The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-03

The girl did not speak. She stood
looking around the familiar room, and
her eyes grew dark with agony. Evil
IDENTIFY her resolve was taken.
"The dear old place-it seemed part of
my very self. It never before was beau
tiful and dear as now, when it was to be
my home and his. It has seemed lonely
and irksome-it never could do any more.
And must give it up.
This was fixed as an unuterable law in
her mind. The condition being fulfilled
which decree it to another, the jumpers
must forthwith pass into other hands.
There could be no dou bt that Adelaide
was heart broken. She locked as If
some terrible illness had settled upon
her. Aunt Resolve was utterly shattered
by the. girls state, but now Adelaide was
the stronger of the two in maintaining a
settled purpose.
The latter had guardian whom she
saw annually. She wrote to him, ac'
quainting him with the message from
the deceased, and briefly relinquishing
the property, as she wished him to take
steps to discover the former owners of
the Junipers--a process which Aunt
Resolve thought would not be difficult,
though she did not know them.
Il would not have done it, dear" she
said, sick in bed. II would have you
live and die, upon the old place. fear
-ah, 1 fear you will miss everything
now--for Capt. Somers has no home and
he will roam from and forget you? 1t is
human nature. These long deferred
marriages never turn out we'll. You
know your marriage with him must be
deferred, don't you?"
eyes"
The girl uttered the one sad mono
syllable and said no more.
And. now the time was flying, Capt
Somers she expected daily, for he said
he would return to her in less than
month. She finally brought herself to
write to him and tell him what had hap
pened. He made no reply.
This added a pang. She saw plainly
what it would be. He could not provide
for her adequately. Such support as he
could afford her. and which she would
have gladly accepted, sweet if shared
with him, he would not offer. She must
find home in Florida with some of her
mothers unknown relatives, and they
would drift apart finally forever. Aunt
Resolve was right.
A storm set in. Day by day the rain
beat about the house, and the signing of
the wind filled the girls heart with
dread.
At last there came letter from her
guardian. 1t ran as follows:
"MY DEAR ApELAIDE:-I have been
unusually fortunate in finding the right
full owner of the jumpers. He will
make his appearance there Thursday,
after which l will see you at an early day.
LUTHER MESSENGER"
Not a word of sympathy or regret. 1t
seemed to Adelaide as if all the world
had suddenly turned her enemy.
And still another day the storm cid.
The jumpers tossed in the rainy wind
and the wild air had voices of cruel in
significance. Or was Adelaide's mind
given away under trouble? She had so
anticipated such far-reaching result
that she seemed already deep in years of
suffering.
Alone, on a mournful evening, she
was suddenly electrified by coarse voice
demanding
Where is that woman that's been a
keepin' me out of my lawful rights? l
just want to set my eyes on her.
Was her home to go to such people =?
Her heart sank, but the heavy step
came on.
Suddenly the door flung open, and
smiling there stood Captain Somers.
Dearest, have come"
He caught her hands and drew her to
her feet. She uttered a cry Of delight,
then broke into u sohbing sigh as she
felt herself clasped to his breast
"Oh only TO mart nv belOyed! she
cried.
Not at all, my dear one; for am the
master of the jumpers. BY your grand
fathers decree, which bestows it upon
the poorest member of the defrauded
family. it becomes mine, and the next
month sees our wedding"
And it was even so.