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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1900-10-05, Page 7•„.,,,e exereparveaaelTerearalertaerl! THE BONA TIMES OCTOBER 5, 1160, 15 1 d: • cl 4 Copyright, 1898, by iTeanxtotte F.I. Walworth. WraXella, deli You see?" . "What steps Cou1a I tape that would: not relied Ilpolt a dead main IIQW Mild I stir in tills platter without held - Olivia's father up for criticism"— worse, contlewltatiou? And as lacking fora Wraxall with no• other clew than this apeent scrap Of paper Weald be hopeless l will only say we Must welt for one to turn up." "The lawyers ers would unearth - a baker's dozen of theta at the drat hue Mid cry of defective title." '"There will be no hue and cry. The lawyers have nothing to do with this business, With my consent they uever shall. Cull It my wedding gift to Oli- via. There is nothing in the agreement debarring a gift, I used to thins: she liked the old place. I will be glad to think of her as Its mistress." The sharp shriek of the locomotive sounded near at hand. file sprang up and seized his bag. Westover detain- ed him with a Maud ou his shoulder. "Let it rest at that for the present. We are friends, Broxtot?" "leriends." said Tom, looking down into the other man's honest eyes. "1 leave Mahideville richer by that much." The grasses of a mouth's growth. waved their swordlike blades about I3orace Matthews' grave before 011ie would consent to see any one but Miss AIalvina. Tlteu a somewhat imper'ative note from Clarence compelled her from her seclusion. He was going to meet his father and mother in Paris, be wrote, and, while there he might .exe- cute many coumie;siols for her. "Jeanne and mother would be so glad to buy all your wedding tlne;y for you, and as soon as they all get back wy dear little girl and het• devoted lover will be made one." To this 011ie returned' a very short answer: Dear Clarence—Please come to see me this even- ing. 1 have something to say to you before you start for Paris. And Westover obeyed the summons. She lookftl so pale and wan, so unlike his vivid, tiivliiant Olivia, as she came toward him in her plain black robe that be was codsci'bus of a. shock to his aesthetic nerves. "By Jove, my dear girl, 1 don't want to say anything unfeeling. but I hope you are not going to wear black any great length of time! I never could see how it evinced respect or affection for the dead, and it certainly does play the mischief with some women." "You mean• that I look hideous.: I know I do." "Of course I don't. Somehow or oth- er, 011ie, you have a talent for making my words mean the ugliest possible to them." "That would be terrible if we were mau and wife and were always misun- derstanding each other." - Westover laughingly said, "Pretty bad indeed." "It would be much better not to get married. wouldn't it, Clarence?" She was twisting her slim fingers in and about each other. Glancing down at them, be noticed. with a start, that they were ringless. He looked at her. Her eyes were fastened on her clasped hands. Ile touched the finger that had been encircled by his ring of betrothal. "What does that mean, Olivia?" She opened her hands and showed him the ring clasped in her palms. She diel not look at him as she answered in a slow, dull voice: "4 means that I want you to take it back, Clarence. and give it to some girl who will make you happier than I could. It means that 1 don't Want your mother and Jeanne to buy me anything, because—because-there will be no wedding." • She laid the ring in his hand with a little gasp, then sat quite still: He stared at it dumbly for a moment, the hot, indignant blood mouuting higher into his temples every second. "Would you object to being a little more explicit?" he asked presently, with biting coolness. "I take it for granted you have some' reason or some- thing you call a reason for this re- markable change of mind." Her Ups quivered piteously. The hot tem'pered young yellow, stnartine un- der n hurt to his pride. took no nate of it. He waited in cold silence. "I have made up my mind never to marry at all, Clarence. 1 am going to live like Miss AIalvina. At first it won't seein at all nice, but I'll soon get wrinkled and' old, and fay hair will fall out, and life will grow smooth, and 1 won't care for anything but making beef ice for poor people and going to church. Miss Malvina is a much happier woman than 1." A laugh, fuller of mockery than of mirth. broke up the decorous still- ness of the house. Mindful of his• grog itig wrath, Westover clutched frantically at a scapegoat. , "Oh. 1 see! You are tinder spinster tuition at present. 