The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-03-26
.T have lost one who was kinder to me

money that | became the keeper of his
house, the watcher of his lonely life. His
father and mine had been great friends,
hut they had qusrreled at last. as every
body quarreed with this man."
You must mean my brother Simon"
Yes. was the reply.
is he really dead?' she asked in a
whisper.
Yes; he was run over in the streets,
and he died i'm the hospital next day."
Poor Simon; fancied that | should
| outlve him. old as | was, though / didn't
| think he would go 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
| will Of his own, like the rest of the
family"
Mrs, Eastbell had certainly received
bad news with compOsure, as age will do
very often. but still Mary Holland was
astonished at her equanimity.
You are not shockedw she asked
wonderingIy.
II am too near the end myself child,
to he surprised at Simon's starting be
fore me--the right way. too. for he was
| an honest. straightforward fellow. wasn't
he? And Reuben comes back to his
rights at last and ais WE'LL
"All is not well with Reuben CuIwick,
so far as his rights are concerned. His
father has cut him out of his will, as lie
said that he would" Mary explained
still further, land as knew that 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
II moments silence.
What's that you say?-who's got the
money ?--Def' she screamed forth.
Yes. you are the heiress." said Mary
Holland, somewhat satirically.
How much money is thereY' 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"
mot more than | can take care Of"
she added, with one of her low chuckles
of satisfaction.
For yourself. and for those who come
after you" said Mary. in low, thought
full tone.
Eyes; but | must enjoy myself first. !
haven't had much pleasure in my life.
stuck here like Guy Fox. goodness
knows
What do YOU think of doing?" asked
Mary Holland.
II shall take possession tonight" said
the old lady; Il must get to Sedge Hill; ]
shall be able to welcome my granddaugh-
ter to her new home then ] am strong
enough. if somebody will only dress ire.
and send for n conveyance. Why should
| stop? Haven't | had enough of this
prison and this poverty? l can't live
here any longer"
Mary Holland thought. if would have
been wiser to have brought her news at
an earlier hour then. She endeavored
to persuade Mrs Eastbell to rest till the
next day, but the old lady was obsti-
nate and not to he turned from her in
tentions.
Mary Holland gave her tea, but al
though she went from the room, she did
not proceed in search of a conveyance to
Sedge HILL but entrusted that cormis-
sion to the old lady next door. She Won
dered if the old woman's strength would
last to Sedge Hill. or if the reaction
would come and leave her PROSTATE. She
was not prepared for this sudden awak-
ening to new life; it bewildered her,
shrewd little woman though she was in
many things. She had wished to break
the news to Mrs. Eastbell, and the task
had been intrusted to her accordingly.
but had it been done wisely, and was this
wise step. on the part of Mrs. Eastbell.
to leave st. Oswald's in ungrateful
haste?
what a time the cab isl said Sarah
Eastbell suddenly.
in your happier state apart from this
life. you will not forget the man whose
place you take whose home is yours,
whose father set him aside without fair
cause" urged Mary.
This isn't a time to worry me about
him. | have no fault to find with Reu-
ben--he's an excellent young man--but
that's no reason why | should talk of
him tonight"
''He is poor"
Il dare say he is," was the reply. "but
| must think of my own family first. L
can't he bothered with nephews Just
now"
Mrs. Muggeridges head peered round
the door.
THE cabs come" she said: do YOU
think you can walk to the outer gaze.
| Mrs, EasthellT'
II could walk mile. There's a teapot
! of mine on the hob, and il draws beauti-
| fully. Take il, tea and ALL and don't
forget me- Good-by. How very glad
am TO get away from here. This way?"
| Yes this way" said Mary
"'rhe nights cold. and though am rot