The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-11-11
he was. he was forced into respectful
silence by her grief But his calloused.
hardened heart, unknown to pity, did

not remain touched long.
"Well, we'll all be here, bag and
baggage tomorrow, and see that you
air everything, and remember that you
are no longer mistress here, but SER
want" With this parting shaft he took
his departure.
The funeral, with all its sad rites was
over. Evelyn, with several neighbors
and friends, had accompanied the re-
mains to their last resting place in the
country churchyard, and she had re-
turned 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 wont to
run after shopping expedition to
greet him and display her purchases,
she missed his familiar face, and then
she knew that she had indeed lost her
best, 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 Oakwood. Her proud spirit
rebelled against servitude which was
unjust, for she knew she was the prop
er mistress of Oakwood, the home she
loved better than all else, since her
father was gone.
Having superintended the prepara-
tions for the new arrivals, she retired
to her room. not to sleep. but to think
with dread of the morrow.
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 ma
ture were constantly being heaped
upon her. She was compelled to per-
form the most menial services for three
ignorant, coarse women, until her life
was indeed burden to her. Of re-
fined, gentle nature herself, two
months of this life had left their mark
upon her.
After day of unusually bitter expe-
rience and hard, thankless work, she
went out and seated herself under the
tree that had tapped SO necessarily on
the window the night her farther died.
This had become her favorite 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 father to her had said with
his dying breath that it was his desire
that she should always stay at the
farm house; the arrival of the people
she hated at her beloved Oakwood;
their cruel, heartless treatment of her;
her life of toll and hardship. She re-
solved to leave them, despite her
promise to the contrary.
Poor papa" she murmured, "you
did not think I would be treated 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 scattering down
between the leaves of the huge tree,
and the rumbling of distant thunder
warned her that she better return to
the house. She had scarcely passed
from under the the tree, before q sharp
flash of lightning had rent it, and she
saw the tree that had stood for CEN
turies. a broken heap! While she
stood there in her amazement, a white
paper fluttered to her feet. Picking
it up and examining it as closely as
possible in the failing light, she read,
'Last Will and Testament of John
Hazeltonr' Her heart seemed to al
most stop beating! She was startled
by the rasping voice of her mistress
asking her what she meant, standing
there wasting her time when the
young ladies were waiting to 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 menial 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 gowns. and
put on their slippers than she donned
her cloak and hood. and went with fly
ing steps to the village to see Mr..
Markley, the lawyer, who had served
her father for several years. She arriv-
ed there out of breath just as he was
about to leave.
'Oh, sir, just one moment, please"
she managed to say breathlessly, II
have something of great Importance to
show you. 1 could not sleep until you
had seen it,"
why. Miss Evelyn, it is youp Come
in. my child; you should not be out
alone at this time of night"
Re-entering his Office, lighting the
lamp and seeing her comfortably
seated, he opened the paper and. after
glancing at it a moment said.
Il am indeed thankful, my child.
You are at last to be righted. This is
q will that drew up for my client
long previous to his illness, I have
often wondered as to its whereabouts,
but could do nothing to prove its ex-
istence. But where did you find ita"
he asked in puzzled way.
She told him all the story of the
broken tree.
II think I understand" he resumed.
He had long feared this stepbrother' s
stealing it, and would not trust 1t out
of his own hands, and did, no doubt,
put it there for safe keeping. and by
Providence it has been given to its