The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-29
CHAPTER XIII.

the year 1872, by Mrs- ~ J. Duniway, in the Of
fee OF the Librarian OF Congress at Washington
City.l
CHAPTER XIII.
The hired man proved q valuable as
sistant. He was thoroughly conversant
with all the various avocations of the
farm, and made himself so useful that
Aunty Harris styled him perfect treas
ure. Everybody about the homestead
liked him, except the dog. ELLEN could
not help but remember that a stranger
had, long years before, excited just such
a feeling of animosity in her good old
BOuncer as this man had aroused in her
present canine protector, and it was not
without some strange forebodlngs that
she regularly shut him in his kennel for
the night. But her apprehensions
seemed i'll founded, as morning after
morning found Grundy alive and well,
though no amount of coaxing could in
duee him to be friendly with Henry
Jones.
Grandfather Darcy returned from
the Legislature disappointed about his
pet schemes. He had thrown all his
waning energies into q railroad enter
prise, which had been defeated after
very spirited debates, and the excite
ment had proven too severe for his
physical constitution. Month after
month he kept his bed, never contented
in his waking hours when Ellen was
ont of his presence. The close cOnfine-
ment of the sick room proved very wea-
risOme and irksome to a bright young
girl who had all her life enjoyed the free
range of the woods. She grew pale, spir-
itless and pre-occupied, spending much
of her time with her face in her hands,
dreaming out vague uncertainties.
One evening the winter winds were
bowling round the house and wailing
through the key-holes, making the
night hideOus without, while the cheer
ful chamber fire within sent a glow of
oriental splendOr through the air and
over the richly curtained bed where the
sick man lay doing.
Ellen looked mechanically out of the
window and saw a man, muffied to the
eyes, alight from sleigh and place a
bundle Oh the broad, high gate-pOst
The man evidently was not tall, for he
tiptoed to place the package on the post.
This done, he glanced hurriedly around
him and, rs if sure Of having been un-
discovered, drove rapidly away.
Grandmother Darcy, worn with
watching, sat in her great armchair
asleep.
Ellen threw q shawl over her head
and made her way through the binding
snow-drifts to the gate-post, where, by
tiptoeing, as did the man who had
placed it there, she reached and grasped
the bundle which had awakened so
much eager curiosity in her brain.
81 do believe this is some sort of a
message from that old ghoul. 1 felt
that it must be no one else who brought
it here. It's well for his interest in the
darcy estate that 1 did not meet him
face to face" she uttered, under her
breath. 'I do wish 1 dared to open it
Let me see! Here's a wrapper Of strong
brown paper and a red seal with grand
fathers name around it in old Killings
wOrth's hand writing. Ellen Dowd-
you're lucky bird! I'll see what this
precious bundle containsr' Then, as il
overcome by a sudden twinge of coun'
tenance, she added hastily, "But mus
not break a seal that does not belong tC
me-"
"Ellen, Ellen Darcy, daughter mine
come to me-" commandingly called the
old man from the chamber, in a veal
though startled voice
With a fiuttering heart the young CIR
obeyed the summons, bearing the pack
age in her hands.
"What have you there for me, m,
daughter?" and the old man nervousl,
stretched forth his arms.
'I have a singular looking package
sir. Somebody left it on the gate-post.
"Did you go out through the snow t
fetch it?r
'Yes, sir"
"You may break the seal and open
for me. But stay! 1 guess it's privat
business. Go to bed now, child, and G,
a good nights rest"
Ellen could not but do as she was biz
den. But the contents of that myst
rious bundle puzzled her brain for maj
weary day.
After she had retired the old gentl
man, in a petulant voice, called out {
"mother."
Mrs. Darcy, startled from her slee
speedily sought his bedside.
"Wife, there's something here of mo
than ordinary interest,"" handing II
the package. "Break that seal and
me know the worst or best at once"
''Is it something about your railro;
interests, father?"
"HOw should / know what it is?"
Mrs. Darcy tremblingly broke Il
seal. Around the outside Of an inn
easket was letter of a dozen close
written pages.
''This letter is from Killingswort
father"
'Then give it to mel" he shrieke
''and leave the room this minute. ]
and / have business that concerns n
body but ourselves"
as it anything that troubles you, n
dear husband? You know that if v
have any serious annoyance it is 4