CHAPTER II. ( Continued. )
"You are Mr. Rowtoii's er broth
er ? " she asked , without replying to my
remark.
"No , " I answered ; "I am his Junior
partner. "
"He Is ill , I helleve ? "
"He has been 111 , but Is recovering.
He was not able to come today. " I
added , with a shade of pique in my
mind. Was she regretting that I had
( taken the place of Rowton , who was
probably well known to her.
"I am sorry for his illness , " she
said , "but glad that he that that "
stammering and sitting down sudden
ly I think because she was trembling
too much to stand. "Mr "
"Fort , " I suggested quietly.
"Mr. Fort I beg your pardon , " she
said , hurriedly ; "but the time Is so
short I am so anxious to say some
thing to you. I hardly know how"
with Increasing nervousness "but I
must say It. I" raising her eyes once
more to mine "I think I may speak
to you. You will not think it strange. "
"I shall be only too glad to be of use
to you , " I responded , with hardly-re
pressed eagerness.
"Mr. Rowton , " she said more calmly ,
"Is prejudiced. You oh , I must say it
plainly have been sent for to make
my dear uncle's will ; we all know it it
is no secret. Mr. Fort , I want to tell
you that If if he should wish to put
me" a sweet faint flush dawned over
her pale cheeks Mn the place which
should be my cousin's Mr. Charles
Branscombe's I could never consent
to wrong him never ! It seems dread
ful to talk about it , I know , but there
is no other way. Will you say what
you can for Charlie Mr. Branscombo
and persuade my uncle not to do him
this Injustice ? I know that lawyers
can suggest a great deal at such times
and you see" wringing her hands In
Nona Stanhope Branscombe , spinster
and her lawful heirs in perpetuity foi
ever , for her sole and separate use
and independent of the control of anj
husband she may hereafter take , ani
on the condition that such husbanc
shall not bo Charles Umphelby Brans-
combe. "
These were the words dictated tc
mo in a flrm but faint voice by the dy
ing Colonel as I sat by the bedside tc
which I was hastily summoned earlj
in the morning succeeding my arrival
"All and absolutely. " There was nc
compromise in the words , no falter it
the sick man's tone , only perhaps s
sterner set of the pale lips as the fiat
went forth , showing that the hope
which had lingered so long in the
faithful old heart had died at last.
A silence followed , broken only bj
the sound of my pen as it traveled rap
idly over the paper , and , In spite ol
my promise of the previous night , not
a word of protest or amendment es
caped my lips. Was I not doing the
best I could for her ? I was conscious
of a little flutter at my heart as my
hand traced the words , "Nona Stan
hope Branscombe , " and for I was not
yet sufficiently practiced in my pro
fession to be hardened to such ex
periences of an oppressive sense oi
awe and solemnity overshadowing the
scene. It was indeed one of the most
solemn I have ever witnessed , before
or since.
The first gleams of the summer dawn
came through the open window and
fell full upon the stately figure of the
dying Colonel , as he lay -propped up
by pillows , on the large four-post bed
stead. The rosy light touched , with a
strange incongruous levity , the noble
features upon which was set the ma
jestic seal of the King of Terrors. On
one side of the Colonel's bed stood
the grave physician , his finger on the
THE FIRST GLEAM OF DAWN FELL UPON THE STATELY FIGURE OF
THE DYING COLONEL.
agony of earnestness "there is no oth
er chance. Charlie is not so so unworthy
Rowton thinks he is
worthy as Mr.
not , indeed ; and he has always be
lieved that he would be my uncle's
heir. I I could not take his place. It
would be wicked and base. I could
head if such a thing
never hold up my
were done. "
"It would not be your doing , " I sug
gested gently. "You would be blame
"
less. It Colonel Branscombe
estate to me 1
the
"If he , leaves
shall simply hand it over at once to
my cousin. You can tell my uncle so ,
" she exclaimed vehemently ;
Mr. Fort ,
" how useless it would
"then he will see
be. "
occurred tome
Two or three suggestions
heart to put
me but I had not the
them before her. If her intentiona
-were announced to Colonel Branscombe
lie might find another heir , less scru
pulous and disinterested , or he might
to his niece as
the bequest
so tie up
hand. With
to stay her too generous
the knowledge I had gained of Charlie
certainly
would
lie , the latter course
te'my advice , if so unlikely a chance
as being asked should occur.
best ? " entreated
"You will do your
Miss Branscombe.