1 fancy Miss Spill- ,man's temptations to commit matri- mony have not been numerous or ir- resistible." He bad rather hoped that she would Mune outat hint with her old willful- ness and defiance of contradiction. Instead she answered with a forbear- ing ing meekness which made him stare. Ile would have pitied her .lf he had known how hardly it Was won. "Please don't say anything unkind about Aiiss Malvina, ail -Fence. She will be the only friend 1 have in the World after you ge awny hating me." - His mood was stili resentful. �b ,1{ he said, with an unpleasant smile. "Ypu forget" "I forget?" "Broxton. He is a grand fellow, a most formidable rival, but 1 teas not jttst prepared to and him in the field." "Clarence l" She flung out her hands toward him Imploringly. Her cry Was one of Min- gled pain and indignation, Belonging, as Westover did, to the school of for'- . ersWho abjttre 'rotttnntie1snt tied esehe\t' heroics, it fell Mien unplaeat• ed ears. y'Thit. tat deer stirs,. do trs to be tied* :�.es,• A I " A A• 16 ,A p• e• i,; you as 'between Interested parties, and "Ilroxton, I take off my hat to you, .yet"-- : Auy man who can talk that way in Tom relaxed a little under the eve face of—in face of -1 wish you liked dent distress In the handsome face be- Pie better. By dove, I do! It would fore him. . make ate esteem myself higher to have ""1 think I see whet'e the difculty you call me friend." comes in, I gather that the‘papeC you Tom's essentially sweet soul was not hold in your hand has some bearing on proof against the winning smile that the old house, You are afraid that Its `vent with these disarming words, The late discovery will cast discredit on the gloom. lifted frotn his sad face. Fie father of your future wife. It makes, even smiled as be answered frankly: you hesitate." ! "I like you vastly better than I did "Precisely, This paper contains in, i half an hour ago. Westover. Will that formation upon which the lawyers ' do for a begInning'i" could build up a very formidable case ' "Thanks, It is a gain. I will put of Braxton versus Westover. It is en- It down on my credit side. But to re- tit'ely at your disposal. 1 will not keep turn to the business in hand. Broxton you in suspense while 1'exi)lain bow it ' Rall is yours. No one, not even it caste Into lny possession. That part Of Wraxall, could disturb your posses - the story can waft." scan ok it." Ile laid the paper in Thomas' ex- ; "Yes, to return to the business In tended hand and walked away toward hand." Fot' a moment Tom's blood the dusty paned window. 11there was rioted In triumph. His eyes flashed with the joy of knowing the old place 1 his own once more. But this phase passed rapidly, la What would It avail him to take back the old place now? It had been sold to ' defray his expenses in obtaining an education. He had spent all that it had realized long since. And these men had spent honest money in au Honest Purchase, so'far as they knew. Ire had gat beyond the dreainl'ul stage of exist- ence. At one time Olivia and Broxton Hall were the twin objects of itis adore - 1 tion. With Olivia married to another 1 man the old Hall would be a desolate abiding place. His work lay far away in another state. His work was all that was left I to him 113 life. Ise was glad he liked it 1 and that he was forging rapidly to the 1 front as an inventor. The great dis- 1 appointment which had darkened all I the world for biro did not lie in the loss I of his wealth. He had already come to I look on that as a blessing in disguise. He rather enjoyed owing everything to "Exactly to. Itis entailed." his own brahr and brawn. But Olivia -- an atom of vindictiveness in the fel- ah, that was another matter; that was low's nature. he reflected anxiously, the one irreparable loss that could ever befall him! No; matters must stand as _ here was a golden opportunity to get were. even with everybody. Furtively watch- theyDoubtless Olivia as \Vestover's. wife bo the ciou ly ov brows shorttot were • and mistress of Broxton Hall would do Exton dint usly over the Miss docs- better by the old place than he, a sour- itt, that had so contindued Aiiss meMnta ed anchorite, possibly could. He was na, Westover continued his mental notes , taking his final leltye of the old neigh - "His self control is superb. It Is borhood. Nothing could ever induce him to revisit the place. He turned to really beyond his years. That square Westover with a wintry smile. lower jaw of his is set like a steel trap. ""I coved not consent to recleim Brot- aw e is that. impossible to a man with rr ton Hall unless 1 could repay the mon- from like that. The world will bear e`, you have expended on it. That 1 from Broxton yet. What a young Her- am very far from bele; able to do even •eules he is! Ile would be a handsomeeif 1 should desire to do it." ,. dog if the gloom in his eyes would Westover looked seriously ember- . iIft." rassed. At which point in his summary "Perhaps I rim going ahead of the ;Thomas turned grave eyes toward hounds. I menu I ought to have wait- gertapping the. paper with cue fin- ger. ed to bear from father before outlining, ger. my course. I • can still do that, must "Then. according, to this, no one had 111, but that paper was burning a` a right to sell Broxton Hall. I could Dole in my pocket. Every time 1 looked Lot have sold it myself." at you I called myself a thief.. By Jove, "Exactly so. It is entailed. I sup 1 did, Broxton!" pose that came from tile primogeniture Tom's great gray eyes sent.a lance notions of its Lnglish builder." through him. He blushed and laughed "I suppose so." Tom asserted. 