The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-07-30

to the new mousse tilsst eiiO VII ~ 49,
cleaned the day before. to look AFTER
and place the furniture as IL arrived
while Jack divided his services as need
ed, and Frances superlntended the
fitting from the old home.
While she worked her thoughts were
bitter. She would rot have minded Ia
Dor if it had led to anything, but all
their efforts were scarcely even soften
ing their fall. Year after year the fam
ily was slipping sdown. The younger
ones were growing ~ar to harder tines
Less advantages, than even she had had:
Jean had been obliged to leave school
last year to help at home, and Ji1> could
not continue after this term, ut must
90 to work, as he had already had to
do in the cations. Aud she had tried
50 hard to let them keep on little
longer. Jean was born teacher, II size
could only be educated herself, ana
Jack had many talents. But there was
nothing for them in lie but dIudgery
nothing for the youngest children Dut
the same.
And she-she could not leave them
when she was so needed. She, too, must
toll ON hopelessly, and crush down all
natural longing for ease and bright
ness and girlish pleasures down
even love.
She fairly hated the costly old 1''rni-
ture. even while she watched carefully
over it's packing by the truckmen' VINO
we're inclined to be impertinent to her
about it's weight and her care. Even
it could help them so much, II only
they were allowed to sell it.
She got hasty dinner at noon for
the others, out was too heated and tired
TO eat herself 1t was not till mid
afternoon that the last load started for
the new house.
The truckmen, who had evidently had
something stronger than coffee to drink
after dinner, and were in hurry to be
through, being paid by the job and not
the load, piled the things on recklessly
high. When Frances ventured to re-
nonstrate, they were insolent.
Jack, with the protection OF his in
cipient manhood, was at the other
house; she could only stand aside and
pretend not to notice the half-drunken
fellows muttered contempt for "wom-
ems and poor folks bossing.
The load was packed at last. The
browning piece was the beautiful old
inlaid secretary that had been the pride
of Miss Deborah's library. AS the
horses moved under the whip and oath,
and the wagon started, making too
sharp turn into the road from its
tacked-up position opposite the front
gate, the secretary trembled on its I'M
steady perch - tottered - fell - and
crashed in pieces on the sidewalk.
The horses got another cut for their
awkwardness, and without apology CT
comment, the truckmen drove hastily
off. They were to be paid at the new
house, and they hoped to get their
money before news of their carelessness
reached there.
To Frances, overweight as she was
i'll mind and body, the accident seemed
the last stroke of fate. She sat down
among the ruins and cried, with her
apron to her eyes, careless who might
see her.
Dick Stedman saw her afar as he
came up the quiet, elm-shaded street,
and arrived ON run in his anxiety.
my dearest girl! what are you do
ing?" cried he. Are you hurt, or what
has happened?"
He was going on his knees beside her,
but Frances stopped him by rising with
the dignity of all the colonial Dali
fcrths, embodied in very small WON.
an wearing O faded calico dress and
large bingham apron.
Don't be alarmed, Dick" she said,
land don't do the distracted Romeo out
here; for old Miss Wichitt has been
watching through her blinds all day
to see our things as they 60, and she's
probably looking at you now. Tin
not hurt in the least, but my Grand
aunt Deborah's writing-desk has had an
accident, and is a noble wreck in ruin
Gus perfection. Behold it," with a
tragic gesture down at the ruins. ''Who
could deny tear to such literally fallen
GRANDEUR"
Very little could be done for it, evil
IDENTIFY. The heavy fall on the stones
had fairly split it in pieces. It's spindle
legs had sustained several compound
fractures; one side was in splinters,
the shattered drawers had fallen out,
and bits of delicate inlaying lay all
about the pavement.
Dick went on piling the pieces
methodically at one side; then moving
the main part, picked up some papers
and rose to give them to Frances.
"Your letters will be blowing all
about the street if you dom take care, -
he said.
Letters? There were none in the
desk. No one has used it since my
grand-aunt did. These must be some
of hers, crowded out of Il drawer and
in behind the frame somehow. 1t can't
be any harm to sec what they are,
though, suppose"
She mfolded them as she spoke.
There was an unimportant receiDted
bill or two, a tax assessment of tne veal.
Miss Deborah died, then u cracking.
legal-looking sheet of parchment.
Il, Deborah Danforth, do make and
publish this my last will and testa-
n:ent," read Frances. "Dick, it must be
1t can't bet is another will of hers.
and in my fathers favor! And it is
dated after the one that disinherited
him!"
The Danfcrths moved once more be-
fore that spring had deepened into sum-
nier. Zebedce Smith was an honest
man, If a hard one, and the new-found