The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-03-03
CHAPTER VII

| Mrs. Eastbell waited very patiently for
the return of her granddaughter to the
! almshouses. She was very happy in ner
nest, she said. Sarah wrote her letters;
Miss Holland read them to her: every
body was kind, and her granddaughter
would soon be home again. What was
there to disturb her old head in any way !?
She was well in health, too, and wonder
fully strong.
Suddenly the visits of Mary Holland
abruptly ceased, although a message was
sent to the old lady that Mrs. Mugger-
ldge's niece had been telegraphed for to
London, and would return in few days.
The niece would take that opportunity
of calling upon Sarah Eastbell, and bring
back to Worcester all the news-possi-
bly, Miss Eastbell herself, if she was
strong enough to leave
How long Mary Holland was away
Mrs. Eastbell did not know, one day
being very much like another, and time
passed away smoothly and easily with
this complacent specimen of age, and
then, one afternoon, when the kettle was
singing on the handful of fire which Mrs.
Muggeridge had made, Mary Holland
came softly into the room, and stood by
the bedside of the woman.
Il have returned" she said; and the
ey clashes of the listener quiyered at the
voice.
'Thank you, child" was the answer,
as the thin yellow hand crept from be-
meath the sheets to welcome her. "Have
'She will be in Worcester tomorrow"
"Now that's good hearing! Is that all
you have to tell me?"
"Oh no. have brought a great deal
of news with me-good and bad | am
afraid that you must have them both to-
gether for they both affect you, Mrs.
Eastbell."
go on, girl; let us have them in the
lump, then. But" she added, quickly, 'is
it anything to do with Sarahi'
ut concerns yourself most of all. Can
you feel what trimming is on my sleeve?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Eastbell, Grape! You
have lost some one"
81 have lost one who was kinder to me
than to any living soul | shall he ro
richer for his death. | never expected
anything. 1t was OH the condition that
| should never touch a halfpenhy of his
money that | became the keeper of his
house, the watcher Of his lonely life. His
father and mine had been great friends.
but they had quarreled at last, as every
body quarrelcd with this man."
You must mean my brother Simon? 2"
Yes" was the reply.
"ls he really deadY she asked in
whisper
Yes; he was run over in the streets,
and he died in the hospital next day."
Poor Simon; | fancied that | should
outlive him, old as l was, though | didn't
think he would 20 off in a hurry like this.
| have been waiting years for him, max
ing sure that he would come here some
day, and say, Sister, I'm sorry that we
ever had any words, and there's an end
to it, and instead of this there's an end
of him, Well he was good man, with
a viii of his own, like the rest of the
family"
Mrs. Eastbel had certainly received
bad news with composure, as age will do
very often, but still Mary Holland was
astonished at her equanimity
"Hou are not shocked?" she asked
wonderingly.
Il am too near the end myself, child,
to be surprised at Simon's starting he
! fore me-the right way, too, for he was
an honest, straightforward fellow, wasn't
hef And Reuben comes back to his
rights at last, and all's we'll"
"All is not well with Reuben Culwick,
/ so far as his rights are concerned, His
| father has cut him out of his VIII, as l,e
said that he would" Mary explained
stih further, "and as knew thar he
/ would"
Then who has got the money!"
| The young woman's hand touched the
dry and withered one lying close to her
/ own.
You have" said Mary Holland, after
/ a moments silence.
What's that you sayl-who's got the
money f-meT she screamed forth.
Yes, you are the heiress," said Mary
/ Holland, somewhat satirically.
How much money is thereF' she ask.
ed, so keenly that Mary almost fancied
that the old woman was peering at her
from under her sealed lids.
More than you will know what to do
! with"
Not more than l can take care Of"
she added, with one Of her low ehuckles
Of satisfaction.
For yourself, and for those who come
after you" said Mary. in low, thought
/ full tone.
| tNnr. hrA L r,,n.t L.. .......lf e.. L