'rte nervously. Hall was. built by an Englishman who . "01. as for that, I'll say it was be - ;was my grandfather's partner in busi cause you put the ocean between you hes. Ile lived there, and several them and her at a critical moment. I never hers of "his family lie in our family could have won In a fair stand up, grounds." even race, Torn. Clirls are odd tricks. Westover seated himself and brought Olivia is tremendously fond of you. his heat!. close to Tom's to inspect That t !every was all fair." the paper again. "'Arid you per. t't' "You have won the sweetest and ceive .that this document' is a signed clearest girl on earth. I believe I am and properly attested agreement be- glad we have had this talk, Westover. tween. your grandfather and the said It has given me n clearer conception of Englishman that its conditions shall the good in you. I am glad She has be binding upon his successors. 1 take chosen so well. It is not likely I will 'it that bold, handsome signature mechosen return to Mandeville. There is der the first crabbed one is that of your father, Rufus N. Broxton." nothing to bring imp here. The place is ' the cemetery of all my hopes. So you "Yes, written by him, I suppose; must let me offer my congratulations when he came lute possession of the •now. Is the day fixed?" property. binding himself not to sell "No. You see, there's been a. great and binding himself to bind me." deal else on her mind—ours, I may say have done the same thing" when you came in you would -father in Europe, mother in bad :' health and all that. But I've never "Most assuredly. 'rhe conditions told you bete i came by that saner." were not at all unrensonnl)le• It sins "Miss Malvina told me the whole ply binds each successive BroCton not story. There is nailing for you to tell to sell Broxton—or, as it was then call - ply ed, Wraxall—Hall to any one but a 'Westover Bushed hotly. • Wraxall, this by reason of the several j "She was afraid i mould not keep members of the family left on Amen my word about giving it back." can sail." "Not at all. She bad other papers to plate. tc to res ofn , impatient- rentories Chu ruse nodded his baud rasp give me, in ly. • a sort of revised entail." etc." "They were entirely Within theft i "Yes. I remember.. By Jove. Brox- rights to Millie such conditions as they ton, you must have gone It at a pece Brox- those, illy •people were at liberty to reject or indorse them."while yeti were et eollege to get "And no one but a Wraxall. actin. ithrough with everything!" "t)oebtless 1 did," said Tom, looking In koncert with a Broxton, could ; ivt fbard at the dingy, fireless stove at We t good title to the property.t ' other end of the waiting room. "So It would seem from this paper.' "But father says you are to be con- gratutated.' . "That makes "things interesting for .•Upon w"at?" „ 0 an p "Upon andme, father ;dl n ' s yishould never have known of the ex- , ing about that invention of yours. INV, what yeti claim for sile,- ' ii`t yQitrsel1 to my dace, i'or over a year now I have been your attained husband, ready to marry you whenever you would consent to tlx the day. Vint your father Inter- posed his loneliness: and your youth tis arguments for delay. Then Ms sick- ness ick ness trod death prolontaed the term of probation. At last, when by the most patient calculations I consider myself approaciring the goal,, 1 ani met with tire- rather unexpected piece of Infor- mation that you have. decided you do not want to marry anybody." "I !.now—I know. It sounds abso- lately insane. It is not worth puzzling over. 1 1101 not worth grieving about, You won't for very long." She was wiping the tears from her. eyes with a gentle alr of resignation which quenched the fires of West- over's temper as nothing else could. Isis voice had a kinder tone in it witen he said: ""Perhaps I have come to you too soon after your bereavement. dear. You can thins* of nothing but your father �1C�6t1LL,EN'S P NET 1_ 1,1 -, nd LAWN F N W G' rue aro not surpassed ill the WOULD. Their Woven d'ir'e Pencinga Immo s i;tood over fifteen yei"r..y of vee sueoes � � `ti, " •;� i r,a ; teetiiu on 1' RI1 and RAILWAY. . ,'p0C'irtloil'larsrnatiethis year on ,ill J�, rsl.7E'G. These goods are all manufactured by The Ontario Wire Fencing Coe, Limited, of Pintail, Ung,. F • Hardware Merchants and General. Dealers throughout Cat:ada. For sale by the . Gen,. Agents—The 13, Greening Wire Co., of Iiarnilton and. Montreal. 