The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-17

Evelyn, with quiet dignity, rose
wonderingly, and said, aWho are
you, sir, and why do youthus rudely
intrude or my sorrow?"
who am / and why do / intrude?
I'd have you understand / have more
right here than you-a poor pauper
and founding. ] am that old fellows
brother" nodding scornfully at the
coffin, land have come to demandth
will that he left" The remembrance
came to her in ar instant Of the step
brother, whose reputation went far
from reassuring her.
THE will?" in a surprised tone.
why, he didn't leave any"
An exultant, fiendish look passed
over his face. The thought flashed
through her head-if there was no will
she was penniless for she could claim
nothing legally.
"Eh, didn't leave any2 Well, then,
see that you hurry this old fellow off
and you yourself take your depar6-
ure as soon as possible. You under.
stand2 ], as the only living relative,
will fall heir TIC, it ALL"
Her lonely condition now forced it.
self upon her in all it's awful aspects.
20, but, sir, l have no place else to
go, and it was his last wish that I
should always remain at lakewood.
And" with decision, 81 shallnot leave
1T, for | have promised, and / hold a
promise made to the dead sacred"
at was, eh2" he said, determined to
insult her to the extent of his power,
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 a maid and my wife'll
want a servant, SO If you stay, you
stay in those capacities only"
After considering a moment:
81 accept the terms; there is nothing
else for me to do" and a proud flush
mounted to her face, as she added: 81
know, sir, that he intended to leave it
all to me, but rather than show any
disrespect to his wishes, I 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.
"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 q
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-p 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 wont to
run after q 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 servitude which was
unjust, for she knew she was the prop
er mistress of lakewood, the home she
loved better than all else, since her fa-
Their was gone.
Having superintendent the prepare
tions for the new arrivals, she retired
TO her room, not to sleep, but to think
with dread OF the morrow.
X *
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 q day of unusually bitter ex-
p~erience and hard, thankless work,
she went out and seated herself under
the tree that had tapped SO incessant-
ly on the window the night
her father died. This had become her
favorite haunt at eventide after her
day work. as it had been h~erfather's
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
she should always stay at the farm
house; the arrival of the people she
hated at her beloved Oakwood; their
cruel heartless treatment oil her; her
life of toll and hardship. She resolved
to leave them, despite OF her PROMISE
to the contrary.
Poor papa" she murmured, You
did not think ! would be treated in