The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-05-05

Yes, Lucy Jennings was right-thst
which might affect the whole after life
of Reuben Culwick and Of herself was
In the hands Of the woman-preacher.
On the envelope were written these
words:
Herein Is contained the last VIII ond
Testament of Simon Culwick, Of Sedge
Hill, Worcester"
There was a date appended--the date
Of the day on which Simon Culwick had
called at Hope street, Camberwell, for
the first time, and last, n his life. II
was will made before he had come that
day In search Of his son, and It over
ruled all other testaments to which In
his life. Of change he had set his trem-
bling hand.
Where did you find thisY Sarah rsk.
ed at last.
''In that box" Lucy replied, pointing
to an oId-fashioned hair trunk studded
with brass nails--one Of the boxes which
Mary Holland had never claimed. what
right had that woman with Reuben'i
fathers willY' asked Lucy; has she moi
committed a crime against the law?--is
not this an act Of revenge against hin? |?
II don't see all this yet," responded
Sarah Eastbell, stiIl thoughtfully.
"Thls will Ii sealed; It was given In
trust to Mary Holland before Simon left
for London. It leaves his property to
Reuben, and she would have kept him
from 1t. see It all. despise that wom-
an, although have never met her in my
life."
MARY Holland Is not here to answer
for herself" said Sarah; "and Mary
would have preferred Reuben's being
rich to my poor grandmother's coming
to this house."
"She brought your grandmother here
herself; there was plot In 1t. Read the
will"
"What right have to read u" asked
Sarah.
"You are In possession. Reuben Is too
weak to bear the shock. There may be
something In II which he Is not to know
first OF ALL" she added, with sudden
doubt--"which Is to be broken to him by
degrees"
Reuben Is as brave as a lion."
"0h, you don't know him." said Miss
Jennings pityingly.
II don't think so meanly Of him az you
do" cried Sarah, with sudden spirit; II
don't believe he has fretted for an In
stant about bis fathers money, though
he told me so once. He has denied II
since; he Is abovSall mercenary thoughts.
Come and see how he will take this
news" cried Sarah, dehantly now.
II have no interest In It; II concerns
me not" said Lucy very sharply; Il
should not have mentioned II till l was
prepared to leave the house, had you not
come in with your foolish story Of hasty
wedding. Go to him, Sarah. | am busy
with a holier task than yours
Reuben took the packet from Sarah'E
hand and read the superscription, bis
eyes dllatlng with surprise. He made nc
attempt to break the seal Of black wax
but walked with her slowly toward tn,
bay window at the end Of the room, a.
though his sight were weak, and NOR,
light were needed to assist il.
She seemed to hesitate In her progros
with him, and he put his arm round he
waist, as a privileged lover under thes
circumstances had right to do.
For better or worse, for richer o.
poorer, my First-cousln-once-r
Sarah" said he lightly, but meaningly
''now tell me where this sprang from"
Sarah told him, while he listened, Will
the paper In his hand and looked out a
the garden and the rising ground beyont
Il. Tots stole away during the narration
MARY Holland may have received =
possibly did reeelve--private instruction
from my poor father with this WILL" sal,
Reuben, when Sarah had completed he
narrative; "she Is not to blame, trust
even IL 1t comes at us In this fashion. I
| was to be kept back, at Simon Culwick'
request, certain time, possibly, he bein,
secretive man. Miss Holland Is no
here to tell u.s." answered Reuben, ian,
you and | stand In false position, witt
this will lying like bar upon the free
dom Of our thoughts. | take all the re
sponsibIllty; 1t Is my right, as Slmol
Culwick's SON"
"You are not afraid of the contents 2
she asked, remembering suddenly Luc,
Jennings criticism Of Reuben's temper
ament.
There Is nothing within. the win t
frighten me-" he replied firmly, "or /,
make me glad, or cast me down. Sc
how steady tho hand Is that turns owe
the pages Of this book Of fate"
| His fingers broke the seal and tool
from the envelope the document con
tained therein. He looked at the pape
for the first time, II was brief will
which a few lines made clear. II wa
written by Simon Culwick himself, an,
witnessed by two servants who had lef
the house two years since, and II left, a
Reuben had imagined from the FIRST, tn
whole Of his property, free and indlvisi
BILE, to his old friends child, his faithful
housekeeper, Mary Holland.
| He refolded the win, and regarded nt
tentlyely his second-cousin, who remain
ed dumb with amaEement.
"And Mary Holland have turned GU
of her own house, so that she is not her
to receive our congratulations" said Reu
ben Culwiek coolly.