Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-02-03

ES y. from school in haste.
.s,TEaS Her great aunt, wealthy
S,fN ~ Miss Calamity Crane,
g7EN was dying.
Ruby, full of love
OS and frlendliness for all
the world, though certain wistful-
ness in the great, hazel eyes told OF a
want in the young heart.
Miss Calamity had been bountiful,
considerate, kind to the girl-never
tender. With her large, angular
frame, her energv. her courage and
iron will, she vas more like a man
than woman.
She had given her grand.niec,
home, and every advantage in educa-
tion; she apparently realized nothing
was needed beyond this.
Yet, Ruby loved her aunt with o
love born of gratitude and respect ;
she was oppressed with dread and
grief now that she approached Silver
side, where Miss Calamity lay dying.
The family carriage was waiting for
her at the station.
''Mrs. Calista would have come to
meet you, Miss Ruby" said Barney,
the coachmau, "but she could not
leave Miss Calamity"
For the first time since the letter
summoning her to SilEerside had
reached the seminary, Ruby remem-
l...a NJ, n,J;,to nr,na Che l,od
seen the womsn first six months pre-
viously, when home at vacation.
Mrs. Calista was Miss Calamity
cousin.
She had attended Miss Calamity
very closely; animatedly announced
her success at excepting up her
Spirits" though Miss Calamity had
long borne ill-health with great iorti-
tude.
And down the long line of terraces
the poplars showed their silver sides.
The beautiful mansion OF bro'-n gran.
lite lose above them.
The massive oaken doors swung on
their silver hinges, and Ruby was in
Mrs. Calista's arms.
"My dear. You are too late. She has
gone!''
A cry of pain broke from the girls
lips. "Aunt Calamity dead"
But she saw the waxen image which
had been her kind aunt, and nearly
broke her heart oysr it.
"Dear child, DON'T" said Mrs. Sill.
colt. the housekeeper. "Mist
Calamity wouldn't like it to have you
cry so. Come into my room, dear,
and get your POOR little feet and
hands warm. You're Bhiteas ghost
and colder, hannting this chilly room
allthe time. You cant do that poor
woman any good, bas you're making
yourself sick.
On lounge before the housekeep-
er's FIRE, Ruby heard the account oi
Miss Calamify's last hours.
HShe lived brave, good life. She's
gone to her reward, and she provided
for you, Miss Ruby, be sure Of that.
She set great deal by you--that I'm
sure OF. Wait till you hear her will
read"
Ruby thought OF the future, and her
perplexed meditation dried her eyes.
"There's one who hoped to profit
by her stay here-that's Mrs. Calista, u
said Mrs. Silcott, after silence. "Not
that she was ever needed at Silverside,
or was ever sent for. She just crowded
herself into serve he- own ends, ]
say. I could have nursed Miss Ca
lamity-she always liked my nursing
in days gone by-snd I wouldn't have
pushed advice on her about her will,
either" !" added Mrs. Silcott, signifi.
cantly.
Treh. bling in her black robes, Ruby
gathered with the family, two days
later, to hear the will read, Mrs. Cal
ista Crane was also in deepest mourn
ing. The bulk of Miss Calamity s
wealth was great. Every servant and
dependent was generously remem-
bered, and then-fve thousand dol.
lars to Mrs. Calista, ten thousand and
Silverside to Ruby, and the vast re-
mainder of bank stock, railroad shares
and real estate to John Steele, d
nephew OF Miss Calamity, whom Ruby
had never seen and seldom heard her
aunt speak OF. Whatever he might
be, dozen fortunes rolled into one
had become his, and Mrs. Carlista' an
nounced that he would soon be at.Sil.
verside.
"John Steele-do you know him,
Miss Silcott?" asked Raby, wonder.
ingly.
sG've seen him, dear, years ago,
when you were child--a nice enough
gentleman. But what's willed to him
should be yours by right. Miss Ca
lamity would never have done this but
for it's being put into her head. John
Steele was rich enough before. As for
Mrs. Callsta, che is pretty we'll cut up
by her legacy. But she hopes to make
it up with Mr.. Steele's share. Laws?'
muttered Mrs. Sllcott, "she's been
mad after him these len years.
Her last words were nearly ambigu-
GUS to Ruby. All truth and simplicity
herself, she was blindto guilt TO others,
and unsuspicious.
II. L