xecutor of this my last will and testament, to serve without bonds
or the intervention of any court.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, and publish and
declare this my last will and testament, on this twenty-second day of
August, in the year of our Lord 18----

Signed, Hugh Noland.

Witnesses: Luther Hansen, Nathan Hornby.

There was a pause. Surprise held every person present, for the witnesses
had seen only their signatures up to now, not the will, and Doctor Morgan
was no less astonished than the rest. At last he reached his hand across
the table to Elizabeth saying:

"It's an instrument that I shall get some pleasure at least from
administering, Mrs. Hunter. You deserve it. I'm glad it goes to you. It's
like the boy! God rest his weary soul, and forgive his impatience to be
off! we'll miss him," he added brokenly.

Elizabeth sat with her hands clasped on the table in front of her, neither
hearing nor seeing more. She was unaware that she was the object of
everybody's attention and that all eyes were turned on her. The merely
material items contained in that instrument were of little moment to her
just then; to every one else, except perhaps Luther, they were all that
there was of importance. Sadie Hansen looked at her young neighbour,
overcome by the fact that she was to have several thousand dollars all her
own; Luther's gray eyes dwelt upon her affectionately, glad that this last
evidence of Hugh Noland's sacrifice was hers; Doctor Morgan thought of the
power it would give her to control the financial side of her life, and
John Hunter was glad that at least the money was to remain in the
business, and ready to forget the supposed plot.

Elizabeth was aroused by Doctor Morgan placing a sealed envelope in her
hand and saying:

"This seems to be for you, Mrs. Hunter. It was in this big envelope with
the will, and I didn't see it till just now."

The girl was so surprised that she turned the envelope over two or three
times and read her name carefully to realize that the letter was for her,
and from Hugh's own hand. When at last it was clear to her, her face
flushed with confusion, and the first tears which had dimmed her eyes
since the hour of his death came to her relief. But the tears did not
fall. Realizing that the eyes of all present were upon her, she controlled
herself, and rising said:

"Excuse me one moment, till I have