Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-29

Mary Mason, and came among them
many years before. The dis ike and
distrust conceived for her extended also
to Filth, although she had been most
dutIfol child, and given no cause for
distrust. But Aunt Kate shook her
head and said they both had lying
blood " in their veins.
When Mrs. Roberts established her
self at the Ray mansion, she appeared
SO kind and benevolent, such Lady
Bountiful to the poor, such help to
the church and charitable societies, that
many of the village folk were glad of
the change.
"But 1 tell you," Miss Ray would
say. sit is there; the Old Adam has
been working all these years" And it
was true.
at the time she was SO anxious to
know what disposal Col. Ray had made
of his wealth, she employed her spare
time when there in searching for some
clew. OF course this was. always done
under cloak, and in the most adroii
manner possible. Her search was re-
warded, for, entering the library one
day, she found Col. Rays private
papers spread upon table, just as he
had left them when suddenly called
from the room. There was his will,
giving his whole estate to his wife.
thence to her heirs. Her heart almost
stopped beating. Never in her most
speculative dreams had she imagined
such good fortune. But she was doomed
to disappointment; it was only for
moment the specter was real. Beside
It was another will, giving more than
half to Richard, and the whole after her
mothers death, thus cutting her of
entirely. She cleDched her small hand
aud vowed this should lever be. Ard
10 it fell ont; after the old colonels
1eath no other will was found, and as
Mrs. Ray, his wife. was dead, Mrs.
r ,berts. being her only heir, held un-
disputed right and title.
! But the woman's conscience troubled
her. After two years she was 80 faded
/ and gray that her city friends scarcely
knew her, and her health failed also.
Edith. dear, trnsting girl. never ceased
to pine for Richard, and often ques
sioned her mother as to the necessity
of his going SO far away. when they had
plenty. Al such times the woman
would appear almost wild. and answer
her in the sharpest, most unheard-of,
manner.
Another year passed, and Mr.. Roberts
vas suddenly killed by railroad acci-
tent. and in less than q month Mrs.
Roberts followed him. She was stricken
down in night and died before morn
ing, with the awful guilt upon her sonl
Consciousness was retained, but thu
power of speech denied her. 1t seemed
10 E iith, who never left her, that some
terrible thought must have haunted
her, from the agonized expression OF
her mothers countensnce. She could
not. however, read the Unseen; but the
"Op Sesame" was nearer at hand
than che thought.
Searching. one day. in an old secre
tary standing in the library, she acci
dentally pressed her hand upon q con
cealed spring. The touch revealed q
secret drawer, and there she found the
second will, also q small jewel she re-
membered we'll. lost by her mother.
Here was the truth here her mothers
-in. The mystery about Richards
inheritance was all explained. She
was so dazed and stunned so terrified
by her mothers guilt, that for the time
it seemed she almost lost the power oi
thought; and when Hannah, the house.
keeper, found her two hours after. she
had the same strained look upon hel
face. Gradually she came to herself
There was no wavering or falteripg with
her; justice should be done. were it the
!: last act OF her life.
A letter was sent over land and sef
till it reached the distant Indies, sum
: moniDg Richard to his home. TIL.
next steamer brought him. after al
absence of four years. 1t reached tn,
wharf the last day of the year. and th'
} following New Years morning foun(
him at his old home.
Edith greeted him, not with the i'm
pulsiveness Of childhood. but the quie
! grace of true womanhuod. 1t was al
, be could do to refrain from taking he
: in his arms, 80 intense was his loDginl
TO do 80; for his heart had never wan
, dered from its idol for a moment in hi
+ distant home.
She paused only for him to obtail
, refreshment before taking him to hi
fathers library. locking the door an'
' placing the two wills before him. The
. she waited. Oh. how interminsb1y lon
, seemed those seconds, those minutes!
At LAST he looked up.
! =" Well ?" he said.
"And, Richard, it must be confessed
F It was lie and hiding. lam here il
D my mothers place to-day to ask you
e forgiveness"
: All! Aunt Kate Ray. you will b
!. satisfied now. There is no "lyiu
blood" no shrinking the truth Wit
= her. She is gold coubly refiuea.
8 The color faded from cheek and brow
l. Perhaps the sin Was SO great he coul
= not forgive. This thought had neve
. entered her mind before. She ha
s thought, with the restitution Of hi
g right, his generous nature would ovel
!. look the wrong. She told him sh
d had made arrangements to leave hl
r home at once; that the little propert
d she inherited from her father woul
E keep her in food and clothing until sh
is could obtain employment. She ha
ot many city acquaiutances who woult
Is she thought, assist her in procurin
1t mnsic pnpils.
t, Still Richard did not reply. SUI
II pose he was thipking of his step.si
!" ters sin aud the great wrong done hin
n or perhaps he was admiring the trut
e, and courage OF E lith's character; an
10 way. he had not uttered one word sine
to that "Well?" when Z lith crossed IL
le room. and laying her hand upon b
arm said,-
Is Dear Richard, for the sake of Il
q old days"
- "Dear Richard" clasped her in h
40 arms and rained kisses upon her cheek
70 lips, eyes and hair. 1t was some M
ie ments before he would allow her to FRI
,k herself from bis embrace. and then
,, told her little story, old as the su
'e vet new as the morning light. And
ae Edith listened she knew why 81
IN mourned his absence so; Why she new
cared for suitors like most girls. Al
10 Richard took his answer from her, n
III hiS vosfnroI rra,1kI, m /, Earv Vao