The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-02-02

Naomi shrank back. Poor child, sh,
had but few friends. and stern old
Squire Msrdingham had been good ts
her In his blum way.
Mr.. PeckhaIn read out the preamble
OF the will In his sharp. high pitched
voice. Mr.. Lennon nodded approval
the while. and the room was filled
with an atmosphere of breathIes
silence as he neared the Important
words. for which all listened 70 In
tentiy.
Il Godfrey Mardingham. do give
and bequeatb 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
ell 10 dust" the lawyer read out,
slowly and impressiyeiy.
Mrs. Foxley FELL back In her chair,
uttsring hysterieal. gssping sound:
there was sudden babel of voices,
bursting into discord
oh oh. oh" shrieked Nrs. Fox
ley. mot TO remember me, that al
ways did 30 much for him"
Pools and idiots, indeed He was
one himself" cried Mr.. Foxley, grow
Ing purple In the face.
Il always knew he was an Old
bloekhesd." cried Mr.. Lennon. Jump.
ing around the room as II he had the
ST. Nitas dance.
An unregenerate sinner. groan@i
the pious young man; think how the
sweet utterances OF Nehemiah Nosey
would have been completely thrown
away on him."
"oid foolr' cried Mrs PoAiey, sud
denly emerging from the tide OF her
Mysteries -oh. foxiey. Fosley. you
always told me he hadn't any brains.
but | never gave cr~ieDce 20 you"
The maiden lady tossed her bead in
the air.
Il wish now hadn't worked those
slippers for him." said she: IAN un
grateful. unprtDeipied. 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 nnrer. How dare you
sp~ak - Of the deadf Uncle Ceoffrey
Nas good and generous 20 ell OF you.
10 he Was 10 me what rirht have
rou 10 expect suEht else, His money
sss his own TO do AZ be pleased with.
md for one. shall not sit mut<iy by
md bear bis name dscrted.~
Th~rs ~as an instant Of ssfonished
iienee. and then Mr.. Peckhsm. Of the
lrm Of Peckham 4 hsrbis. jumped ,
risky up. tore the baudsse away
rom his mouth and chin. pulled OF ,
be nd Wig. fsiss beard and rorxi~s.
nd rising to his full height. confront
the sstonishsd sodi~ncs-old Geof. ,
rey Msrainshsm's r>if. alive and
reIi,
We'll met. - hypocntss." he said
Io~iy and distinctly. Il can scsrc@iy !,
xpr~ss my gratitude for this oppor.
unity. which has given me such q /.
lear insight into the characters OF sv- !,
~ one Of you. am not dead and !,
urfed. no. nor likely TO bs at pres
1T but ! have Learned Lesson for !,
ss futurr. Come bere 10 me. Naomi !,
. ssid. his face softsn,ns a. be held J,
az his hand you. who were the
siy one 10 defend the dead old man. !.
sall ke his adopted child for the :,
-vscnt. his hriress for the future. AZ !,
u the rect Of you. ! only want TO :,
I've my house cleared OF your odious !,
There was no xsinssy inz his stern !,
cris and snesrinx iips. One by one :,
. sspectsnt relations. now. alas, 80
o~funy disappointed. sneaked out OF !,
. room and housc-Mr. snd Mr. "A
,riey. the lawyer. the old maid. and :,
. ''~r~ncrstc" youth. together with :,
. Lesser satellites.
For they had no nore hopes from :,
-crrey Msniinxham's will. and the =,
tie Naomi Bruce was now an !,
ns polls Sun. ~,