The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-02-16

- Is ! rev was summoned
~ y. from school in haste.
'sog6sp[S2 Her great aunt, wealthy
NV Il Miss Calamity Crane,
NGN was dying.
"a q Ruby, full of love
= ~ anl irlendliresg for oil
the world, though certain wistlul-
ness IN the great, hazel eyos told OF
want IN the young heart.
Miss Calamity had been bountiful,
considernte, kind TO the girl-never
tender. With her large, angular
frame, her energy, her courage and
iron viii, she was more like a man
than woman.
She had given her grand niece a
home, and every advantage in educa-
tlon; she apparently realized nothing
was needed beyond this.
Aet, Ruby loved her aunt with q
love born OF gratitude and respect
che 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 Silverside had
reached the seminary, Rubv remem-
bered Mrs. Calista Crane. She had
seen the woman first six months pre-.
vIousiy, when home OF vacation.
Mrs. Ca!ista was Miss Calamity's
cousin.
She had attended Miss Calamity
very closely; animGtelly announced
her success at "5eeping up her
spiri!s," though Miss Calamity had
long borne ill-heGlth with great fogti-
tude.
And down the long line of terraces
the pcplars showed their silver sides.
The beautiful mansion OF brown gran.
lite lose above them.
The massire oaken doors swung on
their sli9cr hinges, AMI Ruby was in
Ms. Calista's arms.
My dear, You are too late. She has
gone!"
a cry OF paia broke from the girls
lips. Aunt Calamity dead %
But She saw the waxeu image which
had been her kind aunt, and nearly
broke her heart over it,
Dear child, don't" said Mrs Sill.
colt, the housekeeper. "AIiss
Calamity wouldn't like it to have you
cry so. Come into my room, dear,
AMI get your roor little feet and
hands warm. You're whiteas a ghost
and colder, haunting this chilly room
all the time. You can't do that poor
woman any good, bat you're making
yourself sick. "
On lounge before the housekeep-
ers fire, Ruby heard the account Of
Miss CaiGmify's last hours.
"ohe lived brave, good life. She's
gone to her reward, and she provided
for you, Miss Ruby, be sure Of that.
She set q great deal by you--tdat 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, "
faii Mrs. Siicott, after a silence. "Not
that she was ever needed at SilYerside,
or was ever sent for. She just crowded
= herself iD-tO serve her own ends.
Say. I coull have nuIsed Miss Ca
lamlty-sho always liked my nursing
In days gone by-nnd ] wouldn't have
pushed advice on her about her will,
either ~ added Mrs. Silcott, signif-
cantly.
Trembling in her black robes, Ruby
gathered with the family, two days
later, 60 hear the will read, Mrs Cal
j5ta Crane was also in deepest mourn.
ius. The bulk Of Miss Calamity's
wealth was great. Every servant and
dependent was generously remem.
bered, md thon-fvC thousand dol.
'7r 20 Mrs. CaIis.a, ten thousand and
aly-rs.je 20 Ruby, and the vast ro-
ml.udsr of bank stock, railroad shores
aa rcol cslote TO John Steele,
nephew o. Miss Culcmity, whom Ruby
IHi never seen and seldom heard her
cunt speak of Whatever be might
Dr., % dozen fortunes rolled into one
nal become his, and Mrs. Cariisln an
uo1.cd that he would soon be no Sill
v.r lie.
John 5taole-do you know him,
lIi 7'.oo.'?' asked Rnjy, wonder.
iuzy.
'.'vc seen him, dear, years azo,
.' m NAAIi'A TO AA lA'. |IlNiiNN
gentleman B1t what's wil'cl To- him
FhoaIi De- yours by right Miss On
lam.iy would never have done this but
Tor its being pat into her head. John
5teaio syn rel enough before. As for
mr. Cal sho is pretty we'll cut mp
by Af legacy Bat She hopes 20 make
1t up with Nr 5teeIo's share. L1ws?'
mnttcroI Hr Silcot, "shc's been
nal after .ru these ten yearp"
Her l1 ".rls we're nearly nmbigu-
ouf % IH.F hl truth and simplicity
herscii. a-. bJindto guiltto others,
nnd nnu.p eous
ber mind, too, was filed with her
loss by last kind act OF her gen.
erou7 aunt la was mistress OF benuti-
iul SiivcrsIae, anil jos income would
AFFORD her on ample living -she, who