The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-01-13
UNCLE JACOBS WILL
by Il. w. Gerritson.

man in the massive rocker leaned
sill htly forward, his chin in his
hand, deep in thought. Now and
then he smiled compassionately as
ominous noises from the rooms
above indicated that the searchers
were still persistent. For him the
search was ended; the will reposed
safely in the breast pocket of his
coat.
Somehow his cousins, the search
ers, imagined that the old uncle had
bequeathed his all to their branch
of the family, in which case the
shares would be much NOR substan-
tial than If he had died intestate,
thus benefting that despised other
branch, the children of the dead
mans sister The young man in
meditation before the fire was a
member of that other branch. ="
How they would rave, those pre-
cious cousins of his, when they learn
ed that he, Richard Blake, was sole
heir and legatee, Well, it would
serve them right; they were too
grasping And yet, were they not
excusable? They all had large fam
lilies and seemed very much in need.
He remembered that Cousin Johns
wife had on very shabby gloves, and
her gown was much worn and fad
ed.
Then he fell to thinking of him
self; of how much he would enjoy
the old place; of how he would enjoy
taking up the life of country squire
where Uncle Jacob had laid it down.
And Amy would help him to enjoy 1t.
Amy, with her soft, dark eyes and
gentle manner, would make an ideal
wife for a squire. And those others
would go on needing, more and
more, probably as the years rolled
on. Amy would always feel sorry
for that; he knew she would. Oh,
II Uncle Jacob only had died intes-
tate-if-he-only-had! He sat
upright in his chair with start; the
thought was as sudden as it was
quiXotic.
"Joye!" he whispered, why not?"
With an equal share of the estate
and his own earnings as a success
full architect, he need not fear for
Amy and himself. They would have
enough; oh, quite enough. The law
yer who drew up the will was dead;
the witnesses were scattered and
would probably never know.
why not?" he whispered again.
He cast a hurried look about the
room then drew the will from his
pocket. He spread 1t open and look
ed once more upon his right, then
laid it on the fire. The flame flared
up and lit the room with itsbrillian-
cy. The portiere clicked and the
man turned to meet Amy's wonder
laden eyes. Their glance wandered
from his face to the paper on the
fire. Last Will and Testament"
stared at her in big bold script. Like
a stricken thing she turned and fac
ed the man.
you have burned your uncles
will" she exclaimed, breathlessly.
The man nodded his head.
There was a moment of impress
i've silence, then the girl spoke again.
There was no anger in her voice,
only deep, heart-wrung sorrow.
"Oh, l am grieved, grieved!" she
moaned. 81 had thought you so far
above such greed Think! think!
Richard, what you have done; robb-
ed your cousins of their right! Can't
you speak," she implored. Cant
you say something in exoneration OF
your action?"
A stubborn anger awoke within
the man. If Amy chose to think
the worst of him-well let 1t be
so.
81 have nothing to say" he re-
piled doggedly.
Nothing to say" she could not
stifle the scorn that crept into her
voice.
Nothing" he repeated. "And
suppose suppose need not hope
-"
NO" she said wearily, you need
not hope-after that"
He bowed and left the room. The
girl controlled her feelings until she
heard the front door close, then
kneeling by the chair where the man
had sat, she sobbed out her grief.
Presently she raised her head and
looked again at the evidence Of her
lovers crime. A part of the docu-
ment had been detached by the
draught of the fire and lay at the
edge of the CRATE, the heavy parch-
ment still glowing like a coal, the
writing vividly distinct. She looked
at it indifferently at first, then leaned
forward eagerly. And, because he
has never harassed me, nor sought
to advise or influence me in any way
| do hereby bequeath all my pro-
perry to my beloved nephew, Rich
ard Blake" she read, ere the ember
shrivelled.
"Oh, I'm afraid" she walled,
then rushed to the front door and
threw it open.
Richard! Richard" she called,
and an owl in the dead pine by the
barn answered.
Richard" she called again, and
out from the shadows came Richard
aud folded her in his arms.
"You know, Amy, you known" he