Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-11-14

The young man drew a narrow book
from his pocket and rapidly leafed IL
over.
"Jethro Holt left three children, a
boy and two girls, Arthur, Lucy and
Emily"
Eyes. 1 am Lucy Mellen Holt
commonly called Aunt Lucy Mellen. AT
least that's what Clare has called me
ever since she could talk. Emily was
Clare's mother. She died when Clare
was baby, and Clare's father died the
year after"
The young man stared hard at her.
"Can you prove this relationship"
"Why, yes, Of course. 1 have the old
family Bible and many letters and my
fathers picture and the deed Of the
old home"
He drew a quick breath.
''This Is wonderful" he said. Tell
me about your brother"
He was older than I-nine years
older. He was a hayward boy and
greatly worried my father. When he
was IS he ran away from home and
shipped on a whaler. The ship was
lost in the Pacific and all the crew
was reported drowned"
your brother escaped" said the
young man. Gle was picked up by
Russian sealer and landed at ST.
berian port. He found his way to Aus
tralia and roughed it as a sheep herd
CT. There, through some mad fancy,
he changed his name He was no long
er Arthur Holt, he was Henry Harlan.
He became trader and prOspered; he
prospered greatly. Finally he made
his residence in New York. He lived
there twenty years. He died there sew
en- months ago."
The lady, a strange look in her eyes,
stirred suddenly.
"And that man was my brother?"
EYES,"
She sighed. "My poor brother"
The young man leaned forward.
"Oh," he said, 1--WE have searched
for you in so many places! The head
of our firm was your brothers attorney
and one of the executors of the estate.
The matter of finding the heirs was
placed in my hands. l have Travelled
many miles on false clews; have adj
vertised IN many sections-and now,
to stumble on you like this"
"Then we are heirs to his property?"
said the lady.
"He died without a will. You and
Clare are his only living kim"
"Does that mean we are rich?"
every, very rich"
They were both silent for moment
or two. Then the lady sighed.
"That comes a little late for me-"
she softly said, "but it will be beauti-
full for Clare"
A troubled look crossed the young
mans face.
"Clare," he murmured. "This changes
everything"
"What do you mean?"
Don't you see? Glare Is now a great
heiress. new world opens before
her. She can choose where she will
"True," said the lady.
81 puts me in painful, false posi-
ton. Why, even you might believe
that 1 knew her relationship to Henry
Harlan before 1 asked her to be my
wife,"
"True," said the lady again.
"Such a suspicion is Shameful" he
went on. "The one manly thing for
me to do Is to release Clare from her
promise
The lady arose and went to the win
dow. It was plain that she was agi-
tated by his startling news.
Presently she beckoned to him.
"Here," she said. do you see that
young woman coming up the roadway?
That Is the great heiress. And she's
something much better than that. She's
a sweet and lovable girl whose wom-
AMY heart can't be spoiled by any
amount of money. l know her better
than any other living person, Richard
Barclay, and tell you you have moth
ing to fear" She turned and looked
at him and laid slender hand on his
shoulder. Besides" she began.
Eyes, dear lady,"
She softly laughed.
"It really locks as II we ought to
have a lawyer in the family"
land Plain Dealer.