red through yer. I'm goin' ter tell
him how I've hated yer and what fer, and when I git through talkin' to
him, I'll guarantee he'll be my way o' thinkin'."

As the old woman said this, with an almost superhuman effort she raised
herself to a sitting posture, pointed her finger at Lindy, and gave
utterances to a wild, hysterical laugh that almost froze the blood in
the poor girl's veins.

Lindy slammed the door behind her, rushed to her own room, locked the
door, and threw herself face downward upon the bed. Should she ever
forget those last fearful words, that vengeful face, that taunting
finger, or that mocking laugh?

Samanthy took Alice up to Mrs. Putnam's room about eight o'clock. Alice
knelt by the bedside. She could not see the old lady's face, but she
took her withered hands in hers, and caressed them lovingly, saying,
"Aunt Heppy, I am sorry you are so sick. Have you had the doctor?"

The old lady drew the young girl's head down close to her and kissed her
upon the cheek. "The docter kin do me no good. I've sent fer yer becuz I
know yer love me, and I wanted to know that one person would be sorry
when I wuz gone."

"I'm so sorry," said Alice, "that I cannot see to help you, but you are
not going to die; you must have the doctor at once."

"No," said Mrs. Putnam, "I want to die, I want to see my boy. I sent for
you becuz I wanted to tell you that I am goin' to leave this house and
farm and all my money to you."

"To me!" cried Alice, astonished. "Why, how can you talk so, Aunt Heppy?
You have a daughter, who is your legal heir; how could you ever think of
robbing your own flesh and blood of her inheritance?"

"She's no flesh and blood of mine!"

"What!" cried Alice, "isn't Lindy your own child?"

"No," said Mrs. Putnam savagely. "Silas and me didn't think we'd have
any children, so we 'dopted her jest afore we moved down from New
Hampshire and settled in this town."

"Do you know who her parents were?" inquired Alice.

"Alice, what did you do with that letter I gave you the las' time you
were here?"

"It is locked up in my writing desk at home," answered Alice.

"What did yer promise to do with it?" said Mrs. Putnam.

"I promised," replied Alice, "not to let any one see it, and to destroy
it within twenty-four hours after your death."

"And you will keep yer promise?" asked the old woman.

"My word is sacred," said Alice solemnly.

"Alice Pettengill," cried Mrs. Putnam, "if you break your w