Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-10-12

l
sage, up which so many antique arti-
cles bad travelled during the last hall
century, and kissed her wet cheeks.
Sand now I nun get back to work., "
he said. JH.s,yA '-'-'' -. o"'-.
| w. =, n.
1t was hot day even for June, and
when the funeral party re.entered the
house, Mrs. Peters face was extremely
red.
| Here they were met by Walter Bat
tersby and the three girls.
This was Mrs. Peters arrangement.
"The more witnesses there are the
safer it'll be-" she had said, alluding,
of course, to the reading OF her broth
er-in-law's will. Besides" she add
ed, "they may hear something nice
for themselves.
AS for as he was concerned, how.
ever, young Walter mad fully intended
to be present, even if his father and
mother objected.
Joan continued alone in the kitchen.
The tramp of strange feet in the room
over her did but make fresh tears we'll
up from the bountiful source inside
her.
And SO the funeral party and the
others sat round old Carmel's table
and waited for Mr.. Cameron to begin.
The lawyer did not keep them waiting.
He smiled rather dryly and drew forth
the paper from its official blue enve.
lope.
Never was there, in Mrs. Peter
Battersby's opinion, more horrid and
disgraceful last will and testament.
Certainly, her husband was to re-
ceive fourth of the proceeds of the
sale of the deceased's goods; but what
was mere fourth?
The other three-fourths were left
of all things-to the Moxford Union,
'to help them to train up more girls
like Joan Smith" Those were the
very words.
To the three girls of Mr.. and Mrs.
Peter the three largest mirrors IN the
establishment of No. SO were be-
ter Battersby was not even mentioned,
nor WIS Mrs. Peters.
Mr.. Cameron received hundred
pounds, and so did the deceased's old
friend, Mr.. Craven.
Lastly, Joan was mentioned. She
was to have years wages, all the fur
| niture of her own bedroom, and the
| old scrap book for which she had SO
often piled scissors and paste, and
which contained curious items of news
paper intelligence during the last
| thirty years.
"There, gentleman and ladies, that
| is all, said MIR. Cameron; :'and now
you must excuse me. l leave you with
my co-trustee. Mr.. Craven"
"One moment, SIR" interposed Mr.
Peter, to whom his wife had whispered
much. "What's become of all his
money in the bank? He must have
had thousands.
"The balance to his credit on May
3d." answered Mr.. Cameron, referring
to a note, "was just ELS IS, 10d.
After the funeral expenses are paid"
"What's he done with it?" cried
Mrs. Peter, redder of face than ever.
81 cannot tell you, madam. Good
morning." said the lawyer, who then
wisely left them to fight Che matter
out among themselves. But before he
went he, with his owD hands, carried
to Joan in her kitchen the unwieldy
old scrap book, and told her that it
was her property US we'll as the furni.
ture of her room.
"Come, cheer up, my GIRL" he said
at pa1.ing. "Your master was fond
of you, and he would rather see you
bright than downcast. And remem-
ber that I am your friend if you
should happen to want one."
Joan thanked Mr.. Cameron, and
then, having reverently kissed the old
book, put it one side.
Mrs. Peter, before she parted,
thought we'll to trespass in the kitchen
and say some cruel things to Joan.
But somehow the girl did not mind
them very much now.
Then Seth looked in again, and said
she was to come up to his mothers
that evening. If she didn't he should
fetch her. And to mako sure of hay.
ing her he carried off the big scrap
book.
Mrs. Peter Battersby did something
else before she left No. SO.
Together with her disappointed son
and darling Walter, she climbed the
stairs to Joau's little attic, and took
hammer with her.
'It's the very kind of spiteful thing
he'd be likely to do" she said, "but
I'll not stand it-robbing bis own flesh
and blood for workhouse brat"
Mr.. Peter left her to her own de-
vices. He, Mr.. Craven, and the three
vexed (lndeed, insulted girls went
away together.
Then Mrs. Peter studiously searched
Joan's attic from wall to wall. She
turned out the girls one tin box,
looked in the drawer of the wash
stand, ripped up the palliasse out
rageously and threw the straw all
about and treated the bolster with
equal brutality.
There was also handsome old oak
~