The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-07-10

niece; SO they did have some claim,
being next-of-kin; and they just turn
ed Miss Graham out of the room. and
I had orders not to let her in. But [
did, for all, and many a night she has
cried and cried over her adopted moth
Ell because she did not know her, and
petted and kissed her. 1t was shame
full to keep her out, and the breath was
not gone from the old lady's body be-
fore Mrs. Timothy sent her out OF the
house. She was at the funeral, poor
child, all in deep black"
''Where is she nOw?'
tell you mine,' said the hateful old
woman. ''She is getting her living in
a shop, and that's all you'll get out OF
me-"
And not another word would she say.
But made up my mind then that the
old lady had actually come back from
the grave to send that message to Ma
rie, and l was determined to deliver it.
Uncle John had told me that lawyer
"a Mr.. Hughes-was paying the bills
and settling up the property.
| worried and studied over it for al
most a week, and determined to 60 to
Mr.. Hughes.
He was an old gentleman, and busy
cne, but very good natured. [ told all
about it, excepting what the old lady
said. and that | wasn't going to tell to
any body but the person it was intend
ed for.
He was very grave over my story,
and at last said:
''You want to see Miss Graham?'
eyes, sir. 1t may not make any Diff
ference, but l think she ought to know
what Mrs. Holwell said.''
Yes, she ought to know. I will ask
her to meet you here tomorrow"
SO the next day l went back. The
sweetest young lady | ever saw was in
Mr.. Hughes's Office. and she said to me:
You may speak before Mr.. Hughes.
have no secrets he may not hear"
So l gave the message word for
word, and they both spoke at once:
1.-The lost will!"
Then Miss Graham told me that Mrs.
Howell had made will, leaving her
a handsome property, but it could not
be found. Mr.. Hughes had drawn it
up, but Mrs. Howell kept it herself.
When it was missing, MI. Timothy
and his wife were the next heirs, and
Mr.. Timothy would have come in any
how, for what his uncle left by his will.
1t was only Mrs. HolWelPs own money
that was left to Miss Graham; but Mrs.
Timothy took that when there was no
will found. The dressing-case was one
the old lady had bought in Paris years
before. and nobody but Miss Graham
and herself knew about the secret
drawer.
1t was none of my business to ask
questions, SO | went away, but Miss
Graham did not forget me.
She came one day not long after and
told me that Mr.. Hughes had insisted
upon one more search for the will, and
had found it in the dressing-case. 1t
gave Miss Graham handsome house
that Mrs. Howell had rented to other
people while she lived, and an income
that made her rich.
She was so grateful to me that real
ly think she would have given me half
her money had 1 asked her. But she
has not forgotten me. She helped ed
ucate my two boys, and Mr.. Hughes
has one one of them in his office now,
and she never buys a rosebud any,
where but at my shop. 1t is mine now.
Uncle John left it to me when he died,
and my eldest son is with me in the
business.
We furnished the flowers for Miss
Graham's wedding two years after Mrs.
Howell died, and a prettier bride
never saw.
Her husband comes in for flowers for
her, and she comes in the carriage with
her children and buys all they can car
ry home.
And we have a standing order for
the cemetery lot where old Mrs. Hol-
well lies, and all summer it is one mass
OF growing plants, and in winter we
send out cut flowers twice a week.
Yes, Marie Graham was grateful;
but only did my duty, when I under
stood the Importance of the message
which was as one from the grave.