Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-17
it, for I have promised, and hold a

and make his revenge las he thought)
on his dead brother perfect, little
thinking this proud-spirited girl would
accept his offer "Well, Maria and
Susan will want maid and my wife'll
want q servant, so if you stay, you
stay in those capacities only"
After considering a moment:
! II accept the terms; there is nothing
else for me to do" and proud flush
mounted to her lace, as she added: II
know, sir, that he intended to leave it
all to me, but rather than show any
disrespect to his wishes, l will re-
MAIN" This, with calm dignity, as she
looked tenderly at the face she loved
so well.
Rough, ignorant, coarse man though
he was, he was forced into respectful
silence by her grief. But his calloused,
hardened heart, unknown to pity, did
not remain touched long.
| swell, We'll all be here, bag and
baggage, tomorrow, and sec that you
air everything, and remember that
you are no longer mistress here, but a.
servant" With this parting shaft he
took his departure.
The funeral, with all it's sad rites
was over. Evelyn, with several neigh
bors and friends, had accompanied the
remains to their last resting place in
the country churchyard, and she had
returned home tired, weary and heart
sick. She had not realized her loss to
the full extent until returning to the
lonely house and visiting the room he
had occupied, where she was won't to
run after a shopping expedition to
greet him and display her purchases,
she missed his familiar face, and then
she knew that she had indeed lost her
dearest friend.
She had no time, however, to brood
over her sorrow, for she had yet to
prepare for the arrival of the new
owner OF lakewood. Her proud spirit
rebelled against a seryitude which was
unjust, for she knew she was the prop
er mistress of lakewood, the home she
loved better than all else, since her IA
ther was gone.
Having superintendent the prepara-
tons for the new arrivals, she retired
to her room. not to sleep, but to think
with dread OF the morrow.
| X Il
Oakwood's new master had duly
taken possession Of it. Each succeed
ing day seemed to bring to Evelyn
new trials, and insults OF the grossest
nature were constantly being heaped
upon her. She was compelled to per-
form the most mental services for
three ignorant, coarse women, until
her life was indeed a burden to her
OF a refined, gentle nature herself, two
months OF this life had left their mark
upon her.
After day of unusually bitter ex-
perience and hard, thankless work,
she went out and seated herself under
the tree that had tapped so incessant-
lily on the window the night
her father died. This had become her
tavorite haunt at eventide after her
days work, as it had been her fathers
before her.
She reviewed the past few months in
her mind; how the man that had been
more than fnther to her had said with
his dying breath that it was his desire
she should always stay at the farm
house; the arrival OF the people she
hated at h." beloved lakewood; their
cruel he.*~l! - treatment Of her; her
life OF to- Hardship. She resolved
to leave vl'em, despite OF her promise
to the contrary.
"Poor papa,' she murmured, "you
did not think l would be treated in
this way or,you would not have asked
me to stay
So engrossed was she with her
| thoughts that she had not noticed the
gathering clouds and brewing storm
until the drops came spattering down
between the leaves of the huge tree,
and the rum bling Of distant thunder
warned her that she had better return
! to the house. She had scarcely passed
from under the tree before a sharp
flash OF lightning had rent it, and she
saw the tree that had stood for centu-
ries a broken heap! While she stood
there IN her amazement, O. white
paper fluttered to her feet. Picking
it up and examining it as closely as
possible in the failing light, she read,
Last Will ana Testament of John
Haze]ton!' Her heart seemed to al
most stop beating! She was startled
by the rasplng voice Of her mistress
| asking her "what she meant, standing
! there wasting her time when the young
| ladies we're waitineto have their hair
prepared for the night"
Hastily concealing the paper, her
heart beating high with hope, she en-
tered the house, and went Immediately
to the room where they were waiting
for her to perform the mental task Of
brushing their hair. Never did the
time seem so long to her, nor never
did they seem to want more. done
than on that night. No sooner had
she assisted them into their dressing
gown. and put on their slippers than
she donned her cloak and hood, and
went with flying steps to the village to
see Mr.. Markley, the lawyer, who had
served her father for several years.
She arrived there out of breath just
as h0was about to leave.
ooh sir, just one moment please"
she managed to say breathlessly, II
have something Of great Importance
to show you. I could not sleep until
you had seen it,
"Why, Miss Evelyn, is ityou. Come
in, my child; you should not be out
alone at this time of night"
entering his Office. lighting the
lamp and seeing her comfortably seat
ed, he opened the paper and, alter
glancing at it moment, said:
Il am indeed thankful, my child.
You are at last to be righted. This
is a will that drew up for my client
long previous to bis illness. I have
often wondered as to it's whereabouts,
but could do nothing to press its ex-
istence. But where did you find itW
he asked in puzzled way.
She told him all the story of the