The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-08

Jane and Liza had also their agreeable
 anticipations.
 "of course" resumed the lawyer.
 "there are the death duties. and there
 will be some considerable delay in
 paying the legacies"
 sume?" said the rector. who had risen.
 and stood beside him. T am not fa-
 miiiar with legal terms" he added in
 low voice. "but gather that Mir.
 Forde has left considerable amount
 Of money"
 "considerabier' repeated Mir. Levin.
 rubbing his hands as he spoke. My
 dear sir. I think 1 am understating
 the matter when I say that our la-
 mented friend has left behind him an
 ' aAn immense fortune,- echoea Mir.
 Cave, startled out of his cautious
 whisper Into loud echo. rsn im-
 mensc fortune!"
 Mir. Levin nodded his headsas he
 began carefully to collect sundry stiff
 documents. He was preparing to ad-
 dress Miss Forde. who sat staring at
 him speechless and stunned.
 Overwhelmed by the shock. and
 Gmazement at the avalanche of wealth. the words of an immense fortune"
 mounted slowly and steadily into her
 brain like swelling tide. Fasting.
 
 unusual excitement. had already done their work. It needed but the stroke of an overpowerins announcement to
 sweep the mind into inconsistencies. The heiress rose. staggered for a mo-
 ment. and then fell back on the sofa,
 In desd faint
 Tldings of the contents of the will ran,, so to speak, open-mouthed about
 Shalesmoor. and old Forde's fortune
 increased with every hour--hAif a miilion---one million--two millions
 surely never had this unfamiliar word
 been more thoroughly hard-wcfked and enjoyed.
 Mrs. Loveiock, the dairyman's wife, buried Temporarily an ancient feud with Widow Stock at the shop, on the strength or all the money that was coming to their village. They took tea with Mrs. Jaggers, the sextons wife. and. after hearty meal of rabbit pie and soda cake. discussed the news ttil night fell,
 What would Miss do with it?" in. quired Mrs. Jaggers she never was
 Dne to Talk tpiay). and was like a settled fnsrried woman!r Happen she'll stay on in shales- moor. and keep up a. good house" suggested Mrs. Lovelock. More like she'll marry" suggested the widow. T would an I were her" Nay. she's not that kaate---she's never yet been tewed up wi men! Happen Jane Jubber'li be looking out. | now she has savings and brass" Nay though she has gotten great l savings she mayn't get note," declar- ed the widow with jealous emph asis. | "Is ta sureT said Mrs. JAggers:
 when hear of Jane having savings.
 and everything so pinched there I | a r.a Ca fr.
 | "Yees. sure" replied Mrs. Stock. l "pinched she may be--but she lends | money oot...
 "The legacies won't De handled till 1 back end of year," announced Mrs.
 Loveiock--..so old Luke says. He's
 feared to de afere evor he gits at his- | sen."
 The commotion in the village was not reflected In the Grange, where the | usual household routine had resumed l it's inonotonous rnnnd-the blinds had been drawn up. save in one room | where the heiress lay in. a dim light.
 with ,eau-de-Cologne bandages on her | forehead.
 In a day or two she was suficiently | restored to, be downstairs; she had | wrestied with herself, and done her
 best to clear her torpid brain and | grant an interview to Mir. Levin who had come from Sheffield. on purpose
 to confer with his wealthy client. | He was q brisk. cleap-snaven, eld- | erly man. who remembering his own | houseful of merry and aI-dowered | girls, felt certain amount of nity l for the friendless and desolate heiress She seemAd almost like a wrath, so
 thin. hollow-eyed, and white was | she.
 After a little commonplace conver- satlon. he entered upon business. Your fathers wealth must have come as a great surprise, to you. Miss 1 Forde."
 indeed. yes,r she answered. T al- ways understood that we could. barely
 make two ends meetl" For the last fifteen years Mir. Forte has put aside and invested almost the whole of a large income; he was lucky too besides being shrewd all Six years ago he disposed of his in- terest in the works for a large sum he has shares in 1t still--and it brings Into the estate four thousand a year" "I can scarcely realize It." she mur- mured. looking round the dark low parlour. with It's scanty old-fashioned fnrniture-once the property of Miss Steir--where bowl of roses. and her own shining hair, were the only notes of colour In the room. "He had become very saving of late years--it grows on a man, you know" lnlparted Mir. Levin with a confidential nod.
 Continued To-MorrOw.