Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-05-06
CHAPTER XxIv.-tContinuedJ

The great conspiracy was dI az Cnos
and Sarah Eastbell had bafied the con-
spirators All that had been planned by
Captain Peterson, and that Sarah's abb
sence from Sedge Hill had rendered nu-
gatory, all the new scheming to which
that absence had given rise, and which
was set in action with Sarah's return,
had collapsed at the eleventh hour. Sarah
was neither dead nor captive, and Tom
was as far removed from prosperity as
he had ever been.
"T-I never meant" he began, then
he burst forth with-"Oh, 1 am SO glad
that you've come back, Sally-so glad
that you amt dead!'
"Were you waiting for the news OF my
death, thenY' asked Sarah with indigna-
ton. '"There is your world, Tom," she
said, pointing to the door, beyond this
house, and any love of mine, from this
day. You could not trust me-you set
snare for me, and called in rogues and
villains to assist-you begrudged 'ne my
property and my life. Now CO."
defense, and he backed from the woman
to the grounds beyond the house with
every word she hurled at him.
''Tom Eastbell, some hours ago, In Lon
don, I gave information to the police
where the Peterson gang were likely to
be found-where you were, and In what
way you were connected with them. You
have not any time to lose."
He lost no time accordingly. He van
Ished away, a thief to the last-for he
departed with Reuben Culwick's best hat
rammed over his eyebrows. Sarah turned
again to Reuben, her watchful protector,
who would keep her for ever in his sight
now, and as the door closed she linked her
hands upon his arm.
''Take me In, please-I ana tired out.
Reuben. I have fought hard to get
homer
''Tell me how it happened-how it was
that you disappeared from all of us SO
suddenly" said Reuben impatiently.
He did not regard Lucy Jennings-he
drew his chair to his cousins side, took
her hand in his, and gazed eagerly into
her face. She might fade away again
from his life, if he did not make sure of
her.
"Yes, yes" said Sarah, in answer to his
questions; ''but grandmother-teli me,
first, is she not very anxious about me2"
"Your grandmother Is not anxious,
Sarah," said Lucy in low tone.
els she ill?'
'No. She is not i'll now."
"Is she-ah! you are keeping some
thing back! Tell me, please" she said
in great excitement, "where is she. She
is not dead-oh! she has not died without
a word from meT
. "She is in Gods hands-and God keep
you strong to bear the loss of her." said
Lucy Jennings.
Sarah Eastbell closed her eyes, and
sank back in the chair like a dead wom-
an. Reuben, a man wholly uncharita-
~ l. oe .sA
ment which strike home to them, and rob
them of their possession-turned up
on the poor preacher, who had done her
best at least.
There, you have killed her! Are you
satisfied now?" he shouted at Lucy Jen-
nings.
II am not satisfied with this world or
with you," was the cold answer, us she
bent over Sarah, and loosened the fast
enings at her throat. But Sarah East
bell had not tainted; she was only stunned
by the truth. and she sat up the instant
afterward, eager for the whole story,
and looking piteously from one to the
other.
1t was not in Reuben's power to break
the news to her after all, and he left it
to the woman whom his impatience had
wounded.
'Tell her, Lucy. 1t is beyond me-" he
said.
and he could not dwell upon Its details,
CHAPTER XIV.
Lucy Jennings was writing busily In
her room when Sarah came in softly. The
woman-preacher had gone to her apart
ment away from the society of two young
folks who thought of little save each 9th
er, and whose courtship did not interest
her. 1t was one month after the death
Of Mrs. Eastbell.
"Oh, Lucy, what do you think he has
been saying?" Sarah cried in excitement
"Who has been sayingT' asked Lucy
without looking in her direction.
Reuben, to be sure"
always Reuben! had forgotten there
was no other man upon the earth but
Reuben Culwick," she said bitterly.
He says l may ask your opinion If
willard you will think how right he
is."
"It will be about the first time in my
life that l have thought him in the
right" she muttered, then she added ir
her sharpest and jerkiest manner: "Well
what is it?'
~ have been telling him of your soins
away to-morrow-of the necessity of hi:
going, too, as you suggested, and he says
oh, Lucy! what do you think he has so
into his dear old head?" she cried, clap
ping her hands together.
81 can't guess-what is the object O.
guessing when it is easy for you to ex
plain?" was the ungracious rejoinder.
Sarah Esstbell did not notice the chilli
ness of Miss Jennings remarks. Sh,
dashed into her subject forthwith; sh,
snoka of Reuben's wish for an early mar
riage as wise and natural solution t.
the difficulties in their way.
I'm all his life he has been in a hurry,
Lucy said when Sarah had completed he
recital, $50 what is the use of my ad
vice7 1t would be an ill-timed formality
of no value to either of you. If he hat
been less impetuous." said Lucy, bet-ay
ing a sudden excitement herself, ''it woul,
have been as well--it would have sivel
me time to think. Sarah, you must no
marry Reuben Gnlwick yet"