The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-06-14
1 gave myself year to ind the will

garnet with sloplng roof
had pretty carpet, white cur
tains, q bookcase, Turkish chair
and dainty bed, all pink and white,
and toilet service pink and white
also.
had never done any work, ex-
cept putting this room in order, for
we had two old servants besides a
man.
Now 1 scrubbed floors and wash
ed windows and dishes, and had no
time to read 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 for me, and it was
after q long, hard fight that OBJ
tanned my books, my sewing bas-
ket, and my few window plants,
with which to make my garnet
home-like.
My black suit became shabby.
L felt ashmed to go to church, and
/ knew nowhere TO procure other
clothing.
i was very NJ iserable, but all the
while 1 never forgot my object.
Not only did / continue my search
all day, but at night l often patLer-
ed about the house in my bare feet.
had found many curious places
where a Will might well have been
hidden.
For instance, the posts of grand
fathers bedstead had hollow space
in them, covered with a carved cap,
shaped like pineapple, which came
of.
And behind the carved wooden
mantlepiece in his room-thc old
original house was a hundred years
old, they say and very curious
there was a receptacle that might
have concealed fifty Wills.
The old woman never suspected
me.
Besides, she was half the time
asleep, nodding in her char.
She had a delight in seeing me at
work, and set nae tasks as hard to
me as those the malevolent fairy
put upon poor GraciosS were to her.
Wherever was sent 1 went.
Who knew where the will might
be? ,... .
But now the year 1 had given my
self was nearly over, and the mslev-
Olent fairy of my existence had Or
dered me to whitewash the cow
house-and had agreed to do it,
with feeling upon me that endur-
snce was almost gone, that l must
leave the place if l starved.
No wonder I 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 eve don't want any
of the boards to show. Why, where
is your stick ?"
~ can't find one to fit," said I,
disconsolately. ooh, I can reach, l
think"
'You can't" she said. "The idea
of withdrawing with short brush.
Go and hunt a stick. Why, know
where there's one-in your own
room. l saw it to-day"
"Thsts dear grsndps's cane" said
az don't care. Get it," said she.
ats only a stick, caue or not"
81 won't use that in such a way"
1 said, "grandpa's cane that he used
to walk with every day-that 1
used to ride on when was baby.
Dear old cane, that seems part of
him, wouldn't use it SO for worlds"
Sentimental nonsense" said the
old woman. "The ideal When
am dead they can do what they like
with my umbrella, Pm sure. Get
the stick"
81 WON'T" said.
"Then will, and you will use it,"
said she.
Away she went to the garrett, and
down she came with the thick and
heavy cane, which had neither curve
nor carving on it-a sort of pale
gray wood polished like glass.
"Here's the stick" said she, ''snd
you'll see my word is law here"
never stirred.
"Tie the stick on the whitewash
brush and go to work." said she.
al WON'T said I.
"You won't ?"
'No."
you're pretty big girl, Beuhah
Moore" said She 'fbnt if you don't
I'll whip you"
"I dare you to touch me-" said 1.
She lifted the stick.
Pm not sure whether she would
haYe struck me, or whether it was
only in menace, that / caught it.
"Give me my grandfather's cane,
cried !, and pulled.
She pulled also. ttu.,
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 my
self up at once.
But held on to my half of gand-
pas cane, and shouted wildly for
Joy, for in an instant saw the cane
Il was not broken bat that it was
made In two halves, and that the
one held was hollow.
Something protruded from It.
| All saw was q bit of stiff, crack
ling parchment, but I knew as well
as ever did anything, when / drew
1t out, that / had found grandfather1s
will at last.
She knew 1t, too.
She scrambled up, as I f1onrished
1t over my head, and flew at me.
am not sure that my life would
have been safe had she canght me.
Terror, as well as Joy, lent wings
to my footsteps.
few out of the garden down
the lane, and mp TO the office of Mr..
Curdle.
There, in my old frock, white
wash aaubed oyer 1t, / appeared,
breathless and voiceless, grasped in
my hand, dirty and hardened with
course work, the proof that I was
heiress to q fortune. jog s
| When went back to the home
stead, it was as It's mistress, and
never saw old Miss HUMPHREYS
again. s
She had returned to her former
home, leaving many anathemas be-
hind for me. ~
1 found the other half of the
dear old cane, and rejoined it to its
mate. ~
i I loved it before, naturally
loved it more than ever then, and
still keep il as q talisman.
Love blooms like the roses,
n With beauty untold; -
Though tried In the IRE,
CLOVIS friendship like gold.
The roses are scattered