登陆注册
5168700000062

第62章

Tretherick, in fully resisting your demands.A few months after Mr.Tretherick's death, through the agency of a Chinaman in his employment, it was discovered that he had made a will, which was subsequently found among his papers.The insignificant value of his bequest--mostly land, then quite valueless--prevented his executors from carrying out his wishes, or from even proving the will, or making it otherwise publicly known, until within the last two or three years, when the property had enormously increased in value.The provisions of that bequest are simple, but unmistakable.

The property is divided between Carry and her stepmother, with the explicit condition that Mrs.Starbottle shall become her legal guardian, provide for her education, and in all details stand to her in loco parentis.""What is the value of this bequest?" asked Mr.Robinson."I cannot tell exactly, but not far from half a million, I should say,"returned Prince."Certainly, with this knowledge, as a friend of Miss Tretherick, I must say that her conduct is as judicious as it is honorable to her," responded Mr.Robinson."I shall not presume to question the wishes, or throw any obstacles in the way of carrying out the intentions, of my dead husband," added Mrs.

Tretherick; and the interview was closed.

When its result was made known to Mrs.Starbottle, she raised Jack's hand to her feverish lips."It cannot add to MY happiness now, Jack; but tell me, why did you keep it from her?" Jack smiled, but did not reply.

Within the next week the necessary legal formalities were concluded; and Carry was restored to her stepmother.At Mrs.

Starbottle's request, a small house in the outskirts of the town was procured; and thither they removed to wait the spring, and Mrs.

Starbottle's convalescence.Both came tardily that year.

Yet she was happy and patient.She was fond of watching the budding of the trees beyond her window,--a novel sight to her Californian experience,--and of asking Carry their names and seasons.Even at this time she projected for that summer, which seemed to her so mysteriously withheld, long walks with Carry through the leafy woods, whose gray, misty ranks she could see along the hilltop.She even thought she could write poetry about them, and recalled the fact as evidence of her gaining strength;and there is, I believe, still treasured by one of the members of this little household a little carol so joyous, so simple, and so innocent, that it might have been an echo of the robin that called to her from the window, as perhaps it was.

And then, without warning, there dropped from Heaven a day so tender, so mystically soft, so dreamily beautiful, so throbbing, and alive with the fluttering of invisible wings, so replete and bounteously overflowing with an awakening and joyous resurrection not taught by man or limited by creed, that they thought it fit to bring her out, and lay her in that glorious sunshine that sprinkled like the droppings of a bridal torch the happy lintels and doors.

And there she lay beatified and calm.

Wearied by watching, Carry had fallen asleep by her side; and Mrs.

Starbottle's thin fingers lay like a benediction on her head.

Presently she called Jack to her side.

"Who was that," she whispered, "who just came in?""Miss Van Corlear," said Jack, answering the look in her great hollow eyes.

"Jack," she said, after a moment's silence, "sit by me a moment, dear Jack: I've something I must say.If I ever seemed hard, or cold, or coquettish to you in the old days, it was because I loved you, Jack, too well to mar your future by linking it with my own.

I always loved you, dear Jack, even when I seemed least worthy of you.That is gone now.But I had a dream lately, Jack, a foolish woman's dream,--that you might find what I lacked in HER," and she glanced lovingly at the sleeping girl at her side; "that you might love her as you have loved me.But even that is not to be, Jack, is it?" and she glanced wistfully in his face.Jack pressed her hand, but did not speak.After a few moments' silence, she again said, "Perhaps you are right in your choice.She is a good-hearted girl, Jack--but a little bold."And with this last flicker of foolish, weak humanity in her struggling spirit, she spoke no more.When they came to her a moment later, a tiny bird that had lit upon her breast flew away;and the hand that they lifted from Carry's head fell lifeless at her side.

同类推荐
  • 海壑吟稿

    海壑吟稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秘藏通玄变化六阴洞微遁甲真经

    秘藏通玄变化六阴洞微遁甲真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 论语集注

    论语集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 为霖道霈禅师餐香录

    为霖道霈禅师餐香录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • INSTRUMENTS OF REDUCTION

    INSTRUMENTS OF REDUCTION

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 冷酷女王给我爱

    冷酷女王给我爱

    她,幻宇斯-静宇宙之王;法力无边,性情淡漠、无心无情,为避情缘,隐居人间,最后随轮回而居。。。。四个痴情下属的千年找寻。自由之神的万年魂归,她终于是避无可避。此时,魔邪苏醒,宇宙又面临大战;看着随时身边之人一个一个倒下,终是怒意高涨。她不需要任何人为她而死,她不要再欠下更多情债;于是,她决定——灭世!异世里,所有人都在努力寻找复生后的幻宇斯-静,千辛万苦万年后才找到在为凡人的她;却发现她不仅法力尽失,失去记忆;还已经嫁为人妇!他们该如何继续对她的爱。此时,原世界的凡人未婚夫也意外出现。一次意外,魔皇看上了她,并带回魔宫;因为她的绝色和独宠引发魔宫宠姬的嫉妒和愤恨,并遭遇毒手。期间魔皇的强势和逼迫却意外激起了她的记忆!恢复记忆的她该如何面对这样的处境,又该如何面对痴情追寻万年的一群人。最后的情盅下,两个无情的宇宙对敌又会发生怎样的情感纠葛?那些因此被带入盅咒中的人又会与她发生怎样的际遇。。。。。他们的赌约到底是谁赢谁输,更或是谁都没赢。。。。。
  • 集团

