The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-05-28

ously, II have not given thought TO 1t!
| But'-and here followed long pause,
with Lucy glaring strangely at her visitor
but" she continued At last. some
| thing has happened in this room. that
| have been keeping to myself. and which
may alter both your lives"
| What has happened which may alter
Reuben's life and mine! And why in
| this room. where"
where a woman named Mary Holland
| lived for some years" said Lucy quick
ly-"a woman whom you learned 10 dis
trust at lasti''
I'VE did, and yet"
"You did not distrust her in vain, per
haps." she added. II will tell you, Sarah
| Eastbel. what | thought Of telling Ren-
| ben Culwick--but it may be your light
to hear this first of all, as 1t may affect
! YOU most of all-who knows? Read
| what is written on that paper
| Lucy Jennings opened her desk and
| produced a long blue envelope, on which
were written words in large clear hand,
| to which she pointed with her finger---the
! finger of fate to the timid girl who fol-
| lowed every movement, aud leaned for
ward to the paper cautiously and eager
| ly.
Yes, Lucy Jennings was right--that
which might affect the whole after life
! of Reuben Culwick and of herself was
in the hands of the womanpreachsr,
! On the envelope were written these
! words:
! Herein liz contained the last Will and
Testament of Simon Culwick of Sedse
| Hill, Worcester"
There was a date appended-the date
; of the day on which Simon Culwick had
called at Hope street, Camberwell, for
the first time, and last, In his life. 1t
was II will made before he had come that
| day in search of his son. and 1t over
ruled all other testaments TO which i'll
his life of change he had set his :rem-
bling hand.
Where did you find this Z" Sarah ask
ed ut last
In that box" Lucy replied pointing
! to an Old-fashioned hair trunk studded
! with brass nails--one of the boxes which
! Mary Holland had never claimed. "What
| right had that woman with Reubcn's
| fathers will?' asked Lucy; has she not
committed a crime against the avis
| not this an net of revenge against himT
II don't see nil this yet" responded
Sarah Eastbcll, still thoughtfully.
This will is sealed; it was given in
trust to Mary Holland before Simon left
| for London. 1t leaves his property TO
Reuben. and she would have kept him
! from it. | see it NIL. | despise that wom
! an. although | have never met her in my
/ life"
Mary Holland is not here to answer
for herself" said Sarah: "and Mary
would have preferred Reuben's being
rich to my poor grandmother's coming
TO this house"
''She brought your grandmother here
herself; there was a plot In 1t. Read the
will"
! Sarah.
You are in possession. Reuben is 100
weak To bear the shock. There may be
something in it which he is not to know
| first Of ALL" she added. with a sudden
| dOubt-"which is to be broken to him by
degrees"
| Reuben is as brave as a Hon
"Oh, you don't know him." said Miss
Jennings pityingly.
! II don't think so meanly Of him us you
do" cried Sarah, with sudden spirit; II
don't believe he has fretted for an in
slant about his fathers money, though
he told me so once. He has denied il
since; he is above all mercenary thoughts.
Come and see how he will take This
news" cried Sarah, defiantly now.
Il have no interest in it; it concerns
me not" said Lucy very sharply: al
should not have mentioned it till I was
prepared to leave the house, had you not
! come In with your foolish story of a hasty
wedding. Go to him. Sarah. am busy
with a holier task than yours"
| Reuben took the packet from Sarah's
hand and read the superscription, his
eyes dilating with surprise He made no
attempt to break the seal of black wax.
but walked with her slowly toward the
bay window at the end of the room, as
though his sight were weak. and more
light were needed to assist it.
| She seemed to hesitate in her progress
! with him, and he put his arm round her
waist, as privileged lover under these
circumstances had right to do.
| For better or worse, for richer or
poorer, my First-cousin- once-r removed
Sarah" said he lightly. but meaningly;
''now tell me where this sprang from"
Sarah told him. while he listened. with
the paper In his hand. and looked out ut
the garden and the rising ground beyond
it. Tots stole away during the narration.
Mary Holland may have received
possibly did receive-private instructions
from my poor father with this WILL" said
Reuben, when Sarah had completed her
narrative; 'she is not to blame. trust,
even if it comes at us In this fashion. IL
was to be kept back at Simon Culwick's
request. certain time, possibly, he being
Il secretive man. Miss Holland Is not
here to tell u.s." answered Reuben, "and
you and stand in false position, with
this will lying like bar upon the free
dom of our thoughts. / take all the re-