The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-04-11

TO mhTle bhu uuIy, LOT bne really
loved the old lady, who had been 80
kind to her.
With the renewed strength and clear
voice which is sometimes given dying
person, she gave o few explicit direc-
tions.
Jest hand me that tin box out o.
theupper drawer o. my bureau, Marie" I"
She did as she was hidden. "An' now
want that umberel O. mine out O. the
closet"
A faint smile touched Marie's lips
as she brought an old brown umbrella
that had been the derision of her sis
ters Aunt Tabby took it in her trem-
bling hands and deposited it carefully
on the bed beside her. Then she opened
the box.
''Now, here in this old black wallet
is a hundred dollars calkerlate it
will pay my funeral expenses. An
here in this brown wallet is 5000 more,
which I give into your charge, Marie,
to help pay some of the house expense.
An here is my will. You take care O.
that, Marie, an see that everything
goes straight as I have got it. Lawyer
Sibley drew it up an you can get him
to read it when I'm gone. An, Abner,
l give to you this umberel o. mine.
Take good care ont, an maybe it will
help be purtection to your old age.
/ guess that's all--Only, Marie--you
may give my old clothes to Nanny
Giddons. Don't bury me in my best
dress. Give it to her; second best will
do % And with these strange words
she turned her head on the pillow and
expired.
A few hours later Marie, standing in
the porch, with the sunset rays falling
| about her, said to Abner:
81 hope you won't feel insulted by
Aunt Tabby's giving you that dread
ful umbrella. 1t was a singular thing
for her to do, but you know she was
partly crazy. know she thought a
great deal of you, Abner I wish she
had done something for you"
"Never mind, Marie, 1 shall not
hold it against her, you may be sure
and as for the umbrella, if were at all
believer in luck-which 1 am not
l should say the poor old weather.
beaten thing will certainly bring it to
me. l shall certainly take care of it,
as she said"
Celinda and Clara were in haste to
learn the contents of the will.
Not until after the funeral" said
Marie, decidedly.
And SO, after those last rites were
performed, Lawyer Sibley was called
to read the will. 1t bequeathed $1,000
to Mr.. and Mrs. Fosdick, 800 to Ce-
linda and Clara and $4,000 to Marie.
"How strange that she did not men
tion her farm in Vermont! She has
not spoken of disposing of it; but per-
haps she has done so and this money
is the price. Still, should thought
she would have mentioned il, said
Marie to Abner.
The next morning it was raining as
Marie stepped into the darkened
porch.
''There's a chance for your new
umbrella, Abner," said Marie, smiling
a little. He answered with a look
which showed no signs of offense.
Now, Abner, we must make ar.
rangements for you to have more help.
We can do it now. You have worked
too hard. ] shall never forget your
fsithfulness and you shall be paid as
far as money is concerned. Most
young men would have gone away and
left us in such straits
81 don't know who could leave YOU,
Marie" he said, with an earnestness
which made her cheeks flush. Just
then Celinda called from the dining
room:
81 want to go out, Marie My UNI
brella is broken, and SO is pas Can't
1 take yours?"
Eyes, came the reply, and they
watched Celinda and Clara as they
waded persistently through the little
puddles between the door and gate.
81 think I'll take my new one" said
Abner, and he soon reappeared with it.
As he opened it large paper fell to
the floor from the inner folds and
folded note also fell out. Abner read
the note first:
"To Abner Mason I hain't watched you
all summer for nothin', an I've made up nv
AAiuu lnut Wudl Is yours Will De pretty likely
TO be Maries, too. So / hereby give you the
deed of my farm in Vermont. know you
viii make good use of il. Keep the old nm
berel in remembrance of me.
''rABITHA SIMNDs."
II was several moments before the
young people could speak, and then
Abner said:
'Is it true, Marie? Will you Bot
what is mine be yours?"
Marie's answer was tearfully but
happily given.
'But we will not leave father and
mother at present"
"Surely not-but by and by we can
make our plans"
When the winter SHOWS came they
fell upon the graves of the aged compile
to whom sickness could come no more,
and in the early spring Abher and
Marie went to their new home. The
old brown umbrella was carefully pre-
served as a most precious relic-Chi-
cago News.