CHAPTER LX.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 104, 30 May 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER LX.

HOIIBOW'fI SOLACE. " There's reason in mourning, as I've always said ; and three Folds at the bottom of your skirt And a plain quilling in your bonnet— And it ever anybody looked like an angel It's you in a net quilling."-GEOBGE Eliot Prairie Avenue was blocked with' carriages. It was the hour appointed for the funeral. Within the magnificent Vernell residence quite a dense throng was collecting for a last glance at the dead face of " the lucky colonel." | la her own room upstairs Mrs Vernell sat before the mirror, while her maid pinned deftly across the small, close bonnet the long and heavy crape veil of the bereaved. A resolute woman she, and one not easily touched or terrified, but by no means, for all that, one capable of 'strangling and flinging from her path the troublesome adder, Memory. She had slept wretchedly last night— Wretchedly. One need only glance at her to discover the cause in the effect Her skin was dry and colorless, her usually brilliant eyes glazed and blue-rimmed. Remorse had had nothing to do with those hours of wakefulness. He was dead, and she was free— ?free and wealthy. What was that Voyle had said to bi3 uncle about defrauding him and his sister ? Well, now that hie uncle was dead, he would struggle to work for the rights he asserted. If he did — supposing at the worst he did — who would heed him ? No ; with the will which Grimes held, she was safe, absolutely safe. So, as has been said, it was not remorse which had banished sleep, rather an acute and curious nervousness. All women possess, in a largor or smaller degree, superstition. Perhaps it was a certain attack of this same superstition which had last night sent such strange shadows across her brain, before her vision, and left her staring restlessly and blankly from dark to dawn. Now, as she glanced at herself in the mirror, she was positively shocked. But no, she must not try to improve her appearance. As she looked now, her grief, so ravagingly eloquent, would make a most effective imprespion, Onlyshemuet manage not to encounter Dennis unveiled. No necessity was there to convince him of her overwhelming 3enso of loss. And to reveal to him her genuine age and unloveliness— ah, that was quite out of the question, always must be. ♦' There, madam ; will that do.?" Hilaria had given the last light touch, and stepped back. The wido wl if ted her hcavyeyes to the glass. She started violently. From her lips J broke a shuddering cry. Her eyes wore distended. " Madam," the maid entreated, " you aro ill ! What is it ? Madam !" No reply. She had shrunk back in her chair, covering her face with her hands. Three minutes tripped by— five. Then she rose, "That will do,'' she said, and turned away ; but she had not again lifted her eyes to the mirror, She went out of the room and down the corridor to where Miss Dorothy awaited her. Together they descended the grand stairway. The crowd below divided, swayod to either side, and formed the walls of a narrow aisle through which they passed. Passed to where, on draped trestle?, rested a long cloth covered casket, velvet-lined and silverhandled, wherein lay all that was mortal of "the lucky colonel." Miss Dorothy flung back her veil. Her chubby old face was qu^e flushed and tearatainod. She bent down and kissed the still', pale lips of her brother, then drew back, sobbing like a child. One quick glance the M'idow sent around the room. No, Grimes was not there. Perhaps he was without. Perhaps he had not come. Then she, too, threw back her long, deep hemmed veil of crape. A stir wenttbrough the reverent mourners around the coftin. How terribly Mrs Vernell was taking it ! How it had changed her ! Few, if any, of them had seen her since before her marriage. She was now little like the brilliant Mrs Charu of a few short weeks ago, this pallid and dull-eyed woman. How devo- 1 tedly she must have loved him ! It was awfully hard on her ! One could read her suffering in her face. Indeed, one would scarcely recognise her. She bowed low above the silvery pillow, laid her warm lips upon the cold ones of the dead, leaned so long and tenderly, As she raised herself with a clever sob, she became conscious that just beyond her stood the black-clad figure of Dennis Grimes. She drew down her veil, and turned away. And then the undertakers, gloved and shod, with silence, smoothly and rapidly drew up the plato-glass square, lifted the heavy, memoried lid, screwed it uoiselessly