Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1904-05-12

By his disgrace. she said. Heaven
knows II this were true, or the wander
Ings Of a demented mind. It IL beyond
our guessing At, and belongs not to our
present lives"
MARY Holland, II was true" said
Reuben. solemnly; Il bring . proof Of
II IN bis reparation."
Impossible"
"IIe has left yos all bis money"
There was q 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 be Of assistance 10 the alright
ed woman.
II was only a cry Of delight. Captain
Peterson had heard Oh the news.
'Is It all trueY he gasped forth, turn
ing 70 Reuben 40 II 10 q friend on whom,
In this crisis OF his lie, he might rely.
'Aii the money Il left to Mary HoI-
land" answered Reuben.
How Is lt-how IL II that-that---this
can beY' he inquired, catching st Rsu.
ben's hand and claspIng II with his trenl-
bling fingers; you see how excited I
am, but can bear good news. Good
news Will save me yet, please heaven"
There has been discovered another
will, hgned by my father the day before
his death. In 1t my father bequsaths
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 tits easily proved
isn't ii easily proved, Maryi Tell him
sO--don't stare at me like that"
"Yes, am his wife," said Mary, thus
appealed to; II am not Mary Holland" T"
"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 you husband's-why, it's as
clear as daylight This brings me-
back--to-life! Where is the will?"
II have brought II with me-"
"Give ito me-" said Peterson: 'It
isn't safe in other hands. IL will keep
II till Im-stronger."
"Let him have It," said the wife, care
lessly; 'it will calm him, and rest Is
necessary"
II would prefer your taking II, Mrs.
Peterson" said Reuben, producing the
will; better still to leave II with trust
worthy solicitor to act upon. There will
be no opposition to 1t In any way from
Sarah EastbelL"
1T will be safe enough In my hus-
bands keeping" said Mary, with strange
listlessness.
Reuben gave her the will, aud she
crossed with 1t to her husbands side and
placed II In his hands, which with great
dificulty 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 PITT it under my pillow-now."
And thO child ~ asked Reuben, curl
ously.
A gesture, quick and depreeatory, from
Mary Holland came too late1to arrest the
question, or to check the excitement Of
the PROSTATE vagabond, who half raised
himself In bed In his vehemence.
'T'll never see the child again-I'd
rather die than see her. She shall never
be more than the beggar's brat she is!'
he shouted.
"What has she done?"
'She turned against her own father
when there was chance Of making
money, 1t was she, that cursed child, who
betrayed me-"
The color vanished from his face again,
and once more the leaden hue sufiused
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. | 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
rendered his fathers will into the hands
Of those 1t was to benefit, and 1t had
been cOldly, almost unthankfully receiv-
ed. Let him get back to Sarah Eastbell
and to the brighter life wherein she
moved.
CTo be continued.)