Year: 1878

All in vain.


At last even Mr.. Curdle acknowledged,
that further search was hopeless.


"A man should confide his will to his
lawyer. said he. "A lawyer box is the
only safe place for it.


No doubt this old woman has en-
ployed some one to steal your grand
fathers will from its very ingenious
hiding place. and the result is that you
are beggar.


you are ridiculing poor dead grand
pa, and calling me names,' said, burst
ing into tears.


My poor foolish child = said Mr. Cur
die, why didn't you hear what he had
to say at least2 Together, you have
made nice mess oft


We had certainly, as I acknowledged
when old Miss Humphries took possess
sion of the homestead, and I found that
1 was no longer mistress of the dear old
place-that / had not even right there,
but was an interloper.


When, to crown all, she came to me
as lay weeping on my bed.and said in
her harsh nasal tones


'Beulah, sit up and stop crying; I've
got something to tell you
l sat up and wiped my eyes.
| considered her an enemy, and one
never wishes to weep before ones enc
mics.


Providence is Providence, ,Beulah
More,' she said. You oughtn't to rebel
ag'in it-no you oughtn't. You ought to
be contented in the condition you've
been called to- But Tn not a hard
hearted woman. I'm willing to have you
stay with me. You can help me in the
work, you know.


4 don't keep servants lazy idle set
eating you out of house and home.


"A young girl like you can be useful,
if she's grateful and willing, SO I'll keep
you Beulah More
| was only fourteen years old, but l
knew as well as l know that | should
have preferred service anywhere else.
| But as she spoke thought darted in
to my head


Grandfather had certainly spoken Of
hiding will somewhere


If l stayed and rubbed and scrubbed
diligently, l should discover it if was
above ground, and not stolen, as Mr..
Curdle believed


All, how delightful to discomft her al
last.


How we'll worth the hard fate and the
hard work | knew | should have to en-
dure.


Yes, even her unpleasant company
could be borne with this in view.


So said, taking care not to speak too
eagerly, that | would stay, and | gave
myself year to find the will in
| A year is an eternity at fourteen.


That very day old Miss Humphries be-
gan to show me my position by turning
me out of my pretty bedroom and send
ing me into garret with sloping roof.


had had pretty carpet, white cur
tains, bookcase, Turkish chair and
dainty bed, all white and pink, and toi-
lette service, pink and white also.


l had never done any work, except
putting this room in order, for VIC had
two old servants beside man.


Now l scrubbed floors and washed
windows and dishes, and had no time to
read or sew, or wander in the woods OF
enjoy myself in the garden.


Miss Humphries sent all my school.
girl friends from the door when they
asked for me, and it was long, hard
fight before | obtained my books, my
sewing basket and my few window plant,
with which to make my garret more
homelike.


My black suit became shabby.


| felt ashamed to 60 to church. and !
knew not where to procure other cloth.
ing.


| was very miserable, but all the while
i never forgot my object.


Not only did continue my search all
day, but at night | often pattered about
the house in my bare feet.


l had found many curious places where
a will might have been hidden.


For instance the posts of grandfather
bed had hollow space in them, covered
with carved cap, shaped like a pineap-
pie, which came off.


And behind the carved wooden man.
tlepiece in his room--the original house
was hundred years old they say, and
very curious-there was q receptacle that
might have concealed fifty wills.


The old woman never suspected mo.
| Besides, she was half the time asleep,
nodding in her chair.


She had delight in seeing mo at
work, and set me tasks as hard TO me as
those the malevolent fairy put upon poor
Graciosca were TO her.


Where / was sent | went.


Who knew where the will might be.


But now the year l had given myself
was nearly over, and the malevolent fai.
ry Of my existence had ordered me TO
whitewash the cow-house, and had
agreed to do it with feeling upon me
that endurance was almost at an end that
hope was almost gone, that must leave
the place if starved.


The lime was mixed and the brush
was found.


Put it on thick, Beulah,' said my
task-mistress, we don't want any of the
boards to show. Why, where's your
stick 2


i can't find one to Gt,' said |, discon-
solately. oh, | can reach | think