Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-19

proaches, by his vehemence. Suspicious,
awfully suspicious, as she was, she " as
still religious woman, and the horror cf
having cast back a stubborn, willful ma
ture on itself rose before her even in more
terrible colors than he had painted it.
"Why-why didn't you tell me?" she
gasped forth; why didn't you trust me?
l will find her." said Lucy, very meekly
now. Il will bring her back"
1T is impossible"
! II will tell her that / was wrong IN
my judgment. I will ask her pardon.
You must not charge the loss of this girl
to me-. Where did you see her last?"
| "In Potter's Court
| II know tin the Walworth road,"
said Lucy; ''it is part of my mission to
go among the people there. What is the
number of the house?'
"Two.' go
"Where the Petersons live-the Irish
people. 1 will go at once; don't judge me
too harshly, till have made amends for
my mistake" she pleaded.
''It is too late" said Reuben, gloomily;
''the house was empty two days since.
There were coiners in it, and the suspi-
cion that might betray them, or that the
police were on the scent, led them to
| leave the premises"
| 'I will find them," said Lucy; 'I am
known. People trust me there, who know
me better than you do she added, al
most disdainfully again.
Lucy Jennings walked out of the room
with her hands rigidly clasped together;
| in few minutes afterward she had pass
| ed out of the house.
1t was late and when John Jennings
and Reuben had taken counsel together
and had arrived at the conclusion that
she would not return that night, Lucy,
| stiff-backed and grim, came up the front
garden with tall girl, who walked with
| difficulty, resting on her arm.
! Here's your Second-cousin Sarah,"
| she said to Reuben in her old jerky ran
ner, as the two women came into the
house.
Reuben Culwick rose to greet his sec
ond-cousin and to introduce her to John
Jennings, who was filling in some Roman
candle-cases for Mr.. Splud's benefit,
| which was to take place in fortnight's
time at the Saxe-Gotha.
Il am glad that you have come" said
| Reuben, heartily. John, this is my Sec
| ond-cousin Sarah"
How dye do, marmT' said Mr.. Ien-
nings, with solemn bow.
Sarah Eastbell was very like Sarah
Eastbells ghost, as she looked from one
to another, and tried hard to raise a
smile, without success:
Cant you find the girl seat, instead
of staring at her." said Lucy, sharply, to
her brother, who Immediately rendered
her his own chair.
"You have been ill.," said Reuben to his
cousin as she sat down wearily; "hew's
that?"
"Not ill exactly. A little weak, per-
haps," answered Sarah; Il shall be bet
ter in a minute"
II am very glad that you have found
her, Lucy" said Reuben to Miss Jen-
nings, who was untying her bonnet
strings in rather violent manner; you
will let me thank you for all the trouble
that you have taken"
Il never cared for peoples thanks,oo
| she answered.
"She has been very good to me-" Sarah
Eastbell murmured; Il made mistake
when 1 thought her very hard-but my
life's been pretty we'll all mistakes, I
| think"
"She wants rest" muttered Lucy Jen-
nings.
Il don't want rest-only a few hours,
that isl said Sarah, correcting herself,
"and then l hope to set off to Worcester.
1 have been thinking of what you said to
me at Potter's Court, and when Tom and
his wife left me in the lurch-they went
away in the night while l was asleep. as
if they had grown suddenly afraid of me
Il came to this place. l wanted You to
take me down to Worcester, to stand by
me. Besides, l want you to have the
five pounds"
what five pounds?" asked Reuben;
"that 1 gave your grandmother when-"
"Oh, no-not that" said Sarah, but
to pay that one back, and part of which
we were obliged to spend. There's FIVE
pounds reward offered for me. you know,
and you must claim that for it's through
you I'm giving myself up. I shall say
you have caught me, and"
"Here-hold hard-that will do-no
more of your highly coored ficfiens
Cousin Sarah; it's time you gave them
up, at any rate" he cried; land as for
the blood money, upon my honor. you
turn ME to goosefesh at the thought of
it."
"Why shouldn't you have the money
as we'll as anybody else?' said Sarah
reflectively.
Suppose we argue the case in the
morning?"
las we go to Worcester?' said Sarah
VERY we'll. This good woman who
traced me to-day thinks it would be right
to tell the truth, but. oh! l can't tell
grandmother. You will break it to her.
in your best way. And I may rest here
to-night?" turning to Lucy Jennings.
You will share my bed" said Lucy.
tTo be continued.l