"Yes , I will do my best , " 1 assented ,
guilty consciousness of
not without a
reservation which would
a mental
hardly have satisfied Miss Brans
combe had she guessed at it. The
opening of the door behind me and the
rustling of silk put an end to the tete-
a-tete. There entered a little old lady
with white hair , and the same shadow
of dread and anxiety which pervaded
the house lurked in her soft dark
eyes. "Mr. Fort my cousin , Miss
Elmslie , " said Miss Branscombe , doing
the honors with a quiet dignity which
covered her previous agitation. And
moment dinner was an
at the same
nounced.
CHAPTER III.
"My estates of Forest Lea and
Branscombe , moneys in funds , mort
gages , etc. , all and absolutely , with
the exception of the general legacies
aforementioned , In trust for my niece.
patient's pulse ; on the other a splen <
deerhound nestled his head against
master's cold hand. A group of ai
ious domestics hung together at I
end of the long room , out of earsh
and watched with silent but eager z
for the opportunity of rendering a
of the little last services to their ' ,
loved master.
The Colonel's voice broke the st
ness as I raised my head , at the ct
elusion of my task.
"This , my last will and testamen
he said with emphasis , "remains
your charge , Mr. er "
"Fort , " I interpolated quietly.
"Mr. Fort , " repeated the Color
"until the day of .jny funeral , when j
will read it to those concerned. "
"I accept the charge , " I said , and
I spoke the sense of awe and solemn
already upon me deepened , and ma
me feel the words to be a sacred pledf
Was it a foreshadowing of all whi
that trust was to Involve In the i
guessed future ?
"The signature , " I was beginnii
when a sign from the doctor stopi
me. I saw that Colonel Branscoinb
head had fallen back and that his ej
had closed. Had the end come , af
all , before Forest Lea could be sa\
from the ruthless hands of Char
Branecombe ?
It seemed so indeed for the next f
minutes ; then the efforts of the ski
ful physician proved successful , a
the ebbing life came slowly back aga
The eyelids quivered , the pallid II
moved.
Dr. Marshall beckoned me to 1
side.
"He cannot sign yet , " he whispen
Was he an adherent of Charlie
"Keep near at hand. We will call y
when he has rallied sufficiently for t
elfort. "
I retired unwillingly , I must cc
fess and the long day dragged slo i
on , without the summons which In
momentarily expecting. Miss Brai
combe and Miss Elmslie appeared
the breakfast table and did the horn
courteously but gravely. Eviden
they knew of the Colonel's more cr
ical state , and Miss Nona at least kc
something of what had taken place
his room that morning. I could scai
ly bo mistaken in thinking that
made more than one attempt to sp
to mo alone. She lingered about , lo
Ing listlessly from the windows wh
Miss Elmslio gave me a long historj
the Lea ; and , when the latter sett
herself finally at the writing ta
with a pile of unanswered letters
fore her , I certainly detected a looli
disappointment even of vexation-
the fair face of her young cousin.
Perhaps it was because of my
wonted idleness that I learned in
course of those twelve hours to r
every chang'e of expression in th
lovely features , and to know ev
one of them by heart. And had It
been that I had reasons of my ow
cogent ones for resisting the apr
in the wistful blue-gray eyes , I m
have acceded to the Invitation whlc
read only too plainly in them.
CHAPTER IV.
But how could I tell Miss Bra
combe that things were going exa <
contrary to her wishes , and that , t
without the faintest effort on my p
to stay their course ? How could I
her know that if only five minu
more of strength and power were
en back to the nerveless hand of
old man upstairs , she would most
suredly supplant her cousin Chai
and become the mistress of Forest 1
and Branscombe , and "all the Ian
messuages , and tenements thereu
appertaining ? " I was a coward ,
know , but I could not bring myself
run all the risks of the disclosure
to change the confidence with wh
she had honored me into distrust
indignation.
