The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-05-06


command. ordering Zelda out of the ROOM
Dazed by the sudden horror, the girl suf-
fered Mr. Randolph to lead her tn the
library, give her glass of wine, and let
her rest
Suddenly she sprang from her chair.
The new will You will let me see
it, she said IL want to read it over. y
Mr. Randolph placed large folded pa
per in her hand Through mist of tears
she read the list of investments, securities,
legacies, and comprehended the purport Of
all And with quick movement she
tossed the document upon the open CRATE
FIRE
Miss Zelda cried the lawyer, that
is State prison offence
Send me there if YOU viii she said,
excitedly.
.'Do you know what you have done ?
Do you know the former viii leaves you
nothing
MY father left me a little, not very
much, but it will do until | find some work.
| am net afraid. But my poor grand
father
And she broke into bitter tears and left
the room. She was almost exhausted with
nursing. anxiety and grief, aud was living
still sobbing upon her bed in her own room
when the nurse came in.
Miss Zelda, the doctor would like to
see ysu a moment There Your not
fit to move Lie STILL and / n bring him
here
Wondering little, glad vet fearful,
Zelda waited Dir Landslell had been
her friend ever since she came to her grand
fathers In his semi weekly visits to her
uncle Harry. he had managed to meet her
often in the grounds In the village fes-
tivilis~ they had met aud Zelda had fan
cied the doctor was learning to love her.
was sure she loved him, when her grand
father Illness, ~ far from bringing them
more cloSely together, seemed 10 throw
them apart dor the first few weeks 1t
had no; been 81. bu, then the doctor ceased
the ltile friendly chats that had made the
oue spo, Of brightness in her liie, made his
visits strictly professional, and refraincd
from one Sord or look. such a. she had
learned 10 love She wondered. bu, bore
/, patiently a. Wa her nature
Ii gave her thrill Of surprise. then,
when he came quickly to her bedside, his
face aeiow with what she had 80 sorely
missed, his eyes full Of tenderness.
My Poor, weary giri, he said, gently,
.yna vii take slme medicine Mrs Hollis
is prrparing fer you, and lee her pat you
to bed Zelda, know it IS 10 time Cor
l,sye making, but cannot leave you to-
nlght without the assurance that you have
enc friend. one lover. dearest. who viii
never II yoa want or suffer. If you can
Trust yourself to him Your dear, swee,
eyes answer mc. hove You DO love me
Zelda
Ouly her eyes and litIle hand that ervpS
into hts answered s,ill
''Yoa have ihoslghs NE cold and strange.
nv darling. bus il was because your grand.
father todd me Of hls new viii. and could
~, scek you, thinking you great AeircS,-
But, nv darling, | was in the drawing
r,.o,n Shen YOU threw the viii into the ere
Aui enuld not let you sleep wish ,hs
dszolate feeling ! know YOU had Now,
you viii forgive me for telling you You
wiI te my wife. Zelda vii not hurry
you bat you viii les me take you To my
home soon, love. aud 20 cherish yuu tha,
yoa viii forge, yna ever heard an auklud
word You will he mine, Zslda =?
Faithfully truly, till I die. she
whispered, sohbing bus quietly.
And noW rest. Herr CONES Mrs.
Hollis
And the doctor became strictly proies-
sioaal, gave the nur~e her directions. and
left the room. with only pressure uf his
hand upon the little trembling enc Zelda
held out in farewell
Who told the story ofthe viii ? Nobody
knew; bn, the next day Mr. Hcnry Es-
bert aud his sisters returned to their home,
and taking possession, informed Zelda that
after the funeral Was over she must seek
another hone.
They were perfectly familiar with the
terms Of the will that disinherite,i Zelda 5
mother, and left their fathers estate to
them, and they were very explicit in their
statements that she need not look to them
for any assistance Many times in that
weary four days did Zelda acknowledge her
grandfather was right when be said his
own children were not fit 10 have large
wealth Not one generous plan was made;
not one thought given to charity or useful
ness. Ii was clearly evident that the old
maids would heard their means, and the
old bachelor spend his upon his own selfish,
invalid fancies
Young as she was, Zelda knew that in
her weak hands, with her noble generous
husband TO guide her, she could have made
far better use Of wealth than those would
into whose hands her reckless act had
thrown it, She was really i'll, too, and
glad to lie quietly in her room most of the
day, with Mrs. Hollis petting her, and DIR,
Lansdell making daily visit. She told
him on the morning of the funeral the
doubt in her heart.
Il could have made grandfather money
of some use, she said, ''and | cannot but
feel acted too much on impulse. But
cannot be sorry when the impulsive act gave
me your love We will do what good We
can on smaller means.
The will was read after the funeral, in
the library, by Mr. Randolph Very much
wearied by the long ride to the cemetery,
Zelda lay back in the cushioned chair,
scarcely listening. What did it matter to
her She must 20 away soon. But as
Mr.. Randolph read she sat erect, her heart
beat quickly, her eyes going from one white,
enraged face to the other, until, as the
steady, monotonous voice ceased, she sprang
10 her feet
'sWhat does it mean p she cried. II
burned that will =
''Not the will Miss Zelda, Mr.. Ran
dolph said, gravely, ''only my client S in
structions You were not in state OF
mind to be trusted with the will, | think
you admit that yourself
There was stormy scene, disgracefnl
one, but the disappointed, selfish uncle and
aunts had to submit, and after hurling
every form of abuse at Zelda, did at last