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"It is very good of you, Clarence, to try to make excuses for a woman who has treated you so badly, but if you were to give me a year and another year on top of that and still another one it would make no difference in the end. I am not going to marry anybody —ever." Ile got up with the discarded be- trothal ring crushing against the flesh of the hand that inclosed it. His face was very pale. His eyes burned an- grily. "You have puzzled me considerably by denying that either Miss Spillman or Broxton is behind this remarkable cbauge of mind and plans. I have not thought you a capricious woman. I fancy you think you are doing your du- ty to some one in some way. 1 want no unwilling bride. I shall come back to you when I return from Europe and ask you once more to marry me, only once more. If our parting is rather unsatisfactory, please bear W mind that it is your fault, not mine." ""Yes,'I.,know. It is my fault, all my fault. Please go now, Clarence." He did not: move. Perhaps even now she was repenting of her strange ca- price. She lookede,at him almost tim- idly. He was sure the was tryiug to frame her retraction. He was formu- lating the most becoming style of rec- onciliation when, with a swish of her long black draperies. she disappeared through a side door. it porfunity to develdp f' "Iti strangethat my Verdian l lstenee of this paper." Cher says It It Is w fl y teA long silence fell between the two It will revolutiadtze the entire system ns. Tom broke it witha loyal dc- of electric lighting In all the big cities. lesser of the dead. and will make an everlasting fortune "But then I don't know, It Is but for you!' inlm 'for it," a small scrap of paper, easily lost '"I think it is all that I e tl So among the many he !tad to heard. Ile bald the young inventor q ietlu mHO 'teas my father's friend. no was 011 • j Constittecl bus watch. M5 t tit's father. Presse to his ashes! Let bo late." Ile had folded the paper his mistakes 'sleep with him in the neatly and note handed it back to grove and be forgotten sooner." Westover, wise declined to tape it. *We 0t) lover impulsively !stet tM hand "It lA not mine, two dear feilo%". 1 upon the one that rested on Tom's have no claim at all to it. It is yours. knee. Ills tine oyes shone with tip' predation of the magnanimity em• Whitt are you going to 40 ahem It?" bodied in that defense of the dead "This." Ite tore it into small bits. ""ries; lint, my clear tion ilntxote, the malt. your latent talents. We have been retd• THE TIBIIES announces the fol- lowing clubbing offers for 1900.1901 : Tines till end of 1901, - Times and Weekly Globe, with picture, "The Can- adians at the Battle of Paardeber-g," till fan. 1st, 1902, - • - - • Times and Weekly Witness, - - Times and . Family Herald and Weekly Star with premium - - - Times and Weekly. Mail and Empire, Times and Western Advertiser, Times and Weekly Sun, Times and Daily Globe, Times and Toronto Daily Star, Times and Farmers' Advocate, CHAPTER XVIII. TILE NEGATIVE Or YEARS AGO. ""Olivia." "Well?" "What on earth have you done with it?" Miss Malvina was crocheting one of those mysterious receptacles which ev- ery woman makes and no woman uses when she asked that direct question with a. face full of auiazerp.ent- Olivia was writing;. somethigg-''`in ber diary which wile! Lottes5odld not have made her reveal whiatl it ,..was asked. She glanced acres/ the ta1'le.,,to find the wide eyes,,A1' the crocheter filed upon her deb'lided third finger. e, ""I have given it back to 11 Ir. We'9t- over," she said and bent her bead qurs. ickly 9 to don thide the mean importunate mtounder- stand"— "That our engagement 1s broken oil? Yes, I do. Please drop the subject." Miss Malvin. flushed an unbecoming red and looked 'eery unhappy. "1 can't but think, Olivia"— she began In an in. jured voice. "I know -1 know exactly what you think. You mean that, seeing you are trying to he father, mother, friend and brother to Inc all in. one, sod -dear, good Miss Malvine, you are entitled to more respectful tredtmenta,.•P think so too. r ec ts. some subjects. • on son j But it is bard to tail, I have just nitide up my mind that 1 don't want,•tt marry anybody. I think Sou areetlte wisest wotnnn I know. 1 am going to do just like you." "Oh, but, my dear,' you just ean'tl" "Cannot?" uentirely No. Fou see filings are dif- ferent With you. Some women are put into the world just to fill tip chinks— substitutes. as it were, for better things that are unattainable. 'that's tae. The that the n so t 3' plain. makes them Lord n shan't be tempted by man's homage to forget what they are put here for, and meek, so that they. shall not disdain their mission. I'rn only a chink tiller. my dear. Other wotnen he makes so pretty that they mast be loved, so tender that they must be hovered un -1 der sheltering wings, so sweet that it is happiness just to do for then. That is you. You could no more fill my place, 011ie, than I could fill yours." 011ie looked at her disconsotdtelt, ""To, I don't suppose there is any chink in the world so small that I could fill it respectably." "NO, Mit you can have your pick nn' $1.1c) 1.60 1.60 175 1.75 1.40 1.75 4.35 2.75 1.90 We could extend the list, but it is not necessary. We can give you clubbing rates for any newspaper or magazine published. Every subscriber will receive a copy of the hand- some illustrated TIMES ChRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT. The advance in the price of paper, having to pay postage'and having a higher rate from publisher, the clubbing rates have been increased in some instances. The above are our FIXED rates, marked down so as to admit of no reduction. There- fore there is no use asking for cheaper rates. 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