Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

11 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

- A Vale of Conway Arti&t.

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The County School Question.

The Last Fruit of Summer

---.---Votes for Women.

---_._-I "Wait and See."

" The Passing of the Third…

-.-.:.. Mold Magistrate and…

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Jack's Fortune.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]. Jack's Fortune. BY ALICE MAUD MEADOWS, Author of Cut bv Society," A Million of Money," Blind Man's Buff." "I think she loves me," he answered. "I tried to ascertain to-night, but her mother ir,t-errtipt eit F' 'H moilier is not favourably disposed tov rfrds you, 7 conclude? "I'm afraM 'of," Jack returned sadly, "hut lateiv Staple Findon has been paving Ditisy ;?itioii, and the title, Ithink, allures Mrs. A siren." And the g.c' ? "I think sle. lovee me. Jack again. I do not thi-.i.. 1'he would ihiur me over for Sir Staple Findon." Mr. White ::odded, and for a little while seemed lost Ü. thought. His mind travelled backward to et.<o days when he had loved Daisy's irotlii to the days when she had first encourage;, then tcjeel- (I him. He won- dered of wh\ dllibl'{, was the love of Daisy Austen for Jand determined to test it. And so, ulier his instructions, the young lawyer dre\T r-6 a will which, with the ex- ception of fh <iousand pounds bequeathed to Jack, left j..L his fortune to "Daisy Aus- ten, daughter of my old friend, Kmily Aus- ten," on eon<i>v;on that if she married within five years it t,i be with her mother's con- sent"; after ihsti she could please herself. Jaok paused a moment. "With her aether's con-en! he repeated after the sica man, "witii so large a fortune her mother never consent to her mar- riage with xrw —you—you are putting a veto on my liappii "I hope not," Mr. White returned. 'I hope I am C-,]V testing her love for you. Should Mrs. Austen refuse her consent to your marriage, and Daisy remain true to vou, vou will have your profession and five thousand por ids to help you; it is more than I had to help me as a young man." "I have no right to expect that or any- thing else fixii you." said Jack, "but in the event of Dairy consenting to be my wife, and failing her mother's consent to our marriage, how is your fortune to be willed?" A little smile crossed Hector White's lips. "Ah! that ig a contingency for which I must provide, of course," he answered, "but it is a matter over which I must think. I feel better to-night: I shall, I think, have time given itie for thought." And so thi will which, under certain con- ditions, gavç Da,ipy Austen all the fortune of Hector Whit*, was drawn up, signed, and witnessed, ift-er which Jack returned to his solitary \U.bI!Yf. It had never struck him that Mr. White would lea his fortune to Daisy under any conditions. "If Daisy loves me," he thought to himself, "ehe must, I know, either give up a fortune 07 me and, yet, I don't know. Mrs. Austen will surely wish her to have the money anyhow. But five years I may be kept waiting for five long, weary years!" CHAPTER III. Jack stared at the envelope which had come, under cover of another, to him by the first post in the morning, and which was ad- dressed to him in Hector White's handwrit- ing, handwriting a little unsteady, but quite legible. A short note informed him a similar envelope had been sent to a City stock- broker. The seal of both letters was to be broken simultaneously six months after his death. Jack staled at the envelope for some time, then shrugged his shoulders, opened a safe, and put it safely away. "1 wonder what it contains?" he said to himself. "Anyway, whatever it is, I hope it will be very long before I open it." Fate, however, went against Jack. Mr. White was taken ill again, and died very sud- denly. Jack had been trying his best to come to an understanding with Daisy, but Mrs. Atisten took care they were never alone, and had even intercepted his letters, and sent them back. "I object to your corresponding with my daughter," she had written, "I have very different view: from your,- for her future. I tell you candidly your letters shall not reach her if I cau help it." The death of Mr. White, of course, made matters worse, and, perhaps, one of the hardest moments of his life war, when Jack called upon Mrs. Austen to acquaint her and Daisy with the contents of Mr. White's will. Daisy gave a little gasp; Mrs. Austen's eyes flashed, a scornful look crossed her face. "You have known of this will for over a month," she said, "you, no doubt, knew of Mr. White's intentions previously to the making of the will. I don't know what Daisy will think of you now many would say," and she put an ugly stress on the word, "Fortune hunter 1" Jack half rose from his chair, in just anger; Daisy flushed. "Mother, how can you she said. "My dear child," she said coldly, "you don't know the vwld so well as I do. Any- way, I am master of the situation for five years, and to anything in the nature of a foolish engagement I shall not give my con- sent. Now I'll leave you, and you can say good-bye but remember for five years Daisy cannot marry without my consent or losing her fortune." She went from the room, closing the door after her. Jack hesitated a moment, then crossed to Daisy. "You don't believe that I'm a fortune hunter, Daisy?" he asked "you know that I love you—you know that I want you to be my wife just because I love you, and almost believe, darling, that you love me. Dearest, you believe me?" "Of course I believe you," she said, "and since the money is hardly likely to be mine, it can't be that you care for-it must just be," she laughed gleefully, "me "You would give it all up for me?" "Why, yes," she answered. "Of course, it's a great surprise, and I should be very glad to be able to keep it, that is. if you didn't mind my having so much. But if money is going to veto our happi- ness for five years," she went on, "why—why -oil, Jack!" For a little while nothing more was said, then, as though no fortune were at stake, the young people began to make plans. When at last he left her Daisy went straight to her mother. "Jack and I are engaged," she said. "We haven't talkad about when we'll marry yet, but we are not going to wait five years. Mother, I hope you'll give your consent. What have you against Jack?" Mrs. Austen's lips set. "He was never a suitable match for you," she said, "and you have the chance of doing well-Sir Staple Findon-11 "Under no circumstances," Daisy inter- rupted, "would I marry Sir Staple Findon. If you won't give your consent to my and Jack's marriage, we-I am sorry, mother, to have to say it—shall marry without it, and forfeit the money." Mrs. Austen turned pale. "You don't know what you're talking about!" Mrs. Austen returned. "This money will come as a godsend; your father has speculated foolishly, and lost; Sir Staple has lent him money. We have almost promised you shall be his wife; we understand better than you do who would make you happy. Don't let me have any more nonsense about Mr. Hamilton, Daisy." "I shall marry him, mother." Once more Mrs. Austen's mouth set. "Then you'll lose your fortune, for I will never give my consent," she answered. CHAPTER IV. The affairs of Mz-, Austen were in a bad •way. Daisy had announced her engagement to Jack Hamilton., under which circum- stances it was not, j»crhaps, surprising that Sir Staple Findon r«ther pressed her father for the money he kfid borrowed of him. Daisy wfcs absolutely willing, if her mother would give her coiawint to her maiimge with Jack, to JMfp her father to any extent which was necessary, but Mrs. Austen was obstin- ate, and *a* qui*# determined that Daisy should bectt&e Lfindon. (To be continued.)

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