The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-01-04
ONE FARTHING DAMAGES.
CHAPTER I.

In darkened chamber, dark with the
awful shadow still more than with the
lack of material light, four persons were
gathered round a bed, on which lay man
bearing in his face the unmistakable signs
Of the summons which none can refuse to
answer \ weeping girl knelt by the
bedside, her face bent over the nerveless
hand which lay upon the cOverlct, and
which she held rs though by that convul.
Sivc clasp she could hold her father still
To life. The doctor and nurse stood quiet
ly aside, as having done their part and
waiting for the inevitable end. A shaded
amid the surrounding gloom, and within
It's cleaning circle, at table covered
with papers and writing materials, sat the
diving mans solicitor engaged in the
preparation of his will. The Instructions
were short and simple. Bernard Hope
had but one near relative, his daughter
Mary, now kneeling by his bedside, and
to her. as was natural, he desired to leave
his few possessions.
Afte- AN interval of silence, broken only
by the suppressed sobs of the weeping
girl and the monotonous scratching of the
attorneys pen upon the paper, he paused
and inquired in a harsh unpleasant voice:
what names shall insert as trustees
You should have two ut least"
The dying man paused ere he replied
with an effort:
"Geoffrey Howard, Major One Hun
dred and Eleventh, now in India. have
no other friend"
"In that case may venture to offer my
humble services, subject to the usual pro-
viso. should be delighted to he useful
to Miss Hope; and If your friend is
A.. -
"True, Slythorpe, thank you. Make
yourself trustee, then, with Maj. Howard.
Legacy, 600 for your trouble"
NAY, my dear sir, quite unnecessary.
really -"
But again tie ready pen travelled over
the paper: and quarter of an hour later
Mr.. Slvthorpe announced that the dOcu.
ment was ready for execution, and in q
low mechanical monotone read over its
provisions. The sick man seemed more
than once to lose consciousness during
the reading, but at the close he ap.
peared to nerve himself for supreme
effort
"Yes, that will do. Give me the pen, -
he said; and with q shaking hand affixed
his signature, and with eager eyes watched
the doctor and nurse as they added their
own as witnesses, after which he sank
back exhausted on his pillow. "Thank
God, that's safev' he gasped. "Mary,
my child, you and Geoffcy-you and
Godfrey! What was saying! God bless
you, my darling! God bless -"
These were the last words Bernard Hope
ever spoke. For little while he lay
with half-closed eyes. still breathing, but
past all consciousness of earthly things.
The doctor stepped noiselessly to the bed
side and laid finger on the fluuering
pulse, now beating with unnatural quick.
ness, now failing altogether. Another
quarter of an hour passed. quarter OF
ious watchers-and then the doctor laiG
down the thin white hand and tendcrl1
touching the head of the orphaned girl
said: lG
my dear. the Lord gave, and the Lori
has taken away. Your father has passet
to better wOrld.'
CHAPTER II.
A year had passed away since Bernart
Hopes death, and Mary still remained III
inmate Of the house of Mrs. Murgatroyd
the good woman whom we have seen il
attendance at her fathers last illness, and
who, to her occasional occupation q,
nurse, added the more permanent one oI
letting lodgings. Mary's sweet face ant
gentle manner had quite won the heart o.
her good .natured landlady, who was un
ceasing in her endeavors to soothe he
grief and minister to her comforts. Mar,
still showed in face and figure the token
of the fiery trial through which she hat
passed. Her slight form looked slighte
still in her soft black drapery, and tn,
shadow of an unforgotten sorrow still
rested on her delicate features. Mar
Hope had been her fathers constant com
panion; and she sorely missed the happ!
hours in which his powerful intellect anl
varied experience had been unfolded TO
her benefit. But she had, too, anothc
trouble-none the less hard to bear that
was one in which she could have. fey
confidants. Maj. Howard, Of whom men