People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1896 — THE NEXT HEIR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE NEXT HEIR.

A Thrilling Recital of Adventure and Love.

Founded on Actual Occurrence in American Life.

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“I am a handsome woman, and a rich one,” she said aloud. “Many a man has sought my hand, striven hard to win even a smile; it is somewhat humiliating to know that the only two of my admirers whom I ever cared about should both have been charmed away from me by a little country girl.” t She laughed at the thought, though not altogether merrily, and sat down, tapping the floor with her foot impatiently.

“I had my chance with Frank before she did, and lost it. Do such chances ever come twice, I wonder? It is the old story of the fox and the grapes again. What is the reason that I never value anythii?g at its true worth until it is out of my reach? I never even thought of falling in love with Frank myself, until I began to pity him for his hopeless passion for another » woman. “As to his having‘done with love and marriage,’ that is folly. He will love again some day. First love is seldom the last love; no, nor the truest, nor the strongest; I imagined myself quite desperate about Cyril when I was about fifteen, while now—well, Dolly is welcome to him. “Dolly! She must be saved! First, for sweet charity’s sake and the honor of woman hood; secondly, to satisfy Frank and get her off my mind. Pity for her sorrows, indignation at hen Wrongs, help to keep the memory of his old love alive; but when she is Cyril’s wife Frank will forget her. I must see Dolly herself.” Having come to this conclusion, she lost no time about putting her resolve into execution.” “Cyril is to call this afternoon,” she reflected. “This afternoon, then, I shall find her alone. I’ll go.” - She made ready quickly and went out alone, leaving word for Mr. Huntsford (if he should call during her absence) that she had been compelled to attend to a matter of business in person, but would be delighted to have him wait for her return or call again in about an hour.

“So I am sure of keeping him in the city while I find out how matters are up-town,” she thought. “If I find the girl as innocent and as .foully wronged as Frank thinks, I’ll take her away with me at once.” With this resolve she called a ca rriage, and giving the man poor Dolly’s address, directed him to drive her there as quickly as possible. “It will be a painful interview,” she thought, shuddering slightly. “I should feel like shrinking from the ordeal but for Frank. No doubt the poor creature is quite unsuspicious of the storm that is about to burst over her. What should she know of the villainy and cruelty ofmen? Poor little ignorant country girl!” The carriage dashed away, May looking impatiently from the window as each minute lessened the distance between herself and her most innocent and unconscious rival. At last they reached the street. May sank back on her cushion nervously. “In another minute we shall meet,” she said. “God help us both! Of course she will be alone.’’ At that instant as the coach drew up in front of the pretty little house, a gentleman passed through the gate and let himself in the door with a latch-key. He ascended the staircase swiftly and noiselessly, and entered a bedroom on the upper floor that overlooked the street. There, hidden closely behind the window-blind, he watched the carriage and saw its lovely occupant alight. She rever suspected his presence or espionage; no one had seen him enter. A curse, “not aland blit deep, ” broke from between his close set teeth as he saw her face. “Perdition! She’S found us out! The game is up!” ' It was Fred. Next moment the driver’s loud peal at the bell startled the quiet house, and made Dolly raise her aching head suddenly from its pillows, and sit up, wondering. “Whoever can that be?” she thought. “I ’have no visitors- —” ' And she began to tremble too.