Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-15

lett Helen Win enough money IL panh W
carry her through the winter. Mrs. Darby
did not 90 away with the other bcarders.
She said she had no home, and if Helen
would keep her through the winter she
would be obliged. OF course Helen con-
scented, much to the dissatisfaction Of her
sisters, who thoroughly dishked the old
lady, and were decidedly adverse to her
lectures on selishness and frivolity. But
they were obliged to make the best of her
presence, since Helen had decided size
should remain.
So the winter passed. Mrs. Darby hav-
ing several severe attacks of rheumatism,
through which she was tenderly and faith
fully nursed by Helen, who felt fully re-
paid for her trouble when the old lady one
day looked at her with tears in her eyes,
and said, gratefully
a." You're the best and most unselish girl
ever knew. You've been a daughter to
me, and you'll get your reward sooner or
later, in heaven, if not on earth. "
Summer came again, and with it the
boarders, and Helen worked on as cheer
fully and indefatigably as ever, having
again a good sum laid by in the bank when
fall came, as the result of her labors.
Mrs. Darby still remained fixture in
the old house, though she had ceased to be
remunerative.
al can't pay you any longer" she said
to Helen, and of course you can turn me
out, if you choose. l could hardly expect
you to keep me without money and with.
out price.
But Helen had kissed her affectionately,
and said she might stay as long SIS she
lived, and begged her not to worry about
her money difficulties.
Naturally, Fanny, Louisa and Josie OBJ
jected to this arrangement, and declared
that Helen was taking the bread out of
their mouths to feed a stranger.
ga cross, imbeclle, lecturing old woman, :"
Josie said savsgely. Il ish we had never
seen her."
But Helen remained firm in her resolu.
ton, and was as attentive to the old lady as
she ever had been. even growing attached
sympathy and interest Mrs Darby expressed
when told of that long engagement with
the struggling young doctor.
Two years passed away, making no
change in the household, and seemingly
bringing Helen no nearer her wedding day,
and then Mrs. Darby suddenly left Bar.
vile, with the intention, she said, of going
to cousin in the city who was able to sup.
port her.
"She ought to have gone long ago to her
cousins, said Fanny. SIT was shameful
to impose upon our generosity for such a
length of time.
at would be just like her to come again
next summer, and expect us to be glad to
see her." said Josie.
But they never did see Mrs. Darby
again. A year passed and they heard
nothing of her, which seemed odd to Helen,
who had believed thoroughly in the lady's
gratitude and affection. But one morning
strange and unexpected tidings came.
Helen was busy in the pantry over her
Thanksgiving pies, when the little hand
maiden came in from trip to the Postoffioe
with letter.
Letters for Helen were rare, and she
hardly waited to wipe the -four from her
hands before tearing the missive open. 1t
was from MIR. Beck. q prominent lawyer
in the city, who briefly informed her that
Mrs. Darby was no more; and Z" had the
honor to inclose copy of the will for Miss
| Marsh's perussl.
"How can Mrs. Darby's will interest
me ?" murmured Helen. Poor old crea-
ture, she could not have had much to leave.
| Perhaps she has left me that antiquated
| jewelry of hers as token of her love-"
As she unfolded the legal document a
letter fell from it to the floor. Helen
stopped and picked it up, recognizing Mrs
| Darby's peculiar, grabbed handwriting in
the address, which was to herself. Open
ing it, she read:
| Ihave tested all my relatives as l have tested
| you, and found you alone not waiting in respect
/ and kindness for an old woman whom you believed
p-nniless. You have richly earned your reward, and
it is given as much for loves sake as because it is
| justly due you. EMMA Marsh DARBY.
Dumb with amazement, Helen stood
gazing for several minutes at the name
written at the bottom of the sheet-then
she tore open the will, and found herself
heress to eighty thousand dollars.
How spiteful - said Fanny, when she
heard the news. " She might have left US
twenty thousand apiece instead of all to
one. 1t isn't fair"
"And such hypocrisy !" cried Louise.
Think how she palmed herself off on US
| for a stranger !"
"Our own aunt, and we never guessed
| it !" said Josie. And go she didn't die
in Europe an old maid, after all If had
only known, bow differently l would have
acted"
Tom was of the opinion that Helen had
deserved the good fortune which had be-
fallen her, and, since there was nothing to
fear from poverty now, the long-deferred
wedding took place on Christmas day, and
gentle, patient Helen became at last the
wife OF the man to whom she had been SO
constant and true.
To Louisa fell the task of managing the
hsusehold affairs of the old home, but she
was spared the necessity of practicing
such rigid economy as had been the rule
in the past, for, as we may suppose, Helen
was too unselfsh not to share with her
sisters their aunt Emmas fortune i Flor.
enoe II. Birney.