The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-26


which was matter of so much anxious
thought to sc many friends. ''Now
pack these carefully, and address the
box to my little daughter Linda. The
others give to Dashe and Star"
"Yes, SIR" said Maze, glibly as to
tongue, heavily as to heart; nothing
was assigned to him-not a cup, not a
vase-and he had spent his time, and
some of his not over fat substance, in
earwigging the old gentleman, hoping
for a substantial solatium when all was
over. And now he saw himself cut
out by the little girl whom he did not
know, and ofswhose friendship with the
mortally jealous.
Dear little Linda!' said Mr.. Walters,
family; "she was always good and du-
tiful daughter to me; she never angered
me; never crossed me, and want her to
have something by which to remember
her old father to the end of her life. Are
those cups well packed, Maze?"
Eyes, sir; perfectly"
"No chance of being bruised or bat
tered, or shaken on. by the way?-no
chance of those thieves in the custom
house putting their rowing fingers into
the pie, and pulling out a stray plum
hey?"
mo, sir; I have done them up as care
fully as if they were for myself" said
MazS.
"That is right, Maze. You will see to
it all for my little girl?-see that she gets
them all safe and sound, and in the state
in which they are now?"
II will see to it all, Mr.. Walters; you
may rely on me-" said Maze.
at will be worse for you if you do
not do your duty" said the old man.
mark ray words, Maze-worse for you"
Eyes, sir" said Maze, submissively;
and with that the old master. turned his
face to the wall aud died. The last act
of his life had been to bequeath that box
of rare old plate to his favorite pupil and
adopted daughter Linda.
When all was over, and the brave old
man was buried beneath the shadow of
the yew tree, in the church yard at Tours,
Maze wrote letter to Linda, in which
he told her of her old father friends be-
quest; but added this paragraph, which
somewhat spoilt the rest:
II have dope my duty and fulfilled
my promise to my. old friend in inform
ing you of this legacy; but now put it
to you to say whether or not you will ac
cept it. Honorably and rightfully it
belongs to certain members of his fam
lily, who have incurred much expense
without remuneration during this last
illness of their relation, and, who, there
fore, are Justly entitled to all there was
to leave. About this there can be no
two opinions with honorable people. AS
| T <k,,,ly Of khnco r,annla ond
will, therefore, see things in the light in
which have put them, I will hold the
box over until receive your instrnc-
lions as to its destination-that is,
whether you will profit by the last mo-
han, or restore to the family what should
never have been willed from them?"
Linda was not slow in deciding. One
of those sensitive people who pride
themselves on the purity of their love,
she would always rather give than re-
ceive. Ard, indeed, to receive benefits
from those whom she loved was always
matter of some pain to her. This letter
set her imagination ablaze. She seemed
to hear the sneers of those who laughed
at the clever way in which she had feath-
cred her nest-the mastery manner in
which abe had got round the old man, so
thct he should leave her this splendid
legacy; and she seemed to hear the re-
proaches of those members of the family
who had incurred expense without
remuneration, and who, therefore,
naturally expected to receive whatever
there might be to leave. 1t would be
dishonorable to accept this bequest, it
would be mean and selfish and ..un-
worthy. Mr.. Maze was quite right. 1t
was her duty to renounce it. Where
upon she wrote an impulsiye letter, full
of high feeling and self abnegation, and
gave up her legacy for the sake of those
uudesignated members to whom it right
fully belonged. And she thanked Mr..
Maze for his kindness in telling her the
truth.
When be read that letter, Maze laughed
softly to himself, and passed the box
through the Custom House.
Linda did not regret what she had
done-those who act from principle
never debut she was certainly rather
surprised not to receive word of thanks,
nor even of acknowledgement, from any
one. Even Maze did not reply, and GER
tainly no member of the family here or
elsewhere sent her line. She let the
thing pass, not troubling much about it;
only thinking to herself that they were
not quite SO courteous to her as she
would have been to them, had their posi-
tons been reversed, and that she did not
envy them their manners.
Tho Lolo;dnacora of kiroa cbopoo1 All