Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-12-15

enough TO counteract yours, whatever it
may be-"
About twelve months before my faith
er's death, Lucilla. he borrowed one hum
dred pounds, which, by his private memo
rsnda, ! fancy was paid in the following
month. The creditor was an old friend
of his, so he would not ask for receipt of
payment. That friend died, and his ex-
ecutors came upon me for the one hum
drcd pounds, because they found the ac-
acknowledgement of the loan in my fathers
handwriting, and / had no other receipt
to show"
''Of course you didn't pay struck in
Lucilla. in her impetuous ignorance. 1T
is too long ago for the law TO make you"
"Still | felt obliged to pay. 1t was
impossible for me 10 do it then, so /
gave a note of hand promising to pay
within five years. | hoped | should be
prosperous man then. Now the debt is
due, and / want to pay it this month. 1t
will be a great strain upon MS, dear. for
a time. and so-and so | want you. to
mend my gloves
"But-wait a minute said Lucilla,
hand on each of his shoulders, Il have
news to tell you, and slightly different
from your lugubrious tidings. Look here,
Athol what do you think old Digby Surle
Il mean my godfather, ct me mention
him now with all respect has done for
me? He has made his wiz in my favor
entirely You, you may well start-and
| have it here"
Lucilla-nonsense -
Il have it; I'm going to show it to
you"
When. few minutes afterward, she
put the sealed packet into his hands, he
looked at it as if without any compre-
hension in his gaze.
Have you read it?r he asked. at last.
"Of course not. Why should | read it,
when he told n1e what it was?"
What did he sayf"
HE said this" she answered, with
slow, unctuous emphasis, that his mem
DRY began to fail him a little, so he didn't
care to trust it even so far as keeping
charge of his will and as | was the only
person concerned | had better have it to
look after. | was to take care of it.
and when he died / was to let everybody
settle in their own minds that he died
without a will. But afterward l was to
open it in the presence of yourself and the
Gayestons and-Rourke; because" lone
speech of old Dgby's Lucilla thought it
as we'll to suppress) ''by then he, Rourke,
would be considered his heir. He said all
this yesterday while l was with him at
the Priory, Athol."
II do not believe in it," said Athol,
land if l did / would not like to take
the right of another. if l were you"
HE said Rourke was gallopiDg head
long to the
How could you listen.'' exclaimed DIR.
We're. angrily.
HE made me listen," sighed Lucilla
"and-and you are not bit pleased, or
much obliged to me, after all"
Even if that packet is to make you
rich eventually, Lucilla, it brings no
benefit to you now, you know"
"Oh, doesn't it?' was the laughing an
SKIER You will see
my DEAR" urged Athol, with grave
earnestness, don't let me see you trade
upon it. As have told you often be-
fore. such course would only tempt you
insidiously into some irremediable error
or even perhaps disgrace. Lucilla. my
dear. be warned of this in time
What a lecture !" she laughed, jaunt-
lily. "Well, at any rate, Athol, you see
how silly it is for you to harass your
self about that paltry hundred pounds
Besides that" he said gravely, New
ley has told me that he did not care for
me to occupy this cottage beyond the
present term He seems to have wanted
to turn me out for some time. But yes
terday, when l took up so many voters
for Trenham, j knew that the die was
cast. Lob! | wish he had not had
that power in his hands ~
1T won't matter presently" said Miss
We're. in her easy selhshness, but | hope
he won't turn us out before Mr.. Surle's
death. Athol, | think a London house
would be best for us-don't you? You
can get an extensive aristocratic practice,
and we can live in Style
II shall not depend upon that will.
Lucilla,' said Athol. gravely IF it is
what you think | call it an act of in
justice, all the more glaring considering
Rourke's present position. But fancy it
is not what you think
what a canny fellow you are, Athol,"
LAUGHED his sister; 'you will not enjoy
anything beforehand. Well, l must en-
joy it doubly myself Now then, If
must mend that stupid glove of yours, let
me do it."
That night when a servant took Mr.
Surle his solitary cup of coffee into the
dining room he found him unconscious in
his easy chair, the wine and dessert I'M
touched before him. In the panic which
always strikes a household of servants
when their bachelor master is taken i'll.
Dr. We're was sent for. and. whether the
fact or only the form of the message was
alarming Lucilla did not wait to think
without one moments hesitation she re-
paired to the Priory and installed herself
devoted nurse.
Only two weeks of nursing on her part,
of untiring attendance on Athols. of
fretting and rambling on the patients,
then-while Mr.. Spencer went soemnly
through the last ritual beside the bed
Digby Surle answered TO roll-call for
his ears alone. and went to give account
of his stewardship.
CHAPTER XIX.
Next morning DIR. We're took a ticket
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