Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-06-24

CHAPTER VII.


sorrowful niece, after they had reached
the home of their relative, Mr.. Charles
Rogers, in Charles street, Liverpool, and
bidden the handsome young physician
farewell, who had cared for them both
50 tenderly during their passage across
the Atlantic.
1t need only be said, in reference to
that farewell, that the tears rushed to
the hazel eyes of Ethel as she saw him
disappear in the distance, and a great
and lonely void seemed suddenly to have
dropped into her heart.
She knew not why she had taken such
a deep interest in this grave and often
pre-occupied stranger, but from the first
word of kindness he had spoken to her,
the first glance into his earnest eyes, she
had felt towards him as she had never
done towards any person of the opposite
sex before.
But now it was all over. he had gone,
and henceforward she can but learn to do
without him. For a day or so it had al
most seemed an impossibility, but with
the rapid failure of her aunt's strength
her thoughts were forced into another
channel, and her own lonely feelings had
to be pushed aside for the more moment
GUS and important one Of their impend-
ing separation.
The third week was drawing to close
and the young girl had thrown herself
upon her knees by the bedside of the
invalid to catch the last words that she
had to speak in her ear. At her request,
she had been left alone with her child,
and now, with her hand in hers, she mur-
INJURED:
"Ethel, darling, feel that have but
q few hours more to be with you, as my
strength is fast waning; but while may,
/ wish to tell you what I thought might
be kept from your ears until your twen-
ty-frst birthday; but as shall not be
with you then, must impart to you now
an important secret, and give into your
charge some documents not to be opened
until that day. My dear, will you take
these papers, and promise me that you
will not break their seal until that time
arrives?"
81 will, dearest aunt: rest assured
will do exactly as you wish"
"The papers 1 speak of, then, are in
my trunk, inside small wallet Take
charge of them Immediately, and be sure
to aottend to them at the time 1 mention.
Now, I must tell you fact that l have
withheld from your knowledge for the
best of reasons, and in order to keep a
solemn pledge of secrecy given to your
father when babe. 1 took you, as you
are aware, when a child of a few weeks
old, as my own had died. as we'll as my
husbands sister, who was your dear
mother.
you were so young, and to be SO en-
cirely ours until your twenty-first birth
day, that all thought it best to call you
by our own name. I now tell you, for
the first time what has been kept secret
Your father still lives, but for various
reasons did not wish to claim you or be
known to you until that time. 1 have
Informed him Of my husbands death
my failing health, and of my return to
England. 1 have also given him Cousin
Rogers address, who will tell him where
you can be found when that date arrives
81 will only add that there is nothing
to be ashamed of in your birth. You are
q true gentlewoman, and when twenty
one will come into possession OF
property sufficient for your support; but
this fact is not to be generally known
Four months will elapse before that
time comes, and 1 can leave only enough
to bury me and purchase suitable
mourning apparel for yourself.
II dare not leave you without pro
tector and guardian, and as our present
vide for his own six children and wife
have written to my brother, Sir Regf
nald Glsndenning, asking him to take
charge of you. l told him unless he did
you would be obliged to earn your owl
living, and l hated to send you out into
the world alone for such a purpose.
asked him if you could not be of use il
some way to him, until the fifth Of Oc
tober, when you would be otherwise pro
vided for. This letter must be sent af
ter my interment. Let him be notified Of
my death and invited to my funeral
then, after all Is over and your mourn
ing garments are made, send him the let
ter.
"Now, my love. wish you to promis
me that you will go to him if he send
for you. and assist him in whatever ca
pacity he offers. even though it may b,
distasteful. Will you do this for you
dying aunt, Ethel, my child?"
II surely WILL" was the low reply, sob
bed out almost with a wall: but can
not think of your dying. o. auntie!
have loved you so, how can 1 live with
out your"
"'As thy day, so shall thy strengtl
be- is all l can say. God will comfor
you, and in few more months you
father will claim and protect you. Blu
what is this? cannot see! l am grow
ing numb-cold! Ethel-Ethel- an
dying!"
She spoke no more, and as Mr.. an,
Mrs Rogers FASTENED back to the roon
at Ethers hurried call, they saw tha
she was indeed breathing her last.
Ethel mourned, AZ one with such
Loving heart would naturally do, owe
her great loss, but amid all her grie
she remembered distinctly every dire<
tion she had received from those loved
dying lips. The package spoken Of wa
hidden instantly amid her own posses
sions, and q message dispatched to th
baronet.
The next day q telegraphic dispahc
summoned the young girl immediahei
to the presence Of the baronet, sayin
''that he was LII. and needed her at once.
An hour later saw her seated In q raj
way train ON her way to the Hall. Poe