The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-01-14

tho world, though q 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 energy, her courage and
iron will, she was more like a man
than \ oma
She had given her grand-nisce q
home, and every advantage in educa-
ton she apparently realized nothing
was needed beyond this.
Yet, Ruby loved her aunt with a
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 coachman, "but she could not
leave Miss Calamity"
For the first time since the letter
summoning her to Silverside had
reached the seminary, Ruby remem
bered Mrs. Calista Crane. She had
seen the woman first SIX months pre-
viously, when home at vacation.
Mrs. Cslista was Miss Calamity's
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 forti.
tude.
And down the long line of terraces
the poplars showed their silver sides.
The beautiful mansion of brown gran.
lite rose 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
gonel"
A cry of pain broke from the girls
lips. "Aunt Calamity deadl"
But she saw the waxen image which
Iul Deeu her KIND aunt, aud nearly
broke her heart over it.
"Dear child, DON'T" said Mrs. Sill.
colt, the housekeepcr. "Miss
Calamity wouldn't like it to have you
cry SO. Como into my room, dear,
and get your roor little feet and
hands warm. You're white as u ghost
and colder, haunting this chilly room
all the time. You can't do that poor
woman any good, but you're making
yourself sick"
On q lounge before the housekeep-
er's fire, Ruby heard the account Of
Miss Calamify's last hours.
"She lived a brave, good life. She's
gone TO her reward, and she provided
for you, Miss Ruby, be sure of that.
She set a 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.
"Ihere's one who hoped to profit
by her stay here-that's Mrs. Calista,"
said Mrs. Silcott, after q silence. "Not
that she was ever needed at Silyerside,
or was ever sent for. She just crowded
herself into serve her own ends. |
say. could have nursed Miss ca.
lamity-she always liked my nursing
in days gone by-and | wouldn't have
pushed advice on her about her will,
either u added Mrs. Silcott, signiti.
cantly.
Trembling in her black robes, Ruby
gathered with tho family, two days
later, to hear the will read, Mrs. Cal.
Ista Crane was also in deepest mourn.
ing. The bulk OF Miss Calamity
wealth vas great. Every servant and
dependent was generously remem.
bered. and then-tive thousand dol.
lars to Mrs. Calista, ten thousand and
Silverside to Ruby, and the vast 70.
mainder of bank stock, railroad shares
and real estate to John Steele, u
nephew of Miss Calamity, whom Ruby
had never seen and seldom heard her
aunt speak of. Whatever he might
be, q dozen fortunes rolled into one
had become his, and Mrs. Carlista an
nounced that he would soon be at Sill.
verside.
John Steele-do you know him,
Miss Silcott?" asked Raby, wonder.
ingly.
"Ive seen him, dear, years ago,
when you were q 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. Johu
Steele was rich enough before. As fol-
Mrs. Callsta, she is pretty well cut up
by her legacy. But she hopes to make
it up with Mr.. Steele's share. Laws?'
muttered Mrs. Sllcott, "she's beer
mad after him these ten years"
Her last words were nearly ambigu.
Gus to Ruby. All truth and simplicity
herself, she was blindto guilt to others,
and unsuspicious.
Her mind, too, was filed with hel
loss. BY this last kind act of her gen
erous aunt she was mistress of beauti
full Silyerside, and its income would
afford her an ample living-she. who