Aunt Jane's Nieces

  CHAPTER XX.

  IN THE GARDEN.

  From this hour Patsy devoted herself untiringly to Aunt Jane, andfilled her days with as much sunshine as her merry ways and happynature could confer. Yet there was one thing that rendered her uneasy:the paper that Lawyer Watson had so promptly drawn had never yet beensigned and witnessed. Her aunt had allowed her to read it, saying shewished the girl to know she had acted in good faith, and Patsy had nofault at all to find with the document. But Aunt Jane was tired, anddeferred signing it that evening. The next day no witnesses could besecured, and so another postponement followed, and upon one pretext oranother the matter was put off until Patricia became suspicious.

  Noting this, Aunt Jane decided to complete her act of deception.She signed the will in the girl's presence, with Oscar and Susan towitness her signature. Lawyer Watson was not present