The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-23

I Reuben Culwick, is TINT you!'
The two young women and the big
! bearded man between them paused apd
looked at each other. Sarah Eastl'rll
whispered:
''Grandmother"
| Yes. it is L. answered Reuben.
| Come upstairs directly. and don't
bring anybody with you" and then the
head of Mrs Eastbell appeared over the
! first line of balsters in the well stair
! case.
! $50 to her" said Sarah anxioIsly.
! she would make amends for being in
! your fathers house Don't thwart her.
! When Reuben Culwick had reached the
/ landing stage from which the head of
J his old aunt had appeared he came to
! full stop in his surprise At discovering
that Second cousin Sarah was following
him.
| so YOU are here at last. young fellow
You have swallowed your pride. and
! come to see me" were the first words IF
| Mrs. Eastbel from the bed into which
she had been assisted. and before which
he sat down.
81 have swallowed my pride. aunt. and
come to see you" he said in her own
words.
Lucky for you" she answered. for,
though | didn't tell Sally so. | was not
going to he sighted by bit of "A hoy
| like YOU"
| The door was closed and they were
together in secret conference. Reuben
and his aunt. with his second-cousin like
n fate. shadowy and still and vigi.ant.
| There was n small table drawn close to
! a ~ Il.
it, and little reading lamp. Sarah was
right AT strange hour. and In
strange fashion. which his coming oad
! suggested. the old woman lying there
had thought of her last duty TO the liv
ing, and was now in eager haste TO com
! plete it.
! You have not shaken hands with me.
| Reuben" she said, and the shriveed hand
stole forth with the old difficulty from the
| bed and he took it in his own, and felt
| it cling to his own and detain lie. "If |
have robbed YOU of your birthright. Reu-
bell-and Sally says | have-I hope YOU
b, ar me no i'll will.
| Heaven forbid" was the quick an
swer.
your fathers money has not done me
| any good-and this big, cold place is AZ
dark and dull and empty "a the old aims
| house was--only not so warm. and Sally
not always ut my side now. Sally never
| sighted me at st. Oswald's. mind you.
that's the curious part of II. | don't see
what is to become of her. exactly. when
| | am not here to look after her" said the
blind woman quantity. I'm as nnset-
| tied about her as ] was when you came
| to me at Worcester. for she's an unset
tied kind of child. and does strange
| things. | did not want her to meet yOu.
| but she would run away at last. You
| know my grandson Tom has come to see
meT'
"Oh, yes"
Il have Tom to think of, too He's
good lad He hasn't forgotten mel
hate people to forget me. Reuben. Still.
! Sally's right, and neither she nor nor
| Tom. for that MATERIALS any business
with your fathers money. didn't see it
quite so clearly a little while ago--half
| m hour since-as do now"
| But
| There lou co. said the old woman.
| auerulous. what's the use of interrupt
ing people while they are talking? Whom
| got rich. Reuben. grew greedy, some
/ how--as if riches. after all. were any
! good to me. Wasn't happy woman at
81. Oswald's? haven't been happy since
/ then. When my foolish brother left me
money. he left me trouble, too, and was
too old for trouble. Now about my Sally
1t willful girl enough. hut true as steel.
Reuben"
What of herr" said Reuben. looking
across nj Sarah. who sat with her arms
lat. al ha,. So. h.x, L.
woman asleep.
IL think that | can trust you to see
after my family. if | leave you nil my
money. us she wishes You are not likely
To turn your back upon Sarah or Tom.
because ii is Sarahs wish that | give up
every penny of my own free will"
Sarah is rash" muttered Reuben Gull
wick. very RASH
Il think il is OVERRIDING il myself" said
the old lady very calmly; but what peace
shall | have until it's done! Has my
maid put pens, and ink. and paper on
that table? You are scholar-write OUT
my will. Reuben. in half dozen lines.
Put il all down to yourself-freehold
leasehold. money. pictures. plate-the old
woman gives it ALL"
AT her granddaughter's wish?'
And at her own--in common fairness
Reu. to my dead brothers son There
write. and let me sign it
Reuben looked across at Sarah again
From the shadowy background she made
n gesture of assent. earnest, imperative.
and supplicatory.
And this strange idea is my second
cousin's?" Reuben said, still looking ut
her "She trusts me so much, knowing
so little of me. in foggy dream of resti-
tuition. She thinks of my wrongs, at a
time when | am learning to forget Them.