New-York tribune., 1896-05-31

wh9 ,nIIked the cows ana did all the 'chores."
for chores must be done, whether people i've VI
die -,oosod
that we hire a boy: thought | could do great
deal Of work myself, and with boy 10 neip us u.
we might get along until something permanent
could ba arranged. .,
Instead of replying. mother rose from her cha'r
end went TO the old desk that always STOOD at
the end Of the long kitchen.
She unlocked It. then she stood a moment Iooh- IN
ing at the key which she had Withdrawn from us
place. . -, 49, ,r
| feel wicked lookn mong his papers that ne
KEEP so close lie never used to keep um so. WI,
helminy," turning tremulously toward me-,
think we're p0or--t think we aint got cont"
rose and flung open the desk cat down pe-
fore IT, determined to know what could BE- known
Mother drew a chair cl 'se 10 me and watched
me took out paper after paper ard examined
everything.
l can tell in very few words what learned
We didn't own anything. The farm. ana every
thing on II. belonged to Ridwell Blake Father had
lost all he had ever owned Of money and horses
and land In stock company he had joined. COM
pany formed to carry on large horse breeding
farm In Kentucky And. in spite or my resolve
not to believe, / We: had to believe that father
had not been honest. | was sure now that even
when he sold horses he had not been honest. and
the neighbors knew t-oh yes. the neighbors
knew it, Of course. But | hoped that mother
might be kept ignorant. But even as | hoped
recalled her face 40 had seen 1t many times
since | was old enough to remember-her face
when she had been listening to father. Yes. she
had always known; but she had loved him. | was
quite sure she had loved him. and 1t Is terrible
thing to give affection to a man or woman whom
you cannot respect.
stole a look at mother now as she sat close
to my chair. since fathers death she had looked
like old woman We had both tried to be
calm. As for me. seemed to be grievlng for the
father of long ago-the jolly. klnd-hearted man
who had seemed to love me. Within the last
few days that man had come very near 10 me.
and knew that should forget his later self.
What shall we do?'
Mother put this question long time after
had told her that we had nothing In the world.
rose; cbuld not sit still. vas thinking OF
Vane He would take care Of ue. He had sent
two money drafts since he had gone. but could
not make up my mind to use them They ldy
now in my little desk. the desk father had given
me on my fourteenth birthday. ! ahrank from
touching Vane's money until he came back and
the marriage was known. II was wrong: had
done wrong thing when consented 10 a mar
rage as had done.
Yes. Vane would take care of us: but not
until he came back. Meanwhile something must
be done
Il must think" I said. walked into the
yard Lotus at my heels
on the bench by the shed door was lying the
folded newspaper that ! had taken ont to read
but this morning. II was New-Ycrk daily that
Bidwell had left. 1t was four days old now.
Without thinking Of II or caring TO look at 1t. |
yet unfoldei II and absently ran my eyes down
IT'S columns. 1t some moments before my
mind responded to my eyes; when It did respond
] found my self rea ling this pare graph:
Country board wanted for the summer by an
invalid lady; a quiet place. with good air; abso-
lutey quiet place Address -
Sometimes one makes decision at once did
this now read the advertisement twice. The
address postoflce box In Worcester. Mass.
With the paper in my hand hurried back TO
the kitchen, whore mother s,ill sat by the old
desk
Here is chance TO earn money through the
summer. l said. and then we car make other
plans. We will hrt the house Of Bldwell for six
months. After that perhaps can teach"
| spoke with more hopefulness than felt. II
devoved upon me II take up the burden OF care.
and would endravor t. do II cheerfully. Mean
while l tried not l. think Of Nane | wondered
If any other girl was ever In just such position
The more | thought of telling mother the more
/ shrank from knowing that she would blame
Vane for what ne had done. and he blame
worthy. but so was !.
Mother fell in with m, proposition but only
duly and mechanically. She said there would be
Tany replies g. that advertisement and that f.
WAS probable that the lady hal already on
gagged board. there had been so much time. She
hoped wouldn't build on H."
Nevertheless | cid build on H." | couldn't
help doing so. | wrote my note. and then |
saddled the horse and gallopcd on with II. | was
in fcverish haste TO earn money. And deep in
repay Miss Runcman every penny that eh" had
spent upon me. | tried not t. think of Miss
Runciman. for the thought of hcr CALLED me So
| mailed my note and then | had 10 walt as
patiently as | could. which was not patiently at
all.
on the third day took from tho Office an
envelope with a compact supcrscription upon n.
'Taint your usual one said the postmaster
with eignihrant smile which resented.
would not break the envelope until had rid
den out of the village. Then. sitting in the sad
die. found that the writing within the wrapper
was very different from that on the outside
and knew the dashing characters well-it was
Miss Runclman's hand that had drawn them.
My heart jumped ana my fingers trembled.
Here Is what she wrote
"My Dear Billy: Do YOU think II IL faio. or
God which mad YOU answer ms advertisement,
Let ur call IT God. for suppoee there IL n God.
and II there be one lie would be likely 10 med
die in the affairs OF Ills world sometimes.
wouldn't He?
The moment | saw your envelope said TO
myself Could this have come from Bhly| |
don't know why. I'm sure. that should bc go
glad TO think may 60 10 your hone FOR the sum
mer. For You must let me Come-yOu must
Perhaps YOU hate me But YOU must remember
how you are commanded To- use those who hav-
wronged you. I'm In wretched health talk
as If ] should get well. but | shall not. I'm
going to die soon-soon. And people who arr
going to die soon want 10 be forgiven don't they
Let me come immediately. viii make as little
trouble as may | shall not be alone. but you
must take us both. Don't walt to write: tele
graph-telegraph as soon 40 YOU can ride over
to that little statih wncrc the wire stops. Go
now and send me these words Come quickly
"LEONORA Rt'NCIMAN."
Ny hand. with the letter In H. dropped down
on the pommel.
can you explain WHY tne bll'in'fS lnal ndu
been In my heart toward this woman suddenly
fell away from me-
Surely II was not merely because she was III.
Was II because she was just L"OnOra Runclmonr
There was dImncsa IN my eyes as looked
down at the paper.
She not alOne-then Bashy was with her.
| was sorry for that Bathshcha's sharp teeth.
and the especial ca.nlvorOus look Of biting they
had had made impression on me which had
never been effaccL and yet the girl had been
kind in her way. and she was Vanes sister.
CO. ol,ou cho flfo Nan ci
| thrust the nCte into my jacket pocket gath
cred up the bride rein and cantercd OH toward
the station Just az Miss Runciman had hidden
me- and ! sent the precise words to her that
she had dictated-"COmc quickly"
Then ro lc homeward az fast NJ could and
my horses neck and sides wet when dis
mounted in the barn.
| longed to rush into the house to mother but
first | made myself uneaddlo and rub down my