The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-11-14

I've been thinking l said, SPEAK
ing rapidly in jerks. We've gave
up too soon. We should have search
ed the chest more carefully. The
notes might have slipped, you know"
went yy,- - lie chest. found the
catches ana ,arew up the lid.
Snc Sent down, thrusting her little
nd into the hollow from which the
law had risen.
l heard her draw q noisy, shudder-
ing breath. From the hole she drag
ged a understanding wrapped in
yellow, dust-stained paper, tied with
a piece of rotten string. Cobwebs
and dirt fell in a shower as she tore
away the covering. Then she threw
back her head with a cry of delight,
of huge relief, laughing unsteqdily.
trembling violently
God bless you, look. You don't
know all you've done for me. | feel
l can breathe again. | feel clean now.
? | felt dishonest. Now-now every
things glorious, How much is there,
Mr.. Oakley"
/ Five hundred pounds" l told her.
1t was. Yes. you told me sc" she
answered. and she seemed all on
wires. "It's-it's splendid. I've been
longing to pay Mrs. Pelham for ages.
l owe her rent, and she will buy
little extra things for me. l was
thinking of her mostly, which made
me-understand.
Then she told me the story l had
already heard from John King. Mrs.
Pelham-forever dissolving into tears
came upstairs soon after. We sat,
all three rejoicing.
Il knew | could trust him." she
declared. 81 knew 1t by his face. a
good face-plain maybe. A face to be
trusted"
Jan said quite angrily: Sarah"
And it was then that first allowed
myself to hope that Jan didn't think
me plain
In a month, then, it became a set
tied thing, for her to return and find
me waiting for her
But one day Jan did not offer her
hand
Il received a letter this morning.
she said, her angry eyes on mine. at
came from a firm of lawyers. This
was inclosed:"
Madam" it ran
Some years ago l purchased q
chest from you. When repairing the
base Of it l discovered secret draw
er, which contained the sum of 81, 500
Rightly or wrongly, l considered the
sum mine Now, on my deathbed,
feel little uncertain. | have neither
kith nor kin. and l have decided tt
leave you, should you survive me, E
legacy of the same amount.
Your obedient servant,
JACOB SIDNEY"
Why do this-why?" she cried pas
sionately, adding with cruel illogical
ness: You must have known l SHOULD
find out! I'm alone in the world; In
poor. You've-you've cheated me int
spending money which isn't mine
How dared you-how could you?
thought you my friend. You mean
to be kind Yes, you've been cruel.
Your trouble came about through
me-" | said quietly, after a pause. &"
let you in for it. It was my optimism
which made you SO eager to buy thu
chest. | apologize"
She echoed the word in derision.
Il can do no more" l said,
"Except-go," she said rudely; ye
she Choked.
And then did the only wise thinl
| had done that afternoon. | went L
her and stood behind her and sat
sternly:
Il have an excuse. The best
love you. | won't bear your cruelt,
l any longer won't hear your re
: proaches III only hear your answe
3 to my question. Jan, will you MARI
r me? And I'll not hear your NO L
B. that; only your Yes
, She had grown stiff. rigid, as frs
: | spoke Then little by little her hea
had fallen forward She suddenly co
lapsed as her hands went forward
d upward to her face. She was cryin
as my arms went round her, cryin
e as | dragged her fingers from he
0 tear-wet cheeks, crying as | bent he
head back and stared into her eyes.
I But 1t was her lips-framing n
g word, but something infinitely swee
a er-which answered me at last.
,I-1- ..o.Iru n. Hnnu ICI