Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-01

his old aunt had appeared, he came to a
full stop in his surprise at discovering
that Second-cousin Sarah was following
him.
$50 you are here at last, young fellow
you have swallowed your pride, and
come to see me-" were the first words of
Mrs. Eastbell 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 I didn't tell Sally SO, was not
going to be slighted by a bit of boy
like you"
The door was closed, and they were
together in secret conference, Reuben
and his aunt, with his second-cousin like
a fate, shadowy and still and vigilant.
There was a small table drawn close to
the bedhead, with writing materials upon
it, and little reading lamp. Sarah was
right. At. a strange hour, and in a
strange fashion, which his coming oad
suggested, the old woman lying there
had thought of her last duty to the iv-
ing, and was now in eager haste to COM
plete it.
you have not shaken hands with me,
Reuben" she said, and the shriveled 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-
ben-and Sally says have-I hope you
bear me no ill will"
Heaven forbidw was the quick an
swer.
"Your fathers money has not done me
any good-and this big, cold place is as
dark and dull and empty as the old aims
house was-only not so warm, and Sally
not always at my side now. Sally never
slighted me at st. Oswald's, mind you,
that's the curious part of it. Iedon'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 unset
tied about her as 1 was when you came
to me at, Worcester, for she's an unset
tied kind of child, and does strange
things. 1 did not want her to meet you,
but she would run away at last. You
know my grandson Tom has come to see
me?"
ooh, yes"
81 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 I-nor
Tom, for that materials any business
with your fathers money. I didn't see it
quite SO clearly little while ago-half
an hour since-as I do now"
But"
'There you Co." said the old woman,
querulously; whats the use of interrupt
ing people while they are talking? When
l got rich, Reuben, grew greedy, some
how-as if riches, after all, were any
good to me! Wasn't happy woman at
st. Oswald's? haven't been happy since
then. When my foolish brother left me
money, he left me trouble, too, and 1 was
too old for trouble. Now about my Sally
"a willful girl enough, but true as steel,
Reuben"
What of herr" said Reuben, looking
across at Sarah, who sat with her arms
crossed, and her face bent very low, like a
woman asleep.
Il think that I can trust you to see
after my family, if I leave you all my
money, as she wishes. You are not likely
to turn your back upon Sarah or Tom.
because it is Sarah's wish that I give up
every penny of my own free will"
Sarah is rash, 'muttered Reuben Gull
wick, Every RASH"
II think it is OVERRIDING it myself" said
the old lady very calmly; 'but what peace
shall I have until it's done? Has my
maid put pens, and ink, and paper on
that table? You are a scholar-write out
my will, Reuben, in half a dozen lines.
Put it all down to yourself-freAhold,
leasehold, money, pictures, plate-the old
woman gives it ALL"
'At her granddaughter 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
q gesture of assent, earnest, imperative,
and supplicatory.
''And this strange idea is my second
cousin's?" Reuben said, still looking at
her ''She trusts me so much, knowirf:
so little Of me, in foggy dream of resti-
tuition. She thinks of my wrongs, at a
time when 1 am learning to forget them.
She accepts. dependence, she risks pov-
erty and privation, and puts herself en-
tirely in my power"
Entirely" replied the old woman;
''isn't it safe?''
"It is romance, not reality. A wild
folly, and not the common prudence that
should regulate all lives. l will have
nothing to do with it. Besides, he who
writes a will in which he is interested,
and by which he is to profit, ,>does it at bis
own risk-a very great one in the eyes
of the law. aunt" continued Reuben,
land after all the document may not be
worth the paper on which it is written.
Hence your will would get into Chancery,
Mrs. Eastbell. depend upon it. Eli give
you my idea, if you'll keep quiet for FIVE
minutes"
Il don't think much of your IDEAS"
said Mrs. Eastbell, candidly, ''but go 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 curious,
advanced on toptoe toward him, and re-
garded him dehantly as he curved his
hand before his work and looked hard at
her, with his mouth twitching at the cor
ners, as if his old aggravating smile
were difficult to repress. When he had
finished writing he said: