The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-05-06
geleft Story.
A DISCARDED INHERITANCE,
..Nr. Randolphi' 7

brown eyes, looking wiStfully at him.
''You want to speak to me, Miss Zelda?
he asked.
IF you can spare few moments. oh.
she said, pressing her hands together as
Mr.. Randolph entered the library and
closed the door-''0h! Mr. Randolph, II
you will only persuade grandfather not to
do what he intends today
And that is what
oh | forgot YOU do not know. He
Is very ill-dying, We are afraid
II know that
And he is very angry with Celia, Har-
ry and May-my two aHnts and uncle
because they ran away when the doctor
said he had malignant typhus fever. But
they are very angry now, because, they
say, remained here to coax him to leave
me money. Indeed, it was not for that,
but it was so dreadful to leave him entirely
to servants, and so ill., And now-oh,
what eau | do? What shall do? Grand
father has sent for you to make new Will,
and he means to leave me everything, eN-
cepting a small annuity to each Of his
ehildren-his own children, who ought 10
have it all oh. Mr. Randolph, if You
will only make him see that they have the
right am only grandchild, and man
ma disobeyed him, and ran away with papa
| never expected him to leave me money,
aud he has been very kiad since my par
ents died They all hate me now, and
they win hate me more than ever If he
does what he intends
A bell. ringing furiuu,ls, echoed through
the house
You must go Zelda Boyee said uery
ously: 'that Is grandfather bell
The cid lawyer. rather pleased that the
interruption prevented his making any
rash prlmises, sent up stairs 20 the room
wherc hp. client. wa,,e,i by fever. dying,
lay waiting him Worn oni physically,
sick unto death. Mr. EgbeFt retained in
it, normal strength temper that had been
the life long cusrse Of has home and family
His voice, weak and broken. was pesyish
where IN health il had been furious, tina,
was the only difference
1t takes Yea a great while % get up
stairs. he said. fre,fally. a the old law
yer greeted him
II stopped moment to 'pesk to h'-'
zelds
.Yoa did Aud she told sou am 70.
ing 10 make new viii. aad was delighted
"On the contrary. she implored ne io
prevent yoar making ncw viii
she knows she Is no, even mcntioael
10 my Odd one. Did she tell Yea that
Ne. She is cnly troubled about yoar
own children
Nicc. dntifal children They hate
me They always did hate ms. bu, Is has
been wonse than ever sincc zelda eame.
She loves me In spite Of nay hassy ten
per. she lovs, me irom pur graS'ia.le t"'
giving her home And she has nurseSi
mc for seven wesk, a. | was never unrsel
heiors. aud think ing Ihe fever was csnsas
ioas Il is. soubesimss, and ,hry all ran
away frou 1t
Ba, Mr. Harry told uae yesterday that
they wosili have returned aud yea bad
gwen orders nst 20 admit them
"a did van, to die IN peace
wou have Celia and May wrangling in
herr and worrying Zelda 60 death | waRi
you a. make my viii Give sach If my
children three thousand year oa, cs the
estate, an the ret, including this house
aud grounds, with furniture, horses and
carriages, TO zelda The whole To he her
a. her aunis aud uncle die Now | won |
listen to you. Randolph My mind Is made
up. They won s,arye ou three thousand
4 year
But this Is their hone
Bah They would quarrel aud sepaF
ate iu week. There, don't make any
niorc objections When can sign i,2
In tive hours have taken down the
legscies- -
Yes; and then ,he old gentleman
named the yarioas securities aud invest
mcn,s Of has immense property, aPpoin.ei
the executors Of his will, made 4 feW leg
acies to old servants. and gave the clear
details Of his wishe-, all Of which Mr.
Randolph wrae down in a 6ne clerkly
hand upon the legal cap paper he had
brought
II will come back as soou As | can, and
bring witnesses, he said gathering up his
papers.
Again he heard the bell ruug with a
force simply amazing by 50 weak hand,
aud gave little shrug az the power Of
temper, Zelda had waited in the library,
hoping to see Mr. Randolph again, but she
obeyed the bell, not wishing to irritate the
the invalid by delay
She was little creature, twenty two
years old, aud looking about seventeen,
with crop Of short, golden curls, a face
that was naturally round and rosy, but just
at that time pale aud thin from much
watching and care.
The nurse, great, gaunt women, full
of active life and pure good nature, de-
clared that her duties we're limited To lift.
ing the patient TO various positions.
(Which is about the ouly thing that
little handful of girl can't do for him,
she said. lit beats me to see how sweet
ly she bears his growing and snarling at
her, and she a-feeding him, and giving
him his medicines and reading to him till
she's as hOarse as crow, and playing
chess and the piano for him. And he
never satisfied.
(which be never was yet with moth
ing, was the cooks emphatic answer.
''And the rest of them as bad. Thank
goodness, we have had little peace down
stairs since they all got scare and left.
Two old maids, regular old cats, and Mr..
Harry fancying himself great invalid
He amt ate nothing but messes, slops,
Cruel, custard aud sick stuff, the last six
teen years, aud it my belief there aint
nothing the matter bur laziness. TainI
none o my business, but Miss Zelda $
going to lead dogs life ofit if her grand
pa dies.
1t had never been very happy life fol-
the sensitive, tender hearted girl, who has
made to feel herself an intruder by every
one but her grandfather Since he had
been i'll she had escaped her aunts sneers
and scoldIng, and her uncle thousand ex
actions, but Mr.. Egbert was not easy to
nurse, and suffering had not softened his
Il l.. he