Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-03-18
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)

umes, toward a desk heaped high witt
papers. The whole place was true au
thor's den-a glimpse even of old Grul
street times, when authors worked horC
for their daily bread, and none knew wha
became of the profits of their scribbling
and no one cared save the thieves wht
sold books.
In the midst of the chaos on the desl
there lay a little dainty note, stamped
and sealed and unopened, which had beer
placed there by the landlady during hii
absence from home; and it was in a lady,
handwriting, of that Sarah Eastbel wal
assured.
She was not particularly reserved
about examining it; indeed, her impulse
toward it did not allow time for those
two years training had striven to pro
duce. She pounced upon the note like &
hawk, in fact, and took it up with trem
bling hands, and with her big dark eyes
dilating.
"Mary HoIland!' she exclaimed.
She examined the letter attentively
The handwriting was large and charac
teristic, and clear; the monogram on the
back of the envelope was M. H.; the post
mark was Worcester-there could he nc
possibility of mistake.
"Why has she written?' exclaimed
Sarah; "how dare she write to him?
At the same moment hand touched
her arm, and Reuben Culwick's voice
said politely:
when you have quite done with my
letter, Miss Eastbell, should feel oblig-
ed by it's return"
Sarah Eastbell gave a little scream of
surprise, and turned to greet her cousin.
She extended both her hands toward
him, and he did not check the impulse,
but received them in his own, and shook
them warmly, winding up proceedings by
taking his letter gently and delicately
from her.
Reuben very unceremoniously cleared
q chair of about half hundredweight of
books, by fitting the volumes forward to
the floor, and Sarah sat down and looked
timidly and yet scrutinizingly toward
him. He did not speak to her again; he
gave her time to collect her ideas, or to
observe the effect of two years. change,
of two years trouble and hard work and
worldly drudgery upon him. This gave
him time also to note how years had re-
modelled Second-cousin Sarah-how the
gawky girl had grown into handsome
young woman, whom he could only iden-
tify with past forlornness by her large,
dark, wistful eyes. And she saw, with q
strange heart-sinking for which she could
not account, that there was a startling
change in him who was facing her.
N"I am very sorry" she said at last, and
in spasmodic fashion.
81 am in my right place." he said, with
a little laugh that was hardly natural,
IAN individual totally undeserving of
your sympathy"
"Why have you never written to me or
grandmother? Why have you not come
to Sedge Hill? Why have you kept away
from those who would have been always
very proud to help your"
''That is why 1 have kept away. Miss
Eastbell-because 1 am proud enough to
be above all help. You must not mind
what l say; 1 am more irritable than 1
used to be- have grown to like my own
company, and to dislike visitors of all de.
grees. l am sour kind of fellow now,
who prides himself upon saying hard
things. and so the less you see of him the
better"
"You are not offended with me-? she
inquired softly. ''You take it as an insult
that my blind grandmother and 1 are in
your fathers house, and possess your
fathers property, but we"
II will not hear" cried Reuben, fercely
interrupting her. "When knew that my
father kept his word with me, 1 became
less of philosopher than / had bargain
ed for-more human, more selfish, more
of a coward-and l am only slowly get
ting over the sense of disappointment
which followed the disinheritance. was
vain enough to think myself hero, when
T lxy O. ,riO
"I-I-hardly understand" said Sarah,
bewildered at this confession.
"No, no-probably not" he said quick
ly, land why should l trouble you about
my feelings, even if you did?'
"a word would have saved you from
this cruel drudgery."
"a word to Mrs. Eastbell. who-but
there, have nothing to say against the
old lady. She is still well, and enjoys
her affluence"
NO" said Sarah, shaking her head
energetically.
$50 l have heard" responded Reuben
He glanced at the letter in his hand
and Sarah said at once:
"Why does my grandmother's compan-
Ion write to your
"Out of pity" he added dryly.
"How is it that she is acquainted with
your address. while 1 have had to scheme
and search for it-why has she not told
me?'
81 must leave that for Miss Holland to
answer for herself"
"Will you ever come to Sedge Hill?"
"As soon as I can afford it," he an.
swered; when 1 have decent coat on
my back, and sufficient spare cash to pay
my railway fare to Worcester-and coat
and cash are both earned by the sweat OF
my brow-I will pay you a return visit. >
II have not done any good" she mur
INJURED. but l am glad have seen you
very glad. Good by"
Good by"
He shook hands with her, opened the
door and allowed her to pass from hi.
room. He stood on the landing place ant
watched her descend the murky stairs
as she glanced up at him and smiled. r.
could see that the light was shining
through her tears.