The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-06-04


nearly broke my heart. My marriage and
that childs birth were not known tO the
world ! found at Worccster-although
your mother always doubted me. | tried
hard to live apart from the past, when
l believed my little girl was dead, nut
it all came back last autumn. This"
she added. almost bitterly, is strange
time for explanation"
II have not come for explsnatiOn-I
| have no right to demand it," said Reu-
ben; "but let me ask If my father knew
of your marriage to Edward Peterson?"
Il dared not tell him. | was very poor
i was alone in the world, without
friend. and he had confidence in me, and
liked me for my dead fathers sake.
Would lie have wished you 70 marry me
had he dreamed Of this!" she added.
with an impressive gesture toward the
door Of the sick room.
why did he wish this marriage
said Reuben.
He told me on the day he died that
he had ruined my father-deceived him
in some way of business and got rich
by his disgrace" she said. Heaven
knows if this were true. or the wander
ings Of q demented mind. 1t is beyond
! our guessing at and belongs not 70 our
present lives"
Mary Holland it was true" said
Reuben. solemnly: Il bring y proof of
1t in his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
impossible"
He has left you all his money"
There was wild scream-an awful
yell from the room which Mary Hol-
| land. or. rather, Mary Peterson, had
quilted. and Mary ran back into the
chamber followed by Reuben In his
haste to I've of assistance to the alright
ed woman.
1t was only cry of delight. Captain
Peterson had heard all the news.
lis il all trueT'' he gasped forth, turn
ing to Reuben rs if to n friend on whom,
in this crisis of his life, he might rely
"All the money is left TO Mary Ho-
land" answered Reuben.
How is it--h0w is il that--that--this
can be?" he inquired. catching at Reu-
ben's hand and clasping it with his tren,.
bling fingers: ''you see how excited l
am but | can bear good news. Good
news will save me yet. please heaven"
There has been discovered another
will, signed by my father the day before
the whole of his property to his faithful
friend and hOusekeeper. Mary Holland"
THAT'S my wife" said Peterson.
quickly; don't forget she's my wife
We were legally married years ago, upon
my soul. swear it-it's easily proved
isn't it easily proved Mary? Tell him
so-dOn't stare at me like that"
Yes, am his Wife" said Mary. thus
appealed to; Il am not Mary Holland
"Oh. that makes no difference" cried
Peterson; you were Mary Holland. you
have always been known by that name
to old Culwick, and it's your money
| know law enough for that All yours
and all your husband's-why, it's rs
clear as daylight. This brings me-
back-to-lfe Where is the will?"
II have brought it with me-"
Give ito me-" said Peterson; at
isn't safe in other hands. II will keep
ii till I'm--stronger."
Let him have It." said the wife, care
lessly: ''it will calm him, and rest is
necessary"
Il would prefer your taking it, Mrs.
Peterson" said Reuben, producing the
will; better still to leave it with a trust
worthy solicitor to act upon. There will
be no opposition to 1t in any way from
Sarah Eastbell."
ut will be safe enough in my hus-
bands keeping" said Mary. with strange
listlessness.
Reuben gave her the will, and she
crossed with It to her husbands side and
placed it In his hands, which with great
difficulty began to unfold the paper on
which Simon Culwick's last testament
was written.
IL shall be glad-when I'm better"
Edward Peterson whispered at last; you
can put il under my pillow-now."
And the child!" asked Reuben. curl
ously.
A gesture. quick and deprecatOry, from
Mary Holland came too late to arrest the
question. or to check the excitement Of
the PROSTATE vagabOnd, who half raised
himself in bed In his vehemence.
"I'll never see the child again-I'd
| rather die than see her. She shall never
he more than the beggsrs brat she Isl"
| he shouted.
What has she dOnef'
she turned against her own father
when there was a chance of making
money. it was she. that cursed child, who
betrayed me-"
The color vanished from his face again,
| and once more the leaden hue suffused
| It. and the eyes closed, as by the pres
sure of the hand of death itself upon
them. Mary was at his side, when life
seemed coming slowly back again. she
said to Reuben:
Leave me now. You see what he Is
what he has ever been. 1 would pre-
| fer to be alone-tO the end"
Reuben passed from the room and
left the dying man to his strange wife's
care. He had done his duty, he had sur