And there was something dangero
ly sweet in the secret understand
with this lovely young girl the YI
embodiment of innocence and pur ;
as she appeared to me a very Una
deed. I was thoroughly converss
with the ordinary type of "socie
young ladies ; I had flirted with a c
tain number of nineteenth-centi
young women ; and although with ,
I now knew , a large reserve-fund
genuine sentiment in my nature
draw upon , I had never yet b <
tempted to idealize one of the fr
mannered sirens , who called me by i
propriate nicknames , wrested fl
pound notes from me with "stand a
deliver" determination at bazaa
betted and won brooches and glo'
at Hurlingham and Sandown. I I
never been in love sometimes I i
lieved I never should be. I will i
say that I had not sometimes benez
the light , frothy surface a regret
hankering after the supreme i
perience missing from my thirty je ;
of life.
Miss Nona Branscombe came up
me as a revelation a thing apart fn
all my exemplars of her sex.
dwelt in a shrine of her own , the sa :
already of my deepest devotion.
Towards evening an answer to a t
egram I had dispatched to the off
was put into my hands. It was fn
Mr. James Rowton , our second in co
mand , who had returned unexpectec
from the Continent. He bade me :
main at Forest Lea until the busim
on which I had been summoned \ \
satisfactorily concluded. This reliev
me of all responsibility or anxiety
to my absence from town , and Iv
glad. I was curious , I said to mys
to see the play played out nothi
more. It was a matter of professioi
interest and experience , not persoi
by any means.
Miss Branscombe watched me as
read the message , her face pale to t
lips. She was in that state of ni
vous excitement when everythi
ilarms. I hastened to explain.
"My partner has come back fn
Germany , " I said. "It is a relief
know that he is in London again ,
tiad not expected him so soon ; a
Mr. Rowton , senior , Is still confined
iis room. "
( To be continued. )
ODD BITS
yt Change Left by- Customers Help O
the Cashier's Salary.
Philadelphia Inquirer : Odd bits
; hange thoughtlessly left by custome
form no inconsiderable part of t
ncome of cashiers in certain busine
jstablishments , notably restauran
ialoons , cigar stores and similar plac
; vhere , during many hours of each da
: here is a steady rush of patrons ,
jet $15 a week salary , " said , a cashi <
'and I always count on an addition
> 3 , or 50 cents per day , through fc
; otten change. I do not consider th
! am doing anything dishonest , eith <
> ecause I always make an effort to s
: ract the customer's attention to t
'act that he is leaving his change b
lind. Nine cases out of ten I succee
> ven if I have to send a waiter to fc
ow the man clear out Into the strei
But there are enough of the ten
: ases to make my receipts foot up i
> f the sum weekly I have named. Ti
najority of them are people In a hu
y to catch a train or car or to ke <
in appointment , and they haven't tl
line to return , even if they did disco
sr their loss a square or so away. Ti
lext day they don't care , or at least
najority of them do not.to speak abe
such a small matter , the overlook *
ihange seldom being more than five '
en cents , and I am just so mu <
ihead. The proprietor .get It ? Certai
y not. It doesn't belong to him , ai
ust so the money in the cash draw
) alances with the register he is sa
Efied. " The presiding geniuses of th
itrical box offices are also occasio ;
illy in pocket through the carelessne
if ticket purchasers , but with box o
ice transactions the change , if an
s usually in such large amounts th
: heir opportunities are fewer and fa
her between.
Task of Porming the Same Oonsidon
Difficult One ,
TWO PREMIERS SHUN THE WO
Urlsson Contents Himself with Expresi
of Good AVl-Oien M lllnu Falls to
IIow Ho Can Help Pressure Upon (
Imlr-l'orler to / O opt the 1'ortfolli
War Ilia Co-operation Needed.
PARIS , June 19. President Lou
received in audience early this mo
ing M. Casimir-Perier , former pr <
dent of France , and consulted w
him regarding the ministerial cri
The interview terminated about
o'clock , after which M. Loubet
ceived Senator Pierre Waldeck-R
seau. The latter , it Is understood , I
made his acceptance of the task
forming a cabinet conditional ui
the co-operation of M. Caslmir-Pei
and certain sections of the ch.m
of deputies , which he hopes to secv
He has consulted with several stat
men and has had a very long conf
ence with M. Lepine , former pref
of police of Paris.
