Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-01-12
Naomi shrank back. Poor child she

Naomi shrank back. Poor child, she
had but few friends, AMI stern Old
Squire MardingEam had been good to
her in his bluff way.
Mr.. Pechham read out III" preamble
of tive will III his sharp, high pitched
voice. Mr.. LennoX nodded approval
the while, and the room vas filed
with an atmosphere of breathles5
silence as be naared the important
words, for which all listened so IN
enuy.
Il Godfrey Mardingham, do give
and bequeath the whole Of my fortune
and estate, real and personal for the
founding. erection and endowment Of
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 GiScord.
"Oh! oh. OH shrieked Mrs Fox
ley. Not to remember me, that al
ways did so much for him"
Fools and idiots, indeed. He was
one himself" cried Mr.. FoXley, grow
ing purple in the face.
Il always knew he was an Old
blockhead," cried Mr. Lennox, jump
ing around the room as if he had the
ST. Vitas dance.
An unregenerate sinner groanad
the pious young man; think how the
sweet utterances of Nehemiah NOs4y
would have been completely thrown
away on himw
odd 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 I 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.
"Hushw she calculated, uplifting
her slender finger. How dare you
speak so Of the dead? Uncle Godfrey
was good and generous to all Of YOU
as he was to me. What right have
10 olr
was his own to DO as he pleased with
and l for one, shall not sit muteIy by
and hear his name decried."
There was an instant of astonishrd
silence, and then Mr.. peckham, of the
firm Of Peckham & Marble, jumped
Eriskly up, tore the hAndage 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-oId Geof-
frey A1ardingham's self, alive and
we'll!
We'll met, ye hypocrites,' he said
slowly and distinctly, II can scarcely
express my gratitude for this oppor-
trnity, which has given me such
clear insight into the characters of ev-
cry one Of you. | am not dead and
buried; no, nor likely to be at pres
ent, but | have learned Il lesson for
the future Come here to me, 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 child for the
present, his heiress for the future. AS
for the rest of you, l only want to
have my house cleared OF your odious
presence
There was no gainsayinS his stern
words and sneering lips. One by one
the expectant relations, now. alas. So
wOefully disappointed, sneakcG out OF
the room and houSe-Mr. ana Mrs
Foxley, the lawyer, the old maid, and
the "regeneratc" 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. -Indianap Sun.