    集团

    离57岁还有半年,安玉森就已经做好了全身而退的准备。安玉森是云河铁道经营集团的党委书记、董事长兼总经理。安玉森在这个位置上已经坐了将近七年。七年前,他是云河铁路分局分管多元经营的副分局长,铁路分局建制撤销以后,他改任现职。由分管改为主管,也算专业对口。按照北方铁路局的干部管理办法,像他这种副局级别的干部,没有特殊情况,57岁也就船到码头了。有人撺掇他找找人活动活动,换个位置再思考思考。这不是没有先例。有位铁路局局长,按规定60岁就该退下来的,他一直干到65岁。
  • 战胜青春的敌人:当代青少年的心理困惑与自我调适之道

    战胜青春的敌人:当代青少年的心理困惑与自我调适之道

    本书通过对现实中困扰青少年成长的具体事实的深度分析,结合大量翔实的资料和统计数据,生动而具体地向您展现青少年“青春的敌人”之成因、发展、预防和应对方法。
  • 一直很安静(中国好小说)

    一直很安静(中国好小说)

    学校的三代精英教师,在社会化复杂的新局面里,一个个败下阵来。最早离校的焦一苇已经故去。暗恋焦一苇从而听从老师嘱托留校任教,即将荣升教授的骨干教师田园,也在这不再单纯的环境下坚决的调离出校。这一变故,又令一心期待成为下一个田园的学生东方晰失去了人生的目标。
  • 她们

    她们

    在北京,很多人并不喜欢自己的生活状态被别人打破,每个人都有自己的生活空间。生活在这种大都市的人,就像种植在路边的树,也许某一天他们的枝枝杈杈偶尔在风中会碰擦到一起,但在那挺直的树干间,永远有着不可触摸的距离。三个共同租住在京城一套公寓楼里的年轻女人,她们中有成功的白领秦紫苏,有生意、婚姻皆失意的离婚者高静娴,更有玩世不恭的北京漂亮妞夏忍冬。本来,她们在各自的领域里沿着各自的人生轨道,演绎着她们自己的欢喜人生,可是,她们在这个出租房里相遇了,不同的性格,不同的经历,不同的生活态度,更有不同的生活本能。
  • 伊人似明月

    伊人似明月

    她本是一国公主,天之骄女,却因少不经事,被表妹设计,让渣男骗的团团转,终是落得国破家亡,含恨而死。老天开眼,重活一世,她誓要改变一切。
  • 皓月与艳阳

    皓月与艳阳

    有没有一位故人是你想要重新联络的?卡洛琳·戴维斯·怀特并不是在寻找米基——现在的麦克·福斯特——那个她小时候的迷恋对象;她只是在逃避那个寻花问柳的丈夫,以求得安宁和时间来思考如何改变自己的人生。但麦克出现了,再一次,将她从不幸中拯救出来,前所未有的,他甚至比从前更英俊了。著名艺术家阳光,以为能逃回童年时夏天住过的小木屋,并躲在里面,但她错了。她的丈夫不愿放她离开。布莱德·怀特的家族里,从来没有人离过婚,一次都没有!而他现在也没有打算打破这个传统。卡罗琳能让他动摇吗?而麦克又会怎样呢?他会在她的生命里扮演怎样的角色?
  • 初帝乱天

    初帝乱天

    混沌初开,宇宙演化;天外来客,神秘封印;黄金盛世,天骄倍出;万族林立,弱肉强食;天地深处,是福是祸;瘦弱少年,手掌神墓;笑傲苍穹,逆道而行;回首凡尘,只为众生;
  • 末世重生之凤归来

    末世重生之凤归来

    前世的愚信,到死才觉悟,一切都是阴谋……当再次醒来竟回到了末世前一个月,前世太天真,这一世,冷酷也罢,虚伪也好,绝不重走旧路!却不料,三天之后,末世如暴雨一般骤临……仇和债?呵,等他们在末世努力爬高之后,再狠狠地摔下来,那该是何等的痛快!痛与泪,咱们慢慢来!
  • 冲天卡灵王

    冲天卡灵王

    【爱情版】当我跨过沉沦的一切,向着永恒开战。你是我永远不倒的旗帜。答应我,让我爱你,像爱生命一样。【基情版】邪灵当道,青释...我说过要带你杀回灵界的!一张祖传黑卡,启动系统,重生未来世界。全新卡片流世界,超灵体战斗体系。在这个时代,我没有任何遗憾,我要冲天而起!(向多年前热爱的动漫:《游戏王》致敬之作!)【书友群】:535969371