M. Waldeck-Rosseau is meet
with considerable difficulty , but he
pears determined. He will confer w
M. Loubet again , probably tomorr
morning , before submitting a di
list of colleagues.
Of the three former premiers wh
he has consulted , Maurice Rouvi
who was president of the council
ministers and minister of finance
1887 , alone consented to take a pc
folio. Felix Meline informed him t !
he failed to see how his appointnn
as premier would bring about a so
tion of the crisis. Henri Brisson ci
tented himself with promising supp
and expressing good wishes.
M. Waldeck-Rosseau waited ui
M. Casimir-Perier and earnestly <
deavored to induce him to accept '
portfolio of war , on the ground tl
his presence at the ministry of \
would simplify the difficulties of 1
situation. Thereupon M. Casim
Perier consulted with the preside
who pointed out to him that he wo' '
be permitted to exercise more i
thority than anyone else over the g <
erals in destroying the germs of
ritation. M. Casimir-Perier repl
that he had definitely withdrawn fn
politics , but , nevertheless , would t
dertake to consider the matter.
It is said that Clement Faliers , pr
ident of the senate , informed M. L <
Let this afternoon that the sen ;
seemed opposed to the inclusion
Alexander Millerand , the radical :
cialist , in the cabinet.
It is understood that if M. Waldei
Rosseau fails the president will agi
summon M. Poincare , whom he 1
asked to remain in Paris at his (
Loubet's ) disposition.
Death List In the War.
WASHINGTON , June 19. Ma ;
General Otis has reported to the v
department an additional list of ci
ualties among the soldiers under 1
command , amounting to five kill
and fifty wounded , as follows :
MANILA , June 18. Additional ci
ualties :
Killed Fourteenth infantry , at Z (
pote. June 13 :
SERGEANT THOMAS LAWS , Co
pany L.
CORPORAL JOHN MOORE , Co
pany L. *
CORPORAL DAVID E. PAGU
Company A.
PRIVATE NELSON T. LAMOR1
Company I.
Fifty-first Town :
WALTER WAGNER , Company
Seize Anns of the Carlists.
MADRID , June 19. Official conl
nation has been received here of t
seizure of the yacht Firefly at An
: hon , a popular summer bathing plj
; hirty-five miles by rail southwest
Bordeaux , France , with 4.000 rifles a
laid to have been intended for the Ci
ists. It is asserted the Firefly belon
o Lord Ashburton , who is looked up
is being the representative of D
Dlarlos , the Spanish pretender , in Et
and.
and.A well known Carlist who has be
nterviewed upon the subject sai
'Even if 4,000 rifles have been seiz <
1,000 have already entered the cou
ry. "
The rifles are of the Chassepot p ;
ern. The Firefly arrived at Arcach
rom Dartmouth , England.
Tohn Sherman Again 111.
MANSFIELD , 0. , June 19. E
Secretary John Sherman is suffer ! ;
rom a recurrence of the lung trout
nth which he was afflicted while i
. trip to the West Indies. One Ju
he contracted a cold which dev (
iped into a mild but annoying affe
ion of the lungs. His condition
tot , however , regarded as serious
ny means.
The President at Holyoke.
HOLYOKE , Mass. , June 19. Sund ;
or the president was anything but t
lay of rest that was hoped for. T
ontinual crowding of the curious ci
ens , the immense jam at the chur
his morning and later in the day :
nexpected and totally unprepared f
eception in connection with the bacc
aureate exercises at Mount Holyoi
ollege made the day long and tir
ome for all. The president was n
ontent with going once to church , b
; ent twice , leaving Mrs. McKinley
he hands of her lady friends on eai
ccasion.
Dreyfns Passes Cape Verde.
PARIS , June 19. A dispatch fro
tie Cape Verde islands announces th
tie French second-class cruiser , Sfa
arrying Captain Dreyfus , has passi
n route for Brest , where she is e
ectad before Saturday next.
