Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-08
CHAPTER XIX.

The will of Sarah Eastbell was COM
pleted, and Hartley, the maid, and a
second servant were introduced into the
room to witness the old lady's effort at q
signature.
'It's a good thing done, after ALL"
muttered Mrs. Eastbell as she lay down
wearily.
"'It's brief and unlawyer-like," said
Reuben, contemplating the will, "but
think it sets forth your intentions clearly
aunt. What shall do with it?"
Lock it in that iron box; the key is
under my pillow" said Mrs. Eastbell.
Reuben found the key, and locked up
the will, restoring the key to it's place
beneath his aunt's head.
1t had been a day of more than ordi-
nary fatigue and excitement to Mrs.
Eastbell, and she was tired out; sleep
was life to a woman of her age, and he
would not trouble her again concerning
the granddaughter, or ask her any ques-
tions respecting the engagement. There
would be time enough tomorrow to COIL
slider that-and Sarah was waiting for
him.
Reuben went downstairs thoughtfllly.
He had almost resolved to proceed to the
gallery in the first place, but the tempta-
ton was too strong to seek out his second
cousin, who would surely be in the draw
ing room awaiting him. He had a great
deal to tell her now, and little to ex-
plain concerning his past misonthropy,
which had grown more strongly develop
ed as she at last seemed to fade away
more completely from him. A real hero
inc had his Second-cousin Sarah proved
herself to be; he wished that he had been
1f To oh hat Io hnd
more bravely endured the inevitable. She
did not know yet what an obstinate and
bad-tempered man he was. and how he
had quarreled with everybody in turn
after his fathers death. He went into
the drawing room full of these odd reso-
lutions and found Mary Holland there.
"Where is Sarah?'' he asked, after a
glance round the room had assured him
of the absence of his second-cousin.
"Sarah?' said Miss Holland, springing
to her feet. HAS she not been with you
In Mrs. Eastbell's room?"
'She left it half an hour since"
"Wait an instant"
Mary Holland left the room; and Reu-
ben remained, with a new perplexity to
battle with, and rising doubts and fears
to beat down.
Mary Holland entered the room again,
and was standing at the door, a paler
and more affected woman than when he
had seen her few minutes since.
Gomez she said at last.
"What do you meanT"
'That-that Sarah Eastbell is not in
the house." explained Mary.
1T can't be truer' calculated Reuben.
"Stay, let ME think still. For heav-
ems sake give distracted woman time
to think!'
Reuben, in the midst of his excitement,
remembered afterward that the demeanor
of Mary Holland aroused in him for an
instant a half-wondering interest, as in
a dream of vague beliefs and startling in
consistencies; and then the trouble of
Sarah's absence took away all thought of
everything else.
Her brother and the man he brought
with him." said Reuben, where are
they?"
could not have left the room without my
being warned"
''They are in this plot, if plot there
can be-" said Reuben.
Mary Holland ran to the window and
looked back at Reuben.
"Openv' she cried
Reuben and Mary Holland stepped in
to the garden, and looked around them
1t was a dark, dry night, with the stars
hidden now, and the wind soughing
through the larches on the hillside with
such plaintive meanings that Reuben
strove to catch the accents of his cous-
in's voice amidst them.
1--WE shall find her in the garden" said
Reuben assuringly, as he strobe along
the paths with which he was acquuint-