The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-23

please excuse me a moment. You
can be looking at the books" It
had suddenly occurred to Anna that
perhaps this man was not the one
he pretended to be, and while he was
In the library, she sped away to find
Mr. Brooks.
Or. Wood opened the door and
found himself face to face with tho
pretty girl who had opened the door
to him in the first place. She looked
now as If she would like to run away.
She was dressed in deep black which
set off her golden hair wonderfully,
and her skin, which was of an ex-
quisite pallor She was very slender,
and stood like some wild creature,
trapped, but poised ready for escape.
Il beg your pardon" said Horace,
for disturbing you"
You have a perfect right to dis
turb me-" the girl said coldly. Il
should not be here at all. | shall bo
gone this evening, and leave you in
unmolested possession of your pro-
perty."
Who on earth could she be? And
why did she and Anna hate him so?
'Will you tell me, please, who you
are?" he asked.
DO you mean to pretend you do
not know" Then, with scornful
look, she swept from the room.
AS he stood in utter dismay where
she had left hjm, the door opened
and Anna appeared, followed by an
elderly man. 1t was Mr.. Brooks, the
lawyer, and Horace Wood establish
ed his identity beyond a doubt.
Il had no difficulty in finding you,
for I have kept track of you through
New York lawyers always. Your
father refused every overture of
peace that was made, and your grand
father left everything to your uncle.
He died years ago, leaving every
thing to his wife, on the condition
that at her death the estate should
80 to his brothers son, whom he
had never seen"
But this young lady, who des-
pises me, who is she?"
"She is Margaret Leslie, the daugh-
ter of Mrs. Wood by a former mar
riege. She has been brought up here
and loves the place dearly. She be-
lieves you will sell 1t and 1t seems
a sacrilege to her. You must not
blame her. She is being turned out
of the place that is home to her and
1t is very hard. She did not know of
your existence until after the sud-
den death of her mother"
where will she go?"
ITO some distant cousins, who
live in New York. She dislikes the
city, but what can she do? She has
not enough money to be entirely in
dependent and she is too young and
too pretty to live alone. The other
property in the town that falls to
you has yielded good income and
without that she has very little"
1T ought to be hers" said Horace.
1T is great injustice"
When Mr.. Brooks had gone Horace
paced up and down the library for
an hour, deep in thought. Then,
with an air Of determination he
went to look for Anna, and asked her
If she would beg Miss Leslie to grant
him short interview before he left.
She came to the library with ap-
parent reluctance. Miss Leslie"
Horace began at once, 81 have Just
learned who you are. This place is
yours by every moral right and l |
Intend to deed it over to you"
"You-you don't know what you
are saying. l could never accept |
such a thing. And even if l could / |
have no money to keep the place up"
Then you can sell it."
Sell It? Never! / love 1t too
much" Then she added, more kind
ly: 1T Is yours. you are the legal
heir. l am saying good-by to 1t all
-" Her voice broke
There is one way left" said
Horace, speaking rapidly. Miss
Leslie, you are alone In the world |
and SO am I. have enough to main
tain this place, which Is yours. Mar
ry me and let US share 1t. I cannot |
suppose that In this short time have |
made such an impression on you as
you have on me. l will be very kind .
and considerate to you. I want to |
stay here and work and build up
practice. l am sick Of my life In
New York. But can't turn you out.
know this Is unusual, but so are the
circumstances Say you will make 1t
possible for us both to stay"
You are carried away by your
said Margaret Leslie. "It
Is quite impossible"
But Horace saw that her eyes
were full of tears. and it gave him
courage
Tell me. do you love any one
else?"
She shook her head.
Then let me go away and we will
both think 1t over"
Il can't stay here. l must 20 to
my cousins tonight"
But may / come to see you there