The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-04-23
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ny THE AUTHOR OF
SPENSTER." /" LITTLE IA;
Ere. ETC,

landing stage from which the head of
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.
II 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 sighted by 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 vigi!ant.
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 had
suggested the old woman lying there
had thought Of her last duty to the liv-
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 1
have robbed you of your birthright, Reu-
ben-and Sally says have-I hope you
bear me no ill will.'
Heaven forbidp' 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
! sighted me at st. Oswald's, mind you,
! that's the curious part of it. / don't see
what is to become Of her, exactly, when
I am not here to look after her." said the
blind woman quantity. "I'm as unset
tied about her as 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
meW
ooh, yes"
II have Tom to think of, too. He's a
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 II
quite SO clearly little while ago-hali
an hour since-as l do now"
| "But--"
"There you co." said the old woman
ENORMOUSLY; whats the use Of interrupt
ing people while they are talking? Wher
l got rich, Reuben, grew greedy, some
how-as if riches, after all, were any
good to me! Wasn't happy woman al
st. Oswald's? haven't been happy since
then. When my foolish brother left me
money, he left me trouble, too and waf
too old for trouble. Now about my Sally
Ia willful girl enough, but true as steel
Reuben"
what Of herr" said Reuben, lookina
across at Sarah, who sat with her arms
crossed, and her face bent very low, like 6
woman asleep.
Il think that I can trust you to seq
after my family, If leave you NIL my
money, as she wishes. You are not likely
to turn your back upon Sarah or Tom
because it is Sarah's wish that give III
every penny of my own free will"
Sarah is RASH" muttered Reuben Cul
wick, Every rash"
II think it Is OVERRIDING 1t myself" sale
the old lady very calmly; "but what peace
shall I have until It's done? Has m,
maid put pens, and ink, and paper OF
that table? You are a Scholar-write GU
my will, Reuben, In half a dozen lines
Put it all down to yourself-freehold
leasehold, money, pictures, plate-the OH
woman gives it all"
"At her granddaughter's 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 mad
a gesture of assent, earnest, Imperative
and supplicatory.
. "And this strange idea is my second
cousin'sW Reuben said, still looking a
her. "She trusts me so much, knowin
so little of me, in foggy dream of rest
tuition. She thinks of my wrongs, at
time when I am learning to forget Them
She accepts dependence, she risks pov
: erty and privation, and puts herself en-
tirely in my power"
I Entirely" replied the old woman
isn't it safer"
st is romance, not reality. A will
folly, and not the common prudence tina
should regulate all lives. l will hav
nothing to do with it. Besides, he VIII
writes will in which he is interested
and by which he is to profit, does it at Ii
own risk-a very great one in the eye
: of the law, aunt" continued Reuben
land after all the document may not b
, worth the paper on which it is writer
Hence your will would get into Chancery
: Mrs. Eastbell depend upon it. I'll Civ
you my idea, if you'll keep quiet for fiv
+ minutes"
Il don't think much of your ideas,
said Mrs. Eastbell, candidly, "but 90 on.
Reuben tok up pen, dipped it into tn
t ink and commenced writing very rapid,
! The old woman lay back and listened I
the scratching of his pen upon the pape
! and Sarah Eastbell, intensely curiou
!, advanced on toptoe toward him, and r,
4 garded him defantly as he curved h
hand before his work and looked hard {