Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-12
It was Mrs. Wsyman who received

said, with Q sob. Everything is so
strange! Mr.. Morton, Mr.. Hurst's law.
yer, has been here and arranged for the
funeral. and had TO meet him. Alma
is Frustrated.
THAT is NATURAL" said Mrs. Weston.
wondering if Mrs. Wayman knew OF
Alma's note.
1.-THE state she is In is not natural
She grieves for her father, but is
crushed by some other sorrow l cannot
guess. 1 would not speak to any one
so freely, but you have q right to my
confidence. Already-think of it and
her father not yet buried. Alma has
told Mr.. Morton to have the house and
grounds sold, to convert all MIR. Hurst's
property into money and deposit it in
the bank subject to check. Imagine !!
Why, he has left over hundred thou
sand dollars. And Alma herself She
looked as if she had risen from her own
grave. She says she will see no one,
not even your son, and altogether is in
a state that terriies me. hardly dare
to suggest it, but if you we're to 60 to
her loom unexpectedly, you might win
her confidence. l fear she needs
friendly counsel, but she will tell me
nothing"
Reluctant still, Mrs. Weston assented
and went to the familiar room where
she had spent many pleasant hours with
Alma. Her tap being unanswered, she
pushed the door gently open, and stood
COMPOUNDED.
Could the ghastly object confronting
her be the fair, sweet-faced girl she had
seen twenty -four hours before? Her
hair, that was always carefully ar
ranged, with natural, girlish pride in
its waving profusion, was pushed back
in roughened, disheveled mass, as if
untouched for hours; her large eyes
had sunken into hollows, and were
burning in face as deathlike in pallor
as that of the corpse lying in another
part of the house. She still wore the
white dress she had worn the previous
day, but it was crushed and limp, and
hung about her without any of the
dainty neatness that had always charac-
terized her attire. Even her voice was
changed, hollow and dull, as she said
4 am sorry you have GOMEZ
"Sorry. Alma y cried Mrs. Weston,
losing all resentment at the sight of
such evident suffering. my dear
child, who should comfort you If Hor.
aces mother has not the power
"No one can comfort me. Horace
must forget he ever knew me. Only q
few days more and I shall be gone from
your
ALMA, what troubles you? Tell
me Remember was soon to have q
mothers right to your confidence"
Thank Heaven, you are saved !"
was the reply, given with solemnity
that startled her hearer.
MY dear Alma, You terrify mel
What is the sorrow that is crushing
your
II cannot tell you" said the girl, her
eyes seeming to be seeking escape, as
though of an animal, newly trapped.
I can tell no ono. I am to be as dead.
Do you understand I died to every
body, to love, to happiness, even to
hope, yesterday. am going away,
where you will never see me, never
hear of me-"
But Alma. you cannot. We have a
right to some explanation. Horace will
never submit to such q rejection"
The girl shuddered, and then with
ashy lips, she said -
"Tell Horace that he never had so
great cause for gratitude as he has to-
day. Had my father lived few months
longer should have been Horace's
wife, and-his curse!''
For heavens sake, Alma, cease to
speak in riddles. Horace asks no
greater happiness than to call you his
wife. Twill send him to you. He may
persuade You to listen to reason"
DO not send him. I will not see
him! Oh" she cried, wildly, show
you torture me !" and throwing her
arms above her head, she dropped
senseless upon the floor.
"She is going to have brain fever,
and her trouble is delirium !" thought
Mrs. Weston, perplexed, angry, and yet
pitiful.
But Alma did not have brain fever.
DR.. Hale, sent for in haste, ordered
perfect quiet, and the girl was merci.
fully left with only Mrs. Wayman's
motherly care, until after the funeral.
On the very day her father was buried
cAo uAoVu ~ ALL MOGtOu b ONCE, and
left with him her fathers last written
Words
" My daughter, Alma, is to have per-
feet control Of my entire property, US
soon as I am buried, to use as she un.
derstands to be my dying will.
JAMES Horst"
1t was long interview, and the last
words we're the death blow of Horace
Westons hope of an end of his per-
plexity.
You promise to give my address to
no one ?" Alma said.
g have promised. trust you, and
am willing to believe your duty to the
dead dictates your strange course of
conduct. But if you ever can contide
In me, you shall not want friendly
counsel"
The next day. when Horace sought
the longed-for interview with his he.
trothed, he found the house closed and
empty, and Mr.. Morton absolutely
dumb regarding his clients move.
ments. Moved at last by the young
mans agony, the old lawyer said =
Whatever Miss Hurst's secret NAV