Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-02-28

trust at last?''
I'VE did, and yet"
you did not distrust her in vain. per-
haps," she added. i will tell you, Sarah
EastbelI. what I thought of telling Reu-
ben Culwick-but it may be your light
to hear this first of all, as it may affect
you most of all-who knows! Read
what is written on that paper
Lucy Jennings opened her desk and
produced long blue envelope, on which
were written words in large clear hand,
to which she pointed with her fnger--the
finger of fate to the timid girl who fol-
lowed every movement and leaned for
ward to the paper cautiously and eager
ly.
Yes, Lucy Jennings was right-that
which might affect the whole after life
of Reuben Culwick and of herself was
in the hands of the woman-preacher
On the envelope were written these
words:
Herein is contained the last Will end
Testament of Simon CuIwick, of Sedge
Hill, Worcester"
There was a date appended-the date
of the day on which Simon Culwick had
called at Hope street, Camberwell, for
the first time, and last, i'll his life. 1t
was q will made before he had come that
day in search of his son, and it over
ruled all other testaments to which III
his life of change he had set his trem-
bling hand.
"Where did you find this {" Sarah ask
ed at last.
I'm that box" Lucy replied, pointing
to an old-fashioned hair trunk studded
with brass nails-one of the boxes which
Mary Holland had never claimed. "What
right had that woman with Reubens
fathers will?" asked Lucy; has she not
committed a crime against the law ?--is
not this an act of revenge against him.!
II don't see all this yet" responded
Sarah Eastbell, still thoughtfully.
"This will is sealed; it was given in
trust to Mary Holland before Simon left
for London. 1t leaves his property to
Reuben, and she would have kept him
from it. I see it all. dcspise that wom-
an, although l have never met her in my
life"
Mary Holland is not here to answer
for herself" said Sarah; land Mary
would have preferred Reuben's being
rich to my poor grandmother coming
to this house."
hCIc SpuE IeAc
herself; there was q plot in it. Read the
Will"
What right have 1 to read it?' asked
Sarah.
"You are in possession. Reuben Is 700
weak to bear the shock. There may be
something in it which he is not to know
first of ALL she added, with a sudden
which is to be broken to him by
Degrees
Reuben is as brave as a lion"
ooh, you don't know him. said Miss
Jennings pityingly.
Il don't think SO meanly of him as you
do" cried Sarah, with sudden spirit: Il
don't believe he has fretted for an in
slant about his fathers money, though
since; he is above all mercenary thoughts.
Come and see how he will take this
news" cried Sarah defantly now.
~ have no interest in it; it concerns
me not" said Lucy very sharply; Il
should not have mentioned it till | was
prepared to leave the house, had you not
come in with your foolish story of hasty
wedding. Go to him, Sarah. l am busy
with q holier task than yours"
Reuben took the packet from Sarah's
hand and read the superscription, his
eyes dilating with surprise. He made no
attempt to break the seal of black wax,
but walked with her slowly toward the
bay window at the end of the room, as
though his sight were weak, and more
light were needed to assist it.
She seemed to hesitate i'll her progress
with him, and he put his arm round her
waist, as a privileged lover under these
circumstances had right to do.
For better or worse, for richer or
poorer, my First-cousin-o nce-removei
Sarah" said he lightly, but meaningly;
now tell me where this sprang from"
Sarah told him, while he listened, with
the paper in his hand, and looked out at
the garden and the rising ground beyond
it. Tots stole away during the narration.
MARY Holland may have received
possibly did receive-private Instructions
from my poor father with this will" said
Reuben, when Sarah had completed her
narrative; "she is not to blame. | trust,
even if it comes at us in this fashion. 1t
was to be kept back, at Simon Culwick's
request, a certain time, possibly, he being
secretive man. Miss Holland is not
here to tell u.s." answered Reuben, land
YOU and | stand in a false position, with
this will lying like a bar upon the free
dom of our thoughts. l take all the re-
sponsiblity; it is my right, as Simon
Culwick's son."
You are not afraid of the contents?''
she asked, remembering suddenly Lucy
Jennings criticism of Reuben's temper
ament.
There is nothing within the will to
frighten me-" he replied firmly, "or to
make me glad, or cast me down. See
how steady the hand is that turns over
the pages of this book of fate
His fingers broke the seal and took
from the envelope the document CON
tanned therein. He looked at the paper
for the first time. 1t was brief will,
which a few lines made clear. It was
written by Simon Culwick himself and
witnessed by two servants who had left
the house two years since. and it left, as
Reuben had imagined from the first, the
whole of his property, free and indivisi-
BILE, TO his old friends child, his faithful