down. Upon it kindly hands heaped flowers, anchors, crosses, harps, columns, doves, sheaves, and great loose, nondescript masses of snowy bloom. Oh, the long, weary drive to Graceland ! What Chicagoan does not know it — has not at some sad time followed there relative or friend ? If one there be, blessed is he ! The day grew cuttingly cold. Great feathery flakes of snow began to drift through the leaden air as the carriages rolled homeward. It was over now— the last act in the drama of death. A few days later the contents of the will were formally and privately made known. To Dorothy Caroline Vernell the sum of ten thousand dollars ; to his dear wife, Letitia Vernell, the residue of his estate and property, real and personal. It was all very simple. Miss Dorothy exclaimed in amazement when it was read. To his dear wife ! Surely the will had not been made since his marriage ! He had no reason, opportunity to do so But here, with suave courtesy broke in Mr Dennis Grimes. The will, he explained, had been drawn up the day following the Colonel's return from; bis wedding-trip Did Miss Vernell not recollect that when he, Grimes, had called, the colonel had taken him into the library, and there they had for an hour considered and transacted business affairs ? That the latter—feeling, as the ladies were aware, most miserably ill and nervous over the impending crash of Golondrinas stock -had requested him to then and there draw up bis will. "I argued with him," pursued the friendly lawyer. " I told him there was no sense in his exciting himsolf unnecessarily because business prospects* looked slightly blue. I told him, too, he had still many years of life before him— why insist on making his will now ? But all in vain ! ' Here Mr Grimes shook sadly his brickbrown head. "He seemed to have a premonition of the final call. He actually grew angry as I persisted. 'Perhaps you don't know, he said, « of course, you don't, only the doctor whom I consulted knew, besides myself,

that have a* trouble which may carry me off any .day.' I uttered the dismay I felt* 'Yes,' heariawered me, 'my heart is affected*,' has been 'for five years or more. I have been 'particularly warned against'excitement] as any sudden shock might prove fatal,: but the caution proves but a frail breakwater for trouble. lam of suoh an intensely nervous temperament that the most trivial things affect me deeply. Today I feel that I am right in what I request you lio do. No possible harm can oome of it, while, in'oase of anything happening, the existence of a will w.ouldsave much trouble.' "Of course, there was only one course left for me. I drew up the document. " ' Shall we summon your wife and Miss Vernell to witness it V I asked. V ' No,' he replied,- hastily ; * the idea of a will has a certain suggeßtiveness of death for women. They would fancy me on the brink of the grave. Though lam not in robust health, I am hardly as far gone as that. In any case, we won't alarm them needlessly. Ring the bell.' "I did so. Roberts came in response. His master told him to summon one of the other servants. Mrs Vernell's maid happened to be passing at the time. He called ier in. In the presence of the colonel both attested the •will. You may read for yourself, Miss Vernell, their signatures, you may question them as to the genuineness of the same. I am very sorry you have eeen fit to doubt my professional rectitude." And he rose, buttoning his coat with quite an Injured air. Miss Dorothy grew previously embarrassed. ' As has been stated, she wasted no affection on Grimes ; indeed, her sentiments toward him were of the most uncomplimentary nature. But in this particular matter she' had not really doubted him— had no clear reason for so doing. She had merely been astonished at fcho fact of a will having been made so recently. She hated to wound another as do only generous souls. " I beg your pardon," she cried, hurriedly. "You are mistaken, though, Mr Grimes. I did not for one instant question your veracity. What interest could you have in any doception of the sort? My astonishment was natural, you must admit, under the circumstances, but I meant no rudeness." All this time never a word had the widow spoken. She eat listlessly in the bay-window. H.er white hands were clasped in her lap. Her blue-black hair was coiled Bimply behind her head. There was a delicate pink flush on her pale cheeks Around her billowed heavily her sable crape- covered draperies. Grimes bowed. " I am very glad indeed I was mistaken, Miss Vernell." Ho was about to take hia loave. She rose. "Should you