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

"and after all the document may not be
worth the paper on which il is written.
Hence your will would get into Chancery,
Mrs. Eastbel. depend upon it, I'll give
you my idea. if you'll keep quiet for FIVE
minutes"
II don't think much of your ideas. y
said Mrs. Eastbell. candidly. ''but 20 on.
Reuben tok up pen. dipped IT into the
ink. and commenced writing very rapidly.
The old woman lay back and listened to
the scratching of his pen upon the paper.
and Sarah Eastbell. intensely curiods.
advanced on toptoe toward him. and re-
garded him detiantly as he curved his
hand before his work and looked hard ut
ker. with his mouth twitching mt the cor
ners. as if his old aggravating smile
were difficult 10 repress. When he had
finished writing. he said:
Now. listen. L. Sarah Eastbell, of
Sedge Hill. in the County of Worcester
shire relict Of"
Never mind that rubbish" interrupted
Mrs. Eastbcll; what does it mean when
you have got through it allT'
This" replied her nephew. looking ut
his secOnd-cotisin again. that you leave
ali your property to your granddaughter,
Sarah"
'No-no." cried Sarah taken off her
guard. and coming into the foreground
rebelious and angry: Il will not have
this jugglery. grandmothcr-l will not
have this done"
Good gracous. cried the old lady,
are you here too: Why don't YOU
shrek little louder. or fire a blundcr-
huss off in my ears. or something, Sally?
OF all the aggravating people i'll the
world think You are the worst. playing
at shnttlecock with my money. and not
letting me have word to say about ii for
myself. I'll die without a will now--see
if | don't. And here goes. too
Mrs. Eastbell Topped wildly over in
bed. and turned her back upon them.
See what your obstinacy has done"
said Sarah angrily to her cousin.
One moment" said Reuben: this is
an idea. Mrs Eastbell. by which a large
amount of legacy duty is saved. You can
trust Sarah--so can |.
Yes, but how's il TO end" said Mrs.
Eastbel.
Only in one way. and that | submit 10
your kind consideration. Aunt he said
in an earnest tone. before / leave Sedge
Hill | shall ask your permission TO pay
my addresses to my Second-cousin Sarah.
am not worthy of her-she knows that!
but | have learned 10 love her very
much within the last four and-tNenty
hours.
There was long silence before Mrs.
Eastbel said in a husky voice:
You don't mean to say, Reuben, that
YOU have been thinking of my Sally!
That would make this business very
straight and square. and as Sally's fond
of you--"
"Oh. grandmamma! | never said so"
murmured Sarah Eastbeil, without lower
ing her hands from her face.
What horrible story teller you are
cried her grandmother.
1T is mercenary match" said Reu-
ben: IL offer myself. without a penny in
the world, to a rich young heiress who
could do much better for herself, end
who is far above me in every respect
who is even too young for me. consider
ing what an old fogy have grown of late
days"
You're no great catch for Sally, GER
tainly." observed Mrs. Eastbell but if
Sally says she'll have you, it ends the
bother of the money in a proper sort of
way"
''All your money TO Sarah Easrbcll.
it being privately understood that Sarah
is not to forget her brother Tom. or-her
second cousin Reuben" said our hero,
taking up the pen.
Yes. Tom and you can both trust
Sarah" Mrs. Eastbell replied.
Sarah Eastbell was even now scarcely
satisfied with the drawing up of the will
in her favor-it was not what she had
wished-had she been less confused. less
happy. she might have suggested fresh
additions and conditions but she stood on
the threshold Of new world with the
man who was the hero of her life in the
foreground of its brightness. She seemed
to hesitate as her hands were lowered
from her face, and Reuben said mean
mgly:
And Sarah Eastbel can trust me.
hope?"
Yes she answered to his appeal.
but the will should say"
The will must say neither more nor
less than that you are sole legatee---I
will not have my name in connection with
this money" he said very firmly; ''ond I
prefer" he added in different and
softer tone. Ito be wholly at the mercy
If my second-cousin'
Sarah said no more in argument If
there were a man to he trusted in the
world. it was Reuben Culwick; or if there
were a man less likely to be moved from
his position. il was surely he also She
slipped quietly from the room. leaving
Reuben with her grandmother. and went
downstairs into the drawing room.
She took her place before the fire. fast
dying out with neglect, and thought of
the end of all anxiety and uncertainty,
and of the beginning of her happiness,
with Reuben's love growing stronger ev-