The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-19
MISS ERIsM,s CODICII..

MISS ERISM'S CODICIIs
Miss Rebecca Erism, a Valetudinarian
of sixty, lay dying at her house in town.
She had held SO tenacious grip upon
life that it was difficult for the two young
people to realize the end was SO near.
These two young people were Gerald
Erism, her nephew, and Miss L1lane
Williams her companion and nurse.
Gerald had seen the young woman
every day for the three years she had
lived with his aunt, but never until this
moment had bestowed a serious thought
upon her. He did not even know the
color of her eyes till his aunt gasped out
a sentence that caused him TO look at her
attentively Then he found them shin
ing luminously in the somber gloom of
the sick chamber, and something therein
forbade him to hate her, although the
sentence his aunt had uttered was to the
effect that she had left Miss Williams all
her money.
eff you expect to pay for that horse
for Emily Thorpe to ride with the money
you get by my death, said the dying
woman, 'syou're mistaken.
''You don't understand. began Gerald.
sc It was an Infamous transaction, said
the old lady, sc and what / call a post
obit. / found out enough about it to
make me put codicl to my will That
rascally horse dealer'n loose his money
after all, and Emily Thorpe shall faunt
none of her fnery at my expense. I've
left my money TO LrIane Williams -
It was then that Gerald looked ut
Iuane but his aunt suddenly stretched
out her hands to him pleadingly, and
finding gray pallor spreading over her
face, he knelt down by her bedside and
took her cold withered hand IN his own.
eff the horse had been for any one
but that Emily Thorpet' faitered the
"Oh, aunt, said Gerald, ssif you'd
let me explain
EsI would If I had time, +" she said !;
Sc but must die now"
In ten minutes it was all over, and
Gerald went out of the house with a great
ache at his heart. He was very sorry for
his aunt; she had been very kind to
him-too kind, for she had reared him
for the useless life of drone, when now
it appeared he must work for his living
like all the rest of the bees. It had
hitherto been something of a bore to him
merely to spend money, and the fact
began to dawn unp1easantly upon his
mind that to earn It must be infinitely
more wearisome.
Walking aimlessly on, his feet took
mechanically familiar direction, and he
found himself pausing before a fine
house In fashionable quarter of the
city, from which shambled a somewhat
bent and awkward figure that presently
disappeared in brougham before the
door.
Gerald recognized the man as Mr..
Badger, the millionaire, and involun-
tarily contrasted his condition with that
of the fortunate soap dealer. He was,
however, so absorbed with the direful
news he had to tell Emily that before
she came into the parlor he had forgot
ten Badgers existence.
1t was singular that her remarkable
beauty and brilliant teilet did not appall
Gerald at that moment that the fact of
his no longer being able to grace that
lovely hand with BETTING gems did not
prevent him from seizing it In both his
own, and kissing it rapturously. But
for an enchanting moment he. was al
lowed to forget the gloomy chamber
where his aunt lay dead, and the woman
who waited there for the money he had
been taught to consider his own.
esIt seems to me that you are very
beautiful this morning" was all that he
could say.
Emily drew her hand gently away
from his caress.
asGerald,'' she said, esI have some
thing to tell you. -
Her accent was cold There was
something In her manner that caused
him to step back and look at her with q
dim premonition of what was to come.
You know" she continued, how
bitterly opposed Is your aunt to your at
fection for me. She has told me herself
that she win never consent to our happi-
ness Gerald, am too fond of you to
wreck your whole life. There was but
one way to end it ALL
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eye, now wan and haggard,
r - \
trembling into chair, and covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved with
pity, perhaps, or vague regret. At Last
she spoke.
:. have just accepted an offer Of mar
riage."
ssFrom Badger" cried Gerald, and
walked to the door. ssYonr prudence, .
he added, standing upon the threshold
80 has served You well. You have Just got
rid of me in time. MY aunt died tlaie
morning, and has left everything 10 her
nurse and companion.
Then he got into the street, and walked
along with falteFfng, staggering step.
His eyes were wild, his fAOe Ividly pale:
People turned to look at him as he went
by, and two or three wondered Wha& was
sending that man to t1s deyiI.
He went home and seo0d By eEle body
of his aunt. There was single zasel1aa-
Eion about this death sozask1ing very
wonderful and tempting IN that n1Tstafl-
GUS and absolute rest 8t1ddez1ly he be-
came master of himself, Of the Bitterness
and despair of the moment BE walked
Armly to the door, but assep followed
him, and, turning, he saN the asaAas Per
turbed face Of Miss WiIlthms 4laan he
remembered her pEeBenre n 10 K9OEn
but his madness and grief bad pkeysnssd
him from realizing it
. Just one word. Mi. Nissn1nb, z slae aaid.