It is understood that Captain Dreyfi
rill be landed by night and that
pecial train will be in waiting to tal
im to Rennes , where the court-marti
i to be held.
A COLONEEX1
Bemarkable Achievement Tor the Big
Show That la About to Begin ,
THE GATES 00 OPEN JULY 1,1899.
A Great Collection of InturcHtlnrxhlblts
Ilrought From Our Now Colonial Pos-
ncsrtioiiH Va t Sums Spent to llrlnfir
Together that Which 1V111 Kdlfy and
Instruct.
Never before in the history of expo
sition building have such grand re
sults been accomplished in the same
length of time as in the First Great-
erer American Colon'al Exposition , to
be held in Omaha from July 1 to No
vember 1. The buildings and grounds
of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition ,
and to furnish
tlon on n vital question
enlightenment to thousands who wo
discussing territorial expansion and
are intensely interested In the outcome
which the nation
come of the new policy
tion is ontorlng upon. Few are thor
oughly Informed on any phase of this
important issue and this fact is due to
the general lack of definite knowledge
of the several Islands and their inhab-
Itants.
The First Greater America Colonial
Exposition solves a perplexing prob
lem.
lem.It would be Impossible for. the ma
jority of the people of the United
States to visit these far away Islands ,
but it Is comparatively an easy under
taking to bring to this country repre
sentatives of the native people and ex
hibits showing their resources , indus
tries , and the possibilities ot the is
lands wherein they live. This has been
done , and when the gates of the Ex
position open on July 1st those who
are seeking facts upon which to base
conclusions , will find that which could
not be seen and learned In months of
travel and research.
AGRICULTURE BUILDING.
LXJ * J A vy J i .
Avhich represent the expenditure of
more than $2,000,000 , have been leas
ed by the present exposition company ,
but in all other respects the exhibition
will be entirely different from that of
last year. The dominant feature , in
fact the key note , will be the magni
ficent and exhaustive exemplification
of the resources , products , manufac
. i : ! : i.i.r e AI „ _ i i- , ! I
tures and possibilities of those Islands
of the seas acquired in the recent war.
The people of the Philippine islands , .
Hawaii , Cuba and Porto Rico will be
represented in considerable numbers ,
and their home life , occupations , dress ,
customs , ceremonies and characteris
tics will be faithfully portrayed. The
United States government has materi-
MINES AND MINING BUILDING.
ally aided the exposition management
1 in securing representatives types of
1 these people and the splendid exhib
its from the several islands. The
great colonial exhibits building and
portions of several other large build
ings will be utilized for the display of
the resources of our far distant pos-
7 MANUFACTUF
e
e sessions and the work of securing such
an exhibit , which usually covers a pe
riod of two or three years , has , with
d
government assistance , been accom-
a ) lished in a few short months.
r The coming exposition is destined to
ulfill an educational mission , to bring
e to the people of this country informa-
t
Many Improvements have boon made
in the grounds and buildings. Thou
sands of trees , plants , shrubs and flow
ers from tropic and sub-tropic lands
have been added to the ground deco
rations , and the nlghc illumination
which won so much praise last year
has been vastly improved upon. Sev
eral new and startling electrical ef *
- - _
. ' - < 7 *
GOVERNMENT BUILDING. 1
* ! .i
fects have been introduced , notably
the fairy gardens and the lighting of
the statuary upon the buildings.
Three great events are promised for
the opening week. On July 1 the for
mal ceremonies instituting the ex
position will be held. July 3 there
will be exercises commemorative of
the destruction of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago. It will be known as Schley
day and the gallant admiral will be
present to receive the greetings of an
admiring people. The nation's Natal
day will receive fitting observance on
the following day , and the people of
Iowa and Nebraska have been invited
to join in the demonstration. On each
ifr
r T i trr. . i n T
.ES BUILDING.
of these occasions speakers of na
tional prominence will be present in
the capacity of orators.
The enchanted island at the Greater
America Exposition in 'Omaha this
summer will contain a marvelous
troupe of marionettes performing
amidst elaborate scenic effects.
ith
n
it
s
a
e
MACHINERY AND ELECTRIC BUILDING.