require at any time my services, command me," he said. A sudden thought struck her. Those children— they had been totally ignored, cut off without a dollar. And, il there was any truth in what Voyle had so vehemently asserted, the fact was infamous. Most probably now Voyle would not contest the property. He would be averse, she knew, to squabbling over a grave. And not a cent had he Bave his unimportant salary. As for Vella, she could not continue to live dependent on her friend. So, acting impulsively, she turned to Grimes. " Thero is one thing you can do for mo, and at once. The ten thousand you mention as coming to me, transfer for me to my niece and nephew, Vella and Voyle Vernell." An expression of surprise swept over his florid face. The widow turned her head. " You havo considered the step," he faltered. You are sure you are not rashly generous — " She interrupted him with a great deal of dignity, seeing that her head just reached the elbow of her interrogator. "I have told you what I wish you to do, Mr Grimes." He bowed in silence. As he was taking up his hat he spoke. " You desire that the ten thousand dollars bequeathed you by your deceased brother shall be divided between your nephew and niece, Mr Voyle Vernell and Mrs Jonas Claflin ?" Miss Dorothy started violently. Mrs Vernoll sent a searching glance her way. Then she answered quietly : " You can make my nephow's money payablo to him. On second thought I would prefer that you purchase with the remaining five thousand United States bonds, \*hich you will be good enough to bring me." He assented gravely. Mrs Vernell rose quickly as though actuated by impulse, came swiftly toward them. "Dorothy," she cried, "how clearheaded you are ! Can you not tell Mr Grimes what to see about for me ?" "For you?" Both turned to her in amazement. "Yes, I must go away somewhere-any-where ! 1 can't stay here. The recollections, the loneliness of the house in which I had planned to live such happy years are stifling me. I must go away— try to forget it all, or I shall dio— l shall die !" She broke down huskily. As an outburst of passion, impetuosity, it was an admirable bit of work. Mr Grimes's drowsy eyes widened. What a jolly good actress was spoiled in her. ' « Letitia !" gasped Miss Dorothy. c ' Why, what do you wish to do, dear, about the place —the property ?' She was quite overcome by her sister-in-law's emotion. Who would ever have dreamed she had been so fond of James ? The widow flung out her hands wildly, know nothicg of law, and such things, but surely there is some wayin which I can dispose soon of all that is mine- sell it, auction it, anything you see best. Mr Grimes," turning appealingly to him, "I don't understand the means to the end. I just want enough money to go away somewhere and live quietly till all the horror of my husband's sudden death fades from me —if it ever will !" " Now, don't take on so— don't, Letitia ! ' pleaded sympathetic Miss Dor othy, her own blue eyes filling at the sight of another's grief. "Can you do as she wishes, Mr Grimes ? I believe only travelling will serve her.' ' " Most assuredly !" And all the time he was telling himself what a rattling sensation the buxom widow before him would have been had she chosen to tread the boards. Miss Dprothy gave a soft little sigh, and made one of her innocent little " bulls." " Dear Patience !" she ejaculated mildly, " how easily we could arrange it all if only dear James were here to advise us !" Her listeners started. "Do you know,'! she went on dreamily and unconscious of the effect she was producing, "I find so much truth in those lines of Poe : " 'I think in the lives of most women and men There's a time when all would go smooth and even. If only the dead could find out when To return and be forgiven." 1 " Great Scott 1" exolaimed Grimes. Mrs Vernell glanced fearfully about her, and sank shivering on the sofa. " Yes, isn't it sweet ?" placidly rippled on the little old maid, vaguely and pleasantly i conscious that she had impressed her hearers. "If the author," thoughtfully, " was not Poe, I'm pretty sure 'fcwaß Moore."

The eyes of Grimes and the widow met. Heavens and earth t what a blissfully serene small fi6rid she was 1 The dead— come back \ That, was just what they particularly objected, to the dead doing. All, they requirpfi 6f him was that ho lie tight and still in his' grave. But come back! Phew I the very thought sent cold water trickling down one's back. Both felt a hysterical desire to laugh, but their hands were cold and clammy as the* met in farewell. (To be Continued.)