The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-05-16
CHAPTER Nv.


Scarcely three hours had passed since
the dark. moist earth was heaped upon
the humble grave Of the widow and her
son, when again, over the village Of Chic
,opee, foated the notes of the tolling bell.
and Immediately crowds of people, with
seemingly eager haste, hurried toward
the Campbell mansion, which was soon
nearly filed.
On a marble table in the same room lay
the handsome coffin, and in it slept young
Ella. Gracefully her small waxen hands
were folded one over the other, while
white, half-opened rosebuds were wreath
ed among the curls Of her hair. ''She ID
too beautiful to die, and the only child,
too" thought more than one as they look
ed first at the sleeping clay and then at
the stricken mother, who, draped In deep.
est black, sobbed convulsively. And yet
she was not one-half so desolate as was
the orphan Mary, who in Mrs. Bender
kitchen sat weeping over her sister Alice,
and striving to form words of prayer
which should reach the God of the father
less.
"My mother, oh! my mother" she cried,
as she stretched her hands toward the
clear blue sky, now that mothers home
"Why didn't die, too?'
There was a step upon the grass, and
looking up, Mary saw standing near her
Mrs. Campbelrs English girl, Hannah.
She had always evinced liking for Mrs
Howards family, and now after finishing
her dishes, and trying in vain to speak
a word Of consolation to her mistress,
who refused to be comforted, she had
stolen away to Mrs. Bender's, ostensibly
to see all the orphans, but in reality to
see Ella, who had always been her favor
ite.
The sight Of Mary's grief touched Han.
nah's heart, and sitting down by the lit
tie girl she tried to comfort her. Mary
felt that her words and manner were
prompted by real sympathy, and after q
time she grew calm, and listened while
Hannah told her that "as soon Al hel
mistress got so anybody could 60 neal
her, she meant to ask her to take Ella
Howard to fill the place of her own
daughter"
"They look as much alike as two
BEANS" said she, 'and s'posin' Ella How
ard amt exactly her own flesh and blood,
she would grow into liking her, know" ;"
That night after her return home Han
nah fingered for a long time about the
parlor door, glancing wistfully toward
her mistress, who reclined upon the sofa
with her face entirely hidden by her
cambric handkerchief.
"It's most too soon, l guess" thought
Hannah. "I'll wait till tomorrow"
Accordingly next morning. when, as she
had expected, she was told to carry her
mistress toast and coffee to her room,
she fingered for awhile, and seemed SO
desirous Of speaking that Mrs. Campbell
asked what she wanted.
"Why, you see, ma am. l was going to
say a word about-about that youngest
Howard girl She's got to go to the poor
house and it's a pity, she's so handsome.
Why couldn't she come here and ivel
I'll take care of her, and 'twouldn't be
nigh so lonesome
At this allusion to her bereavement
Mrs. Campbell burst into tears, and mo-
toned Hannah from the room.
"Pn keep at her till fetch it about,
thought Hannah. But further persuasion
from her was rendered unnecessary, fol
Mrs. Lincoln called that afternoon, and
after assuring her friend that she never
before saw one who was SO terribly af'
Hicted, casually mentioned the Howards
and the extreme poverty to which they
were reduced.
Here Mrs. Campbell commenced weep
ing, and as Mrs. Lincoln soon took hei
leave she was left alone for severa!
hours. At the end Of that time, impelled
by something she could not resist, she
rang the bell and ordered Hannah to 60
to Mrs. Bender's and bring Ella to her
room, as she wished to see how she ap'
peared.
(To be continued.)