The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-08
The Spanish Necklace
BY BERTHA M cROKER tcspyr1sht. Ises by Crsker. AM Rishts Reserved)

, drawn away from her temples, and with her pallid color, and tragic face. she looked the unhappy ghost Of her own youth.
 Ghost-iiks she stood motioniess. eravely surveying the occupants of the little parior. Ghost-iike, she drifted from the room, and. without once opening her lips. noiselessly drew the do after her.
 Nurse Dixon glanced from the door to her companion, from her companion to the door. At last she exclaimed: "Ehe Is queeri Does she often come and look at you like this?' Aye. she caps owt with her strange waysl l expect she, Is beginning to feel that she is alone In the world. think that's what gives her that wild soort O gaze." a4- 'H must see after her" declared the nurse. rising and pushing back her chair. I'll make her have something to eat. and go to bed, and treat her as my patient--she wants nursing
 Nay, I don't know how she'll take it," said Fanny "all her days nursing otters--weiI," rising, now I must clear the things and fettle up"
 It happened that Mas Forde accepted the of1ces of Nuree Dixon with grati- tude, not unmixed with surprise that any one should fash" about wan looks and want of sleep, and, thanks to her offices. she gained sufficient strength and nerve to support the ordeal of the Rector's call and long prayers an interview with the undertaken. and the funeral.
 The obsequies of Ambrose Forde off, fered a pitiful contrast to the trains of iinportan mourners who had at- tended to their last home the gay and spendthrift members of the house of Steir.
 The coffin on the present occasion was borne by eight laborors, and ac- companied by most of the villagers on foot.
 Directly behind it walked Miss slight. pathetic figure in crepe. with the long hanging veil thrown back from rigid and fearless face. Was she grieving for her father?-for years he he'd suffered. and for the last three months he had been speeches.. Or was she not mourning for herself? What hold had she on existence? What was the good of life to such a forlorn and friendless creature?
 She looked as if shs were following to the tomb the remains of every hope.
 When Ambrose Forde had been laid by the one love of his life the funeral party dispersed-all but the Rector. the doctor, and the family lawyer, who returned to the Grange in order to Iliaugurate serious bnsiness--the opening of the will.
 In the front sItting-room--a low and panelled apartment--Jane Jubber had set forth the scanty funeral meats a decanter of wine and a shilling seed cake, and, after the three men had swallowed a glass of indifferent sher- ry, they adjourned to the opposite parlouF. where was a table-with an lnkstand: and assembled on a row of chairs, as If awaiting family prayers, sat Liza and Jane Jubber. Fanny Tootle and the old gardener. Luke Baclrhous Aloof on a sofa at some distance was Hester, supported by Nurse Dixon. whom she had impiored to be present as a special favour.
 The reading of the will proved to bs q tedious business The document ap. peared to bristle with technicalities and strange words. but the listeners gathered that the late Ambrose FordG had had no need for his painful eeon- omies. and was, on tho contrary, a wealthy man.
 The sisters Jubber. with downcast eyes, pursed-up lips. and folded handS. presented the embodiment Of unctuous attention.
 Hester Forde. sitting there with her long thin fingers interlaesd in her lap, her face cold and expressionless as stons. was an heiress, and each syl- lable that fell from the lips of MT. . Levin seemed but to add to her pos sessions!
 The Grange and its contents, num- erous investments in consols--in Amer. lean trusts and rails, in foreign bonds. in shipping and in mIneS-all were hers.
 There were legacies of one hundred pounds a year apiece to Eliza and Jane Jubber In acknowledgment of faithful services. and they wore &C., corded house-room at the Grange as long as they should 'desire to live there. Fanny Tootle the old gardener. the church, and the county Inirmary had also been remembered.
 When the voice of Mr. Levin had ceased, there ensued an expressive silence. The four legatees. seated in A row, were each engrossed in individ- ual speeulations. Fanny. with fifty pounds ia her pocket. already hailed A husband and home! old Luke on the other hand. behsld the dreaded worlZhouse rseedipg frem his fears,