Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-04-15

| he has now ample resources to enable
him to indulge in all such social pleasures
as he may desire. Both his mother-in-law
and his daughter have now for so long
made him the first consideration in the
house that it was little wonder the Wis
count should have developed certain in
doent sefishness. On one point only has
Mrs. Lyme Wregis been firm. Not only
has she been resoute against any en-
croachment upon such capital as was left
TO her, but she has further informed the
ViScount that, though she has left all her
property between him and his daughter,
it is so tightly tied up that he will never
be able to touch it in any way. AS she
laughingly told him, there was no estate
in the kingdom so big that it would not
slip through his spendthrift fingers; and
Lord Iakington quite acknowledged the
justice of the remark.
Why" he excIaims, 81 believe it will
come off Here is another life gone
one of the last four remaining in--and,
strange to say. the nominator thus put
out of it the only one | knew, Hemming-
by, the lessee of the Vivacity Theater.
This is getting exciting. Here l am,
one of three. in a sweepstake of a hun
dred and sixty thousand pounds. There
is only that lawyer fellow down in Wales
and a maiden lady somewhere; and, by
the way, Hemmingby told me some
months ago that her dividends for the
last two years have remained in abey-
ance. Her nominee has mysteriously dis
appeared She cannot show him to be
alive. nor. on the other hand, can the
directors in any way prove that he is
dead-a most inconvenient old vagabond
to go wandering about at his time of life
and leave no address. His inconsiderate
disappearance will probably protract the
ultimate wind-up of the affair, and occa-
sion no end of trouble Even f my dear
old mother-in-aw is the last known life
left in. | suppose the directors will ex-
pect me to trace out where this vagrant
old sinner made an end of it,
At this juncture his reflections were
broken by the opening of door. and a
strikingly pretty girl entering the room.
gaily exclaimed, Good morning. papa,"
greeted him with an affectionate kiss. and
proceeded to decorate his button hole with
a flower.
Good morning. Beatrice" he replied
as he carelessly returned her caress "and
how is grandma amma after her last nights
dissipation?'
'Oh. she is quite WELL and enjoyed
her evening immensely. You are always
so nervous about her catching cold; but
she is a wonderful woman, remember,
and younger than many twenty years her
junior All. letter from Jack" ex-
claimed the young lady as she took her
seat at the breakfast table. and turned
over her correspondence "He says he
shall be in town to-day, and wishes to
know if we will give him some dinner on
Friday. OF course we WILL Shall you
be at home, papa?"
"No: | am sorry to say I have an
engag agement. | wish it was not so, for |
| am very fond of the boy One ought |
to be on good terms with ones heir, al |
though poor Jack won't come into much |
beyond the title
"And not that for many years. we
hope, papa dear. But your affairs have
come round so much of late that in
very few years now you will be quite
rich man again"
Lord Lakington accounted for the in
crease of income he had latterly derived |
from the Great Tontine" in such wise.
His stepmother and daughter although |
they might casually have heard of the big
lottery, had not the faintest idea that he
was interested in it. nor that the improv
ed state of his affairs was based upon
such precarious tenure.
well. ! suppose it is nice for him."
observed the young lady, as she continued
the perusal of her cousins letter. "He is
appointed to ship. He is going to the
Mediterranean on a three years cruise,
and l don't see that that's thing he
ought to be so delighted about
Don't talk nonsense, Trixie." replied
the Viscount. Jack is fond of his pro-
fession, and has earned the reputation of
being smart officer of course he is glad
to be employed again
But he says. papa, he shall be away
for three years"
We'll, and what if he is? There is no
particular hardship in it. He is going,
besides to lovely climate"
1T is all very well to say So" rejoin
ed the girl, "and | dare say you would
not mind it; but l am sure Jack will
feel it acutey."
You know, Trixie. / should miss you
very sorely if anything should part u.s."
rcjoined the Viscount. Just because he
has petted and spoilt you ever since you
ere little bit of a thing, don't imagine
he cannot do without you"
81 think he will do very badly, papa"
replied the girl Jack is extremely for
tunate. He has me; and, now | reflect
upon it, l really begin to feel very sorry
for him."
(To be continued.)