The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-16
out of my pretty bedroom, and sending me

a bookcase. Turkish chair, and daint,
bed, all white and pink, and toilette service
pink and white also.
l had never done any work, except put
ting this room in order, for we had two OLE
servants besides man.
Now l scrubbed floors and washed win
dows and dishes, and had no time to reaC
or sew, or wander in the woods, or enjoy
myself in the garden.
Miss HUMPHREYS sent all my school girl
friends from the door when they asked fol-
me, and it was only after long, hard fgh
that l obtained my books, my sewing bas
ket, and my few window plants, with which
to make my garnet more home like.
My black suit became shabby.
/ felt ashamed to 60 to church, and
knew not where to procure other clothing
was very miserable, but all the while
never forgot my object.
Not only did l continue my search al
day, but at night l often battered about
the house in my bare feet.
a will might we'll have been hidden.
For instance, the posts Of grandfather
bed had hollow space in them, covered
with carved cap, shaped like pine apple
which came off.
And behind the carved wooden mantel-
piece in his room-the original house was
hundred years old, they said, and very
curious-there was receptacle that might
have concealed fifty wills.
The old woman never suspected me.
Besides, she was half the time asleep
nodding in her chair.
She had delight in seeing me at work,
and set me tasks as hard to me as those
the malevolent fairy put upon poor Graciosa
were to her.
Wherever l was sent went.
Who knew where the will might be?
But now the year had given myself was
nearly over, and the malevolent fairy Of
my existence had ordered me to whitewash
the COW house-by the way, always MIXED
the cow-and l had agreed to do it with a
feeling upon me that endurance was almost
at an end, that hope was almost gone, that
l must leave that place if l starved.
No wonder l was thin, and had lost my
fine complexion.
The lime was mixed and the brush was
found.
"Put it on thick, Beulah," said my task
mistress; "we don't want any of the boards
to show. Why, where's your stick ?"
81 can't find one to fit" said l, discon-
solately. ooh, l can reach, think"
"You can't" said she. "The idea OF
embarrassing with short brush. Go and
hunt up stick. Why, l know where
there's one-in your own room. l saw it
to-day"
"That's dear grandpa's cane" said l.
4" don't care. Get it., said she. "It's
only stick, cane or not"
81 won't use that in such a way" said
1; "grandfather's cane, that he used to walk
with every day-that l used to ride on
when l was a baby. Dear old cane, that
seems part of him. l wouldn't use it SO
for worlds"
Sentimental nonsense" said the old
woman. "The idea! When I'm dead, they
can do what they like with my umbrella,
I'm sure. Get the stick"
81 WON'T" said l.
"Then will, and you'll use it," said
she.
Away she went to the garnet, and down
she came with the thick and heavy cane,
with neither curve nor carving on it-a sort
of pale grey wood, polished like glass.
"Here's the stick" said she, "and you'll
see my word is law here"
| never stirred.
Tie that stick on the whitewash brush
and 60 to work." said she.
81 won't" said l.
"You WON'T"
"No."
"You're pretty big girl, Beulah More, :"
said she, "but if you don't, I'll whip you"
81 dare you to touch me!' said l.
She lifted the stick
I'm not sure whether she would not have
struck me, or whether it was only in men,
ace; but caught it.
"Givo me my grandfather's cane"' 1
cried; and pulled.
She pulled also.
In a moment more queer thing hap
pened.
The cane parted in the middle, and the
old woman flew one way and another.
She lay on her back, bemoaning herself.
I, younger and lighter, picked myself up
at once.
But held on to my half of grandfather's
cane, and shouted wildly for joy, for in an
instant saw that the cane was not broken,
but that it was made in two halves, and
that the one held was hollow.
Something protruded from it.
All | saw was a bit of stiff, cracking
parchment, but l knew as we'll as ever l
did anything, when drew it out, that had
found grandfather's will at last.
She knew it, too.
She scrambled up, as tlourished it over
my head, and flew at me.
am not sure that my life would have
been safe had she caught me.
Terror, as well as joy, lent wings to my
footsteps.
flew out of the garden, down the lane,
and up the road to the office of Mr.. Curdle.
There, in my old frock, with whitewash
daubed over it, l appeared, breathless and
voiceless, grasping in my hand, dirty and
hardened with coarse work, the proof that
was heiress to fortune.
When l went back to the homestead, it
was as its mistress, and l never saw old
Miss HUMPHREYS again.
She had returned to her former dwelling
place, leaving many anathemas behind for
me.
They never hurt me.
l found the other half of the dear old
cane, and rejoined it to its mate.
l loved it before; naturally, l loved it
more than ever now, and still keep it as
a talsman.