The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-08-31

pened to her boy!
Away founced Miss Pratt
you've put Piety into rage, Corne-
lia," said Mrs. Rashleigh. "TAeS a
pity; she has long tongue!"
But Cornelia was crying. 4-1N
"Oh, mother, DEAR" she sobbt4 ST
isn't true, is it? Orville did feel dread
fully. Won't you see, mother?"
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigh's,
came flying into the room, without any
more warming than if she had been shot
from gun.
"The old missus says you are to come
over at once, both you ladiesI' she cried,
standing before Mrs. Rashieigh, and re-
peating her lesson like a parrot.
"There's something of importance, and
you're needed at worst"
Get your bonnet, Cornelia," said her
mother. IN just put on this sun hat.
What is it, Sally, do you know"
81 know it's something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's lots of
folks there. Something about Mr..
Spear"
The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandma's parlor, found there assembled
more of the members of the Spear
family, and friend or two besides.
Orville had indeed disappeared. He
had never been home since his visit to
Cornelia; and now the alarmed relatives
were anxious to get all the information
they could regarding the interview be-
tween Orville and Cornelia.
IT had reason to be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Cornelia, proudly; "good
reason; and took off my ring, and gave
it back, and went out of the room. That
is all know. don't know when he
went or where. II thought he wouldn't
mind so much. I believed he had
stopped caring about me-"
HE ought to now, at all events" said
grandma.
"My boy is dead, I'm sure! I shall
have the pond dragged" said Mrs.
Spear, amidst her tears. HE left all
his money at home. He wouldn't have
gone travelling without a change of
clothes. Oh, you wicked girl"
81 hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
'that he'll haunt you"
ST could kill you, you hateful thing!"
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until
now; but when her two friends turned
upon her thus, she gave a little scream,
and fell over on the sofa. She was in q
dead swoon and the water they sprinkled
in her face did not bring her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
'I hope it ism I an attack of heart dis
ease" she said. "Poor child she looks
as if she were dead"
"Oh, do not say that !" cried the
mother.
They gathered around Cornelia and
did all they could for her; and soon she
recovered and sat up; but all her pride
was gone.
"Oh, dear!-oh, dear!" she sobbed.
81 wish I had died! wish I had never
come to! Oh, Orville! Orville! what
has become of your"
"Oh! ohI' moaned the mother.
"Oh! ohr' moaned the sisters.
And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma, get the lavender out of the
china-closet," said grandma to her
daughter. ''Ouick! It's on the corner
shelf!'
Mrs. Rashleigh rushed to the closet.
st won't openw she cried wildly.
"It's patent lock-" said grandma
clocks as it shuts. Here's the key"
And Mrs. Rashleigh few back to the
door, opened it, and uttered shriek.>
There on the floor, huddled up under
the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
He was white and limp.
| Cornelia sat and ssared at him in the
most awful way. She thought him dead,
but the more experienced matron saw
that he was yet living.
Sally was sent post haste for the doc
tor; and there in Mrs. Rashleigh's draw.
ing-room he found Cornelia and Orville
lying quite unconscious, like Romeo and
Juliet in the scene at the tomb, and the
rest of the party in state of bewilder
ment and terror past description.
At last, however, both were conscious
and seated in arm-chairs, regarded eacf
other, while the observers kept silence
and Mr.. Orville Spear uttered the frs
words.
"Of all COMPOUNDED fools"
"Who, dear ?" asked his mother.
me. said Orville. regardless of gram
mar. "Who shut me in ="
"What were you in the closet for?'
asked grandma, with . guilty consci
ence.
ITO pick something up that rolled
there" said Oyvills.
'The rings" asked Cornelia, fran
aYs., the rins," said Mr.. Spear
"More fool T.! Some one banged th
door 10. shouted. and hou1ed. and