Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-05-27

| to telegraph to my sister that can't come
until to morrow, which will be great
disappointment to her"
"Of course | will" replied Ringwood
Il will drive out there almost at once
| After the terms | have been on with
poor Miss Caterham, and knowing them
as do, through you, there will be moth
ing much in my taking your place in your
unavoidable absence. BY the way, OF
course, if Miss Chichester asks me what
was this secret which so troubled her
aunt, there is now, | suppose, no objec-
tion to my telling herr"
"Ahem No; better not, perhaps re
piled the more cautious senior. "You
can tell her that Miss Caterham's will
must explain everything.'
Ringwood made his way down to Kew
a little later. He made his way up the
gravel walk, and knocked at the door.
Yes, Miss Chichester would see him."
replied the maid, after disappearing for
few moments, and he was duly ushered
into the drawing room.
A little time, and Mary Chichester en-
tered, and Rngwood could not help think.
ing that she had never looked better than
she did now, as she swept towards him
in her black draperies, and greeted him
with extended hand. He had composed
rather neat little speech on his way
down, with which to introduce himself,
but 1t all vanished as he looked at Marys
pale, sad face, and all he said was:
II am very, very sorry for you
81 knew you would be sorry to hear
the death of my poor aunt" she replied
You have. of course, heard of it from
Mr. Carbuckle | rather hope to see him
in the course of the day"
II am here Miss Chichester, as MI
Carbuckle's deputy; sincerely as l sym
pathize with you in your loss, | should
hardly have ventured to intrude upon you
until fey- days later if it had not been
for that. He has only just returned to
town, and is compelled to leave it again
for couple of days. and begged me to
run down here on his behalf. lie begged
me say that he should come to you the
minute he returned. and should, of course,
attend the funeral
(Which | hope, Mr.. Ringwood, you
will do also. You were great favorite
with my poor aunt; but on one point l
sadly fear | was right. and that misera-
bic secret which you allowed her to bear
by herself really did hasten her DEATH
Il sincerely trust. Miss Chichester, that
on that point you are mistaken; as | told
you before. | was pOwerless; my lips were
sealed, as they are now. few days
more, and you will know everything.
Know everything!' she cried passion
ately, and rising abruptly from her chair
What do | care about your mystery
now? | wanted to know it before, that
| might share the trouble with her who
has been as a mother to me, that | might
soothe and comfort her in her wretched
nervous prostration. | wanted to know
it. because | saw that bearing it alone
was the cause of the weak, nervous state
into which she had fretted herself. Had
| shared the burden with her it might
who can say?-have kept her little
longer with me. am blaming nobody,
continued Mary. as she paced the room
with impatient steps; but 1t IS so nara
to think that life we value might have
been prolonged by more careful tending.
Poor Miss Caterham was so very res
olute in her injunctions as to secrecy that
we dared not disobey her. A few days
more and then
"Too late. | tell you. interrupted
Mary; Il have no desire now to know
this miserable secret. and-and-l think
i Think had better say good-by. and
puttinc her handkerchief to - eyes,
Mary Chichester hurredly left the room.
The day of the funeral arrived, and
little knot of mourners. which Included
Carbuckle and Ringwood assembled at
the cottage at Kew to follow poor Miss
Caterham to her grave. The deceased
lady's solicitor was among those present,
and intimated to Mr.. Carbuckle and some
two or three intimates that he thought
it would be most convenient, now all was
over. that they should return to the cot
tape and hear the will read. '1t is short
and simple, and concerns you, Carbuckle
slightly"
Ito be continued)