Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-11

the doOr-knob-a sudden nre SloWeu
in his eyes-his lean, sinewy figure be-
gan to t,emble. q
Accept your grandfathers terms"
he urged. Marry me, Hazel, as he de-
sires! / offer myself as the means
whereby you can, at last, grasp your
Look upon me as q stick,
a stone, which you may use for that
supreme purpose, and then cast me
aside, If you will"
"Only as Heron's wife shall you have
the money!" cried my grandfather.
Refuse it and it will go to public char
tiles. Don't stand there, staring like
an idiot, girl! Take that which ofrer
YOU at once, or lose it forever"
Dreadful old man! He was as cruel
in death as he had been in life. Friend
less, homeless, disgraced, l stood up In
the temporary shelter of that DEATH
chamber, and the temptation to grasp
at any price my mothers inheritance
assailed me with tremendous FORCE 1
knew the power Of money--was not my
need of it very great? AS for marriage,
did it matter to whom l gave my mana
After Sir Griffin's desertion, could any
thing matter more?
BY some superhuman effort my
grandfather had raised himself on MS
pillow. and was looking over at me
with impatience.
"Time presses!" he said. Il cannot
wait for long deliberation-decide
quickly, girl. If you marry Heron II
must be now, and here. I will see the
ceremony with my own eyes before the
will is signed"
In Heavens name, don't, let your
last chance Slip" implored Heron IN
nv ear. Accept the fortune, Hazel!
I raised my voice recklessly.
"II will do as you wish, sir!' SAID.
Judge Ferrers fell back on his pill
lows.
Call the lawyer and the parson," l
heard him order.
Heron went to the door, and spoke
TO some one waiting in an adjoining
room. Immediately the lawyer re-en-
tered the chamber, followed by GrahaH
Vivian. The latter bowed to me, and
retired into the window recess.
The legal gentleman seated himself
by my grandfathers bed, at a little ia
BILE whereon pen, ink and paper had
been placed.
Write my last will and testament"
commanded Judge Ferrers.
Heron led me to a chair.
The lawyers, pen scratched rapidly
over the paper. l heard, without COM
pretending, his questions, asked IN a
professional tone, and my grandfathers
sharp, quick answers.
ITO Hazel, the only child Of my
daughter Constance, deceased, and to
her heirs and assigns forever, / give
and bequeath everything of which l
die possessed"-that was the pith OF II
all.
The will duly written, he listened
with keen attention while the lawyer
read 1t aloud.
Yes, that is right" he nodded, quite
right. Now, Mr. Vivian, it only re-
mains for you to marry my grand
daughter to Francis Heron, and VIII
sign this document
The housekeeper entered the room'
and some of the servants followed her.
As through a glass darkly l saw them
grouped about the door
Francis Heron took my unresisting
hand, and led me to the bedside. the
necessary license was produced-he
had obtained it somehow, In the time
consumed by the writing Of the Will.
Graham Vivian began the marriage
service.
listened, as to sounds far away.
There was a curious unreality about 1t
all. A few hours before l had been the
betrothed of Sir Griffin Hopewood-the
happy, envied creature who was TO
reign sovereign lady of Hope Hall In
far-off English Kent. Now l found
myself in a dreary death chamber, by
the side of that grim, dark Heron. to
whom / had never given thought
whose hand had but recently rejected,