Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-30

CORVALLIS,
pillow. "But no; it cannot be. Your
mother is lying In Chicopee, and ella,
my sister, died in England" -
Every particle of color had left Mary's
face, and her eyes, now black as mid
night, stared wildly at Mrs. Campbell.
The sad story, which her mother had
once told her, came back to her mind,
bringing with it the thought which had
SO agitated her companion.
YES" she continued, without noticing
what Mrs. Campbell had said, "my moth
er was Ella Temple, and she had two
sisters, one her own, and the other
half-sister-Sarah Fletcher and Jane
Temple-both of whom came to America
many years ago"
Tell me more-tell me all you know"
i. whispered Mrs. Campbell, grasping
Mary's hand; "and how it came about
that / thought she was dead-my sister,.
Upon this point Mary could throw no
light, but of all that she had heard from
her mother she told, and then Mrs. Camp
bell, pointing to her writing desk, said:
Bring it to me. I must read that let
ter again.
Mary obeyed, and taking out much
soiled, blotted letter, Mrs. Campbell ask
ed her to read it aloud. 1t was as fol-
lows:
Daughter Jane-I now take this oppor-
tunity of informing you that I've lost
your sister Ella, and have now no child
saving yourself, who, IL you behave well,
will be my only heir. Sometimes wish
you were here, fec it's lonesome living
alone, but supp se you're better on
where you are. Do you know anything
of that girl Sarah? Her cross-grained
uncle has never written me word since
he left England. II I live three years
longer l shall come to America, and un-
til that time, adieu. Your father,
'sHENRY TEMPLE"
How short and coldr' was Mary's first
exclamation, for her impressions o. her
grandfather were not very agreeable.
SIT is like all his letters" answered
Mrs. Campbell. "But it was cruel to
make me think Ella was dead, for how
else could l suppose he had lost her"
Then, as the conviction came over her
that Mary was indeed the child of her
neck, and kissing her lips, murmured,
"My child-Mary. Oh, had known this
sooner, you should not have been SO cru
ely deserted, and little Allie should new
er have died in the almshouse. But you'll
never leave me now, for all that have
is yours-yours and Ella s.
The thought of Ella touched new
chord, and Mrs. Campbell's tears were
rendered less bitter by the knowledge
that she had cared for, and been mother
to, one Of her sisters orphan children.
81 know now, why, from the first, l
felt SO drawn toward Ella, and why her
clear, large eyes are SO much like my own
lost darling's, and even you, Mary-''
: Here Mrs. Campbell paused, for proud
| as she now was of Mary, there had been
time when the naughty lady turned
| away from the sober, hemely little child,
who begged SO piteously ssto go with
Ella" where there was room and to spare.
All this came up in sad review before
| Mrs. Campbell, and as she recalled the
| incidents of her sisters death, and
thought of the noble little Frank, who
often went hungry and cold that his
mother and sisters might be warm and
fed, she felt that her heart would burst
with its weight of sorrow.
"Oh," said she, "to die so near me
my only sister, and never know it
never go near her. with all my wealth,
as much hers as mine-and she dying of
starvation"
Wiping the hot tears from her own
eyes, Mary strove to comfort her aunt
by telling how affectionately her mother
| had always remembered her. 'And even
on the night of her DEATH" said she, "she
spoke of you, and bade me, if / ever
found you, love you for her sake
"Will you, do you love met? asked Mrs
Campbell.
Mary's warm kiss upon her cheek, and
| the loving clasp of her arms around heI
/ aunt's neck, was sufficient answer.
do you know aught of my Aunt
/ Sarah?' Mary asked at last; and Mrs
Campbell replied:
Nothing definite. From father we irsi
heard that she was in New York, anG
/ then Aunt Morris wrote to her ncle, max
i ing inquiries concerning her. I think tht
Fletchers were rather peculiar in theil
dispositions, and were probably jealou,
of our family, for the letter was long un
answered, and when at last Sarah's uncl,
WE0Ie, ne Sdiu, Etudlls iuuepehueAl VI VIZ
Temples aid she had received a goot
education adding further that she hat
married and gone West, and that he wal
intending soon to follow her. He neithe
gave the name of her husband nor tn,
place to which they were going, and al
all our subsequent letters were unanswer
ed, 1 know not whether she is dead o
alive; but often when / think how alon
l am, without a relative in the world,
have prayed and wept that she nigh
come back; for though never saw he
that remember, she was my mother
child, and should love her for that"
TO be continued.)