Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-02

Naomi shrank back. Poor child, she
had but few friends, and stern cd
Squire Mardingham had been good to
her in his blum way.
Mr.. Peckham read out the preamble
Of the will in his sharp, high pitched
voice. Mr.. lennox nodded approval
the while, and the room was filed
with an atmosphere Of bres bless
silence as lie neared the imp .tant
words, for which all listened 80 in
tently.
Il Godfrey Mardingham. do give
and bequeath the whole Of my fortune
and estate, real and personal. for the
founding, erection and endowment OF
an asylum for fools, idiots and insane,
that my name may be remembered
and honored after my bones have turn
ed to dust" the lawyer read out,
slowly and impressively.
Mrs. Foxley fell back In her chair,
uttering hysterical. gasping sound;
there was sudden babel OF voices,
bursting into discord
"Oh! oh! OH" shrieked Mrs. Fox
ley. mot to remember me, that al
ways did 80 much for him.
Fools and idiots, indeed! He was
one himself" cried Mr.. Foxley, grow
ing purple in the face.
II always knew he WAS an old
blockhead," cried Mr.. LennOx. jump
ing around the room as IL he had the
st. Vltas dance.
AN unregeherate sinner" groaneti
the pious young man: ''think how the
sweet utterances Of Nehemiah Nosey
would have been completely thrown
away on him.
"Old fool. cried Mrs. Foxley. sud-
denly emerging from the tide Of her
Mysteries. "Oh. Foxley, Foxley. you
always told me he hadn't any brains,
but never gave credence to you"
The maiden lady tossed her head in
the air.
Il wish now l hadn't worked those
slippers for him." said she; IAN un.
grateful, unprincipled, hoary repro
bate who-'
But Noami Bruce rose up among
them, slender and pale, yet instinct
with womanly dignity.
Hush" she calculated, uplifting
her slender finger. How dare you
speak 50 Of the dead? Uncle Geoffrey
was good and generous to all of you,
as he was to me. What right have
you to expect aught else? His money
was his own to do as he pleased with,
and for one, shall not sit mutely by
and hear his name decried."
There was an instant OF astonishcd
silence. and then Mr. Peckham, Of the
firm of Peckham & Marble. jumped
briskly up, tore the bandage away
from his mouth and chin, pulled off
the red wig. false beard and goggles,
and rising to his full height, confront
ed the astOnished audience-old Geof-
frey Mardingham's self, alive and
we'll!
well met. We hypocrites,' he said
slowly and distinctly. 81 can scarcely
express my gratitude for this oppor-
"AiNh hoo 6iNCH Liz buCH Il
clear insight into the characters Of ev-
cry one Of you. l am not dead and
buried; no. nor likely to be at pres
ent, but l have learned lesson for
the future. Come here to ne, Naomi"
he said. his face softening as he held
out his hand. You, who were the
only one to defend the dead old man,
shall be his adopted chilli for tn.
present. his heiress for the future. AS
for the rest Of you, only want to
have my house cleared Of your odious
presence
There was no gainsayiDg his stern
words and sneering lips. One by one
the expectant relations, now, alas. SO
woefully disappointed, sneaked out Of
the room and house--Mr. and Mrs
Foxley, the lawyer, the old maid, and
the "regenerate'' youth, together with
the lesser satellites.
For they had no more hopes from
Godfrey Mardingham's will. and the
little Naomi Bruce was now an
heiress .-Indianapo Sun.