The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-06-11

| had plotted against her--he would have
killed her rather than let her escape
without a ransom-but she did not be-
grudge him his life. And it left Mary
young and pretty widow. too--but what
had that to do with itf'
HE died within an hour of your cOus-
ms visit this morning." said Mary.
"And you are here" replied Sarah
wonderingly.
"Ah! you cannot understand that,
said Mary, "you who will love your hus-
band all your life. But my love was
crushed out quickly. and only my duty
took me to his bedside-my regret for
the last mistake which brought about his
death. and his last act of vengeance"
His last act of vengeance! repeat
ed Sarah
Half an hour after Mr.. Culwick had
left me. my husband changed suddenly
he wholly realized. and for the first time.
that there was no hope for him in This
world, and---what did he dor she added
with a shudder.
He should have asked pardon of You
fer blighting your life" said Sarah.
He should have sought pardon of his
God" added Lucy Jennings.
He tore the last will of Sumon chi
wick into hundred pieces, lest | should
claim my right to riches by it," answer
ed Mary: he cursed me. and left me
poor"
But | have all the fragments" add
ed Mary. opening a purse heaped to the
clasp with small pieces of paper; ''see
there they are"
Sarah glanced at them. but did not
speak.
at would he specimen of patchwork
that the law would hardly acknowledge"
said the widow, but you would not dis
pute the will. Sarah. if !, by patient
study and great care, render this tesla
mcnt complete againT
NO" answered Sarah Eastbell.
"In my husbands lifetime | dared not
make him rich: and now, in memory Of
much kindness. of old trust-of new con-
fidcnce, may | sayI-I have the courage
to remain poor"
She held the open purse over the fire.
and the fragments fell from it into the
red Goals. Reuben and Sarah started for.
ward TO arrest her hand. but it was too
late.
You should not have done this.
Mary" cried Reuben.
I'll was not just will" answered the
widow; 81 told your father so when he
placed 1t in my hands. although | did not
tell him that never in all my life should
avail myself of his munificence.'
He had wronged your father in some
manner which we cannot even guess at
but which he owned himself You told
me that" said Reuben.
He was strange that day. 1t might
have been the raving of mailman"
LAS that" said Lucy, pointing to the
fire. was the act of a madwoman.'
Il think not" answered Mary conf
IDENTITY; lit is an act of justice to the man
entitled to his fathers money, and who
will marry this brave young lady in pos
session"
She has given me up. said Reuben
dryly: but Mary turned from one to an
other and read no doubt or distress on
either face. Here were two lives in the
sunshine at last.
Il believe it was always Simon Gull
wicks wish that Reuben should have
this money" continued Mary ''he did
not know of my marriage, and I dared
ltUl ten MN tOI lily uOiue Sdkt, uHu 81
we went on from one complication to an
other. There We're only two wills; the
first left all to his sister. the second to
me--and the second | could not, and did
not care to prove The answer to the
riddle came round in the way | thought
it might do, IL l were watchful and re-
served--for | knew in what high esti-
nation Sarah Eastbell held her cousin,
and how she had made up her mind to
give an obstinate man his rights. She
and | together planned more ways than
one--she very artless, | very artful per-
haps--but the best and simplest and hap
piest way has come without our plotting"
But your said Sarah and Reuben
| almost together.
"You two are not likely To forget me,
or my little daughter hereto shut me
from your friendship--tO help me in the
world, should | want help"
Help" echoed Reuben; "wly. Il is all
yours"
You can't prove that" said Mary en-
phatically, land l would prefer to be de-
pendent on your bounty. | will not be too
proud to ask for a pension, when my lit
tie girl grows up and tires of her moth
err"
THE future, for you and Tots. you
will leave to Sarah and me-" said Reu-
ben; you will trust In those whom you
have trusted so much already"
"As they will trust in me now," said
the unselfsh woman, holding out her
hands to them.
1t Is fair picture on which the cur
tain is rung down--on perfect confidence,
and true affection and prosperity--on
life opening out before these three with
no shadows on the scenes beyond. Reu-
ben and Sarah will live happily forever
Afterwards young couples always
should In books-and Mary and her