said, querulousiy, reverting to 4
thought unspoken.
'Oh, would not let her do that, sir"
said Brodpar. you viii not permit
that. madam!"
"She shall hear it." said the woman.
at pleases him; and he has a good OBJ
| ject in it, am sure"
! A professional man who had been
writing at side table now came for
ward and read the dying mans vSR. q
notary standing near. The lstsse 90
changed chances with Brodnar and
looked away, half smile upon his lips.
The document, after the usual recita-
lions and the naming of numerous
small legacies for family servants and
others, proceeded as follows:
"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
ces Brookin, upon condition that she
shall, on or before attaining the age
| OF 21 years, accept as her lawful hus-
band Raymond 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 Holbiu with
IN the limit of her minority, or immedi-
ately after attaining her majority,
then / 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 charge upon my estate DUR
ing her life for sustenance and clothing
only. unless it happens that she enters
into 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 the document. except that an ex-
clamation, half an oath, half a groan,
burst from the Doctors lips. He
strobe 10 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
damask curtains as the face of statue.
He laid his hat on the table, and. NOV
ing little nearer to her, waited. The
sick mangrssped the pen with fever
ish energt and signed. the 49, >sssz
---sr>'sSstery attesting. The tall, grave
woman took the legal Instrument and
applied blotter. Then, fold ing il. she
placed it in her bosom. To the law
yer's embarrassed protest she said:
am the executrix of this will,
and l 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 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 1t 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 avvay
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.
"Fatherl" she said gently, zone
word! VIII 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 have acted for the best"
"Oh, you think So" she said. shak-
Ing with half-suppressed emotion and
hiding her face. ~ know you think
so. But"
listen, Frances! You have a cous-
In whose name has long since ceased
to be spoken in my family. She was
proud-and wayward-and headstrong,
too. You are very like her as she was
when her fathers viii made her nv
ward--as she was when she passed
away"
"She Is dead?"
"Hes, 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!"
81 would not talk of it, father. It
excites you"
Il mustl She was always-heedless
of advice-self willed-jealous-An !
then she-disappeared - leaving -
note-and disgrace! I let her go.
She is dead to mel" After a pause he I
continues: 81 have seen you drifting !
away-Frances! disobeaient-unlov- I
ing-1 would save you-if 1 could. !
Weep no more-I have forgiven; !
have forgiven" The girl lifted her
face quickly, indignant and agonized. !
You have been deceived, father; oh, I
so basely deceived. / am not way
ward have never yet disobeyed you. !
~ no