The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-01-14
APRECIOUS TRUST,

1t was very modest chamber on tn,
third floor, or what in a less pretentiou
house would have been called a garnet
that Katie Mayne and her sister Miriam
occupied at Mrs. Bideford's boarding
house, - street, Strand; and to the
eyes of two country maidcns it had the
air of having been forgotten at those
seasons when good housewives indulge
in thorough cleanings, but they consid
cred themselves fortunate to have Sc
cured cheap lodging in u respectful.
house, for it was their first visit to Lon
don and they had resolved to be eco
nomlcal even in their pleasures. In thi:
chamber, with the door carefully locked
their hats and mantles thrown hastily
pleasure, the sisters were eagerly gazing
on the first riches they had ever pos
sessed-a legacy left them by distant
relative which they had come to town tc
receive.
They had been together to the execu
tor of the trust; they had received from
him the little packet containing not only
their own money but a sum of equa
value which they were empowered to re
ccive for widowed aunt; and now
Katie sat en- the edge of her bed with
Miriam kneeling at her feet, smiling hel
satisfaction as the package was united
and the fresh, crisp bank notes unfolded
and examined with untlagging interest
Two hundred pounds. How small a
sum it would seem to many! How large
1t was to these young girls! Well born,
well nurturcd, they had endured fol
some years as direful a struggle with
poverty as ever fell to the share of two
triendless orphans; yet they had come
through the trial bravely, for-oh, secret
of so much true heroism-they had never
repined. First as junior teachers in a
school, then as the principals of very
modest establishment for young ladies
in country town, they had persevered
in the face of difficulties and discourage.
ment that would have crushed less hope
full spirits-cOntent to deny themselves
every qualification that was beyond theil
small means.
Two hundred pounds! A little awe
mingled with their thankfulness as they
counted the notes to assure themselves
that the precise sum, that was now theil
very own, lay before them. On peaceful
summer Sundays, when they were sci
free from their duties, they had loved tc
ramble in a beautiful park near thei,
home, or share with the deer the deep
cool shadows of its ancient trees, and
there dream and plan aerial castles
which, though destined never to he built
OF more lasting materials, were very
pleasant to dwell upon for the little time
they lasted. But they had grown very
practical of late, never aspiring to great
er possessions than a new piano for
Miriam and the modest trousseau with
out which Katie's long-deferred marriage
must still be deed for future considera.
ton.
Ard now these aspirations were more
than realized. The cheek that had
grown pale and thin, despite her cheer
full spirit, flushed into its old bloom as
Katie reminded herself that her share of
this legacy would not only purchase the
bridal tinery in which every feminine
heart delights, but would leave nest
egg to lay the foundation of those great
things her clever betrothed was to
achieve; and Miriam's deft fingers played
an air with brilliant variations on the
counterpart as she thought of the fine
toned instrument which was to bring hel
fresh pupils and do justice to her really
excellent playing.
But now small cloud arose on the
horizon. They had determined to in
dulge themselves with a little sightsee
ing before they returned home, for il
was not only their first trip to London
but in all probability would be thcil
last. This money, however, so gratefully
received, SO joyfully gloated over, wha,
was to be done with it while they re.
manned in town? The widowed aun,
had given them sundry injunctions re.
specting hers, the principal being. not to
lntrust it to the Postoffice, for she had
no faith in it, since she had learned from
the newspapers that postmen were not
always honest, and though she remorse.
fully added that she had not a WORD to
say against the old man who had been
letter-carrier at - for twenty years
still, she would not like to put tempta.
ton in his way in the shape of the e20C
that was to apprentice her eldes,
boy, pay the school fee of the next, and
release her from an incubus of small
debts that had troubled her ever since
the sudden decease of her husband.
After much discuss ION of various ways
and means of providing for the safety OF
the valuable packet, it was resolved that
one or other of the sisters should carry
it in her bosom during the day, while al
night it might safely repose at the bot
tom of the little trunk that stood on a
chair by their bedtide; and this arrange
ment being decided on they prepared te
enjoy London as only intelligent strangers
can.
Too modest and ladylike to attract
attention by any popularity of dress OF
manner, and too humble to divine how
often their fresh, sweet faces drew upon
them an admiring glance, they did" the
principal sights with that hearty ap.
probation of them felt only once in a
lifetime. But pleasure, when it takes
the form of craning ones neck to admire
pictures, or traversing the galleries OF
Kensington, or climbing the steps at the
Crystal Palace, soon grows fatiguing
and after spending their last evening
breathless and rapt auditors, at q good
entertainment, the sisters went to rest
not altogether sorry that the term al
lotted for their stay in town had come tc
an end. An early train ON the morrow
was to speed them back to, with it,
quaint High street, ruined castle tower
ing above the avenue of elms leading tt
its gates, and those breezes from the sur
rounding hills for which the murky at
mosphere of the great city had been 81
poor an exchange. .,,. ....
Was Katie dreaming of these invigor
ating breezes when she suddenly awoke
from her slumbers? A minute ago she
had fancied that she was sitting under
the trees with Miriam, talking q. LITTLE
sorrowfuily of some past trouble: bu
now the grass, the ferns, the Pickering
sunbeams that played across them-all
allwere gone; only the blast of cold ali
that had chilled her into wakefulnes.
was still sweeping across her cheek.
She raised herself on her elbow bu
the night was SO dark that nothing il
the room could be discerned except ii
the immediate neighborhood of thu
window, and that-gracious heavens
was wide open. .e aE saH q
Numberless tales of thefts perpetratet
in this manner flashed into her mind al
soon as she made the discovery, and sh.
recollected now that it was too late
how, in their WEAKNESS and excitement
both she and Miriam had been less care
full in looking to the fastenings than wa.
their custom.