The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-15
HER INHERITANCE.


swayed and writhed savagely; occasion
ally little showers of dry, dead leaves,
that were not sodden and decayed Hurried
up and down; and the roar of the fire in
the chimney completed the outside pic
ture of dull afternoon.
In Miss Miners sitting-room, however,
everything was as cosy and delightful as
could be desired, with their heavy cords
and tassels, and the carpet to match in
tint, and the furniture of light gray da-
mask pulled with crimson, and the gray
and gold wall paper, and the pretty
knickknacks here and there that finished
the room in such admirable taste. And
Miss Hettie Miner, sitting before the
open grate-stove fire, her black silk skirt
turned carefully back over her lap, and
her substantially made pebble-goat boots
resting comfortably on the fender.
An elderly woman-forty odd-with a
sharp, shrewd face and bright little eyes,
and a resolute look around her mouth. A
homely outspoken woman, who was
proud to say she never had been in love,
who lived in luxury, although on small
scale, and who had $4,000 in govern
when she died; and in all the world she
Carl, her married sister, and Mr.. Parker
Dollingby, her half-brother. who, be-
sides being Unfortunately jealous that old
simon Carmen had LETT Hetty his for
tune, Just because she had happened to
befriend him in his poor anti-mining
days, were very much given to toadying
her and writing affectionate letters to
her, and loading her with presents, and
sx,x az al Of vrh
Miss Miner accepted in q matter-of-fact
way, and in turn did exactly as she
pleased.
This especial afternoon, as she satmed-
itatively before the fire, she suddenly
broke the stiffness, with an energy of
speech that made the young girl, reading
in the bay window, nearly concealed by
the curtains, look startingly up from
her book.
"Ellice, you're fool"
Evidently Ellice Dunning had not lived
five years as companion and personal at
tendant to Miss Miner in vain, for she
manifested no surprise at the rough
speech, beyond the swift, brief little
startled look in her soft winey-brown
eyes.
She closed her book and came out into
the room, little flush on her face.
do You think so, Miss Miner?'
"Most certainly I think so, or should
not have said so. You are fool, Ellice
Dunning, and hate to see you throw
yourself away 80 foolishly. Do show
your common sense, if you have got any,
and let that young jackanapes of doctor
20. You're better off without him. I'll
give you new seal skin sacque this win
ter il you'll give him up"
II couldn't give him up, Miss Miner;
I love him too WELL"
Miss Miner looked sarcastically at Ell
Ices sweet, flushed face, and gave little
sniff of contempt.
"What nonsense! You love him too
we'll Love indeed It's all absurdity.
I never was in love in my life."
"I-can't help that, Miss Miner. love
Frank and he loves me. We'd be per-
fectly miserable if we were parted.
Please don't tell me must give him up!
Indeed it is impossible. We are engaged
to be married just as soon as he comes
back from his visit home"
Miss Miner dropped her feet from the
polished silver bar to the tiled hearth
with a resonant bang as she jumped up,
Indignantly.
Engaged to be married to DR.. OLE
vim! Did ever! Well, Ellice Dunning-
very we'll! You may pack my hand valise
ct once. am going to New York on q
visit by the $3.50 train, and I'll he home
on Thursday. When come back, don't
let me find you here, yon ungrateful lit
tie wretch-you!
Ellice's lips quivered, and her eyes
filed with diamond bright tears.
miss Minerl You don't mean-to-
turn me awsy?"
"That's Just what mean! have told
you time and again, didn't approve of
men beaux and love making, and won't
have it where 1 am! You can take your
choice-me or DR.. Olevin. I'll give you
Just five minutes"
A little red flush crept to the girls
cheek.
II don't want five minutes for choice,
Miss Minerl'' she said proudly. "You
have been very good to me, and think
/ have done my duty by you. But moth
ing-no one could come between me
and DIR. Olevin."
"All right, then. Don't let me see
you here when I come back-that's
all"
And then Ellice went up to Miss
Miners room and packed the red Rus
IT, ..kcHol lro~raA fou, koora o1,o