Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-11-24
CHAPTER XIII.


| great family vault under the old church
in the park, where the Trenhams had
been buried from time immemorial. In
the long dining room, where the late mis-
tress of the house had sat each night to
| read the Holy Word to her stepson and
| her servants, the mourners were seating
| themselves now liz their sable garments
| with as noiseless a decorum as was OBJ
seryabe among the servants, yet perhaps
with the same inclination to let the nat
urat reproach, or jest, or compliment have
it's way.
Have the goodness to tell Mr.. Tren-
| ham that we wait for him"
The guests had all seated themselves
| in attitudes more or less expectant, and
| Mr. Marshall, of the firm of Marshall &
| Sullivan, solicitors of high and wide re-
| pute, raised his eyes from the sealed
packet in his hand to give this order to
| the grave old butler who fingered at BIS
| bidding.
Il will go.p said Dr. vere rising quiet
FIVE minutes ago"
1.-THE will = exclaimed Rourke, when
his friend overlook him sauntering to-
ward the Den, his black coat discarded
for loose gray one, while, but for that,
he wore his deep mourning. 81 declare
| had forgotten all about it. What is
the use of it. except to the legatees? Let
Newley go in; he is sure to have been re-
membered"
'Newley is there. He was among the
first to go in. Trust him." said We're,
with unusual bitterness. But of course
you must come Trenham. Mr.. Marshall
will not read the will until you do"
why? What has my stepmother's
will to do with me? She would not
even care to leave me ring out of her
what | inherit. Go without me, We're.
| am sick of all to-day's form and cere-
mony."
"No; every one expects you to come,
Ronrke. Now change your coat again.
Here. Brent has brought H."
what bore you are. Brent" said his
master. carelessly. as he threw the gray
jacket on one of the hall tables. Leave
it there | shall don it again when the
comedy is over"
Then the two friends went in and took
their seats among the crowd, and Mr..
Marshall adjusted his eyeglasses and
broke the seals of his late clients will.
For seven minutes the lawyer read on
uninterrupted; the one fact of great in
justice glaring through the technical terms
and legal complications. To himself
Rourke kept repeating a few of the I'M
necessary and senseless words with which
the deed was interlarded. while the great
y Il
pestuous sea which could not reach him
yet.
Among the other listeners there was a
breathless suspensive silence eand th
eyes of most were cowardly, and fixed up
on the floor; avoiding, above all. Rourke
Trenham's face avoiding even Newley's,
too. And when Mr.. Marshall raised his
head. though not his eyes, and fussily
wiped his glasses. there was no guest
but rose relieved to quit the room, and
talk or think the matter over quietly.
"Mr Trenham. hope with all my heart
that no such unpleasant task as this will
ever fall to my shae again
Rourke had advanced 20 the table. and
now was half sitting 81 it, looking down
upon the parchmenth. 1t signified little
He had not waited for that.
Tell me how it is, in your own words
lin words Of straightforward common
sense. My-my head is hsa bewildered-
l think. by those meaningless phrases you
have been giving us-meaningless. aren't
they?"
Hardly, Mr.. Trenham," said the law
yer. making an endeavor to speak jest
ingly: 1.-THE whole thing is far from mean
ingless. | fear
'TThen you tell me-what is it? That
my fathers property has all been left by
his widow to"
ITO Horton Newly, yes" rejoined Mr.
Marshall. hurriedly; e daring injustice
but. unfortunately. correct. and legal be-
yond dispute"
Legal" echoed Rourke. slowly. How
can such deed be legal? Athol, was
she madir For Athol We're was standing
beside him now. pale as he was. but
without the restless fire in his eyes.
Dear fellow. | never was her physi-
clan. She had Thorne at first. then sent
to London"
"She was sane and sound of mind be-
yond ali doubt, DIR. We're said Mr.. Mar
SHALL gravely: ''sane-however unjust
when she left Hohve TO Horton Newley"
''But il is only for his life. Rourke; re
member that" put in Athol. eagerly. as
he watched the pallor of Rourke's face
and the unnatural brilliance OF his eyes;
only for his life. then it all reverts TO
you. He can have no heirs of his own.
Ii all goes back to the rightful owner
then
Then :" echoed Rourke. with swift,
short laugh. YES, then. And-and what
else did you read. Marshallr'
LAY. sure enough" struck in old Digby
Surle, joining the group. What did the
woman will TO her husbands son? Tell
us again: though for thar matter | think
it wss all plain enough as you read IL
YES: tell us again" repeated Rourke.
looking steadily. though still half bewil-
tered. into old Digby's face. What
crumbs fall to my sharey
Mr.. Trenham.' explained the lawTer.
turning with relief TO Mr.. Surle. instead
of the young man at the table near him.
NH rrenham inherits the estate OF Win
ter6eld, with an income OF Ave hundred
year.
And who-who.- repeated Rourke. the
hewiiderment seeming TO grow upoa him
in his intense suppressed excitement
who inherits Hchve, and my fathers
propertyT'
"Rourke. dear fellow whispered Athol.
earnestly. Come out with me q little
Don't talk any more Of that z Il
Rourke turned his white. Passionate
face and looked at his friend with anoth-
er laugh. as that yoa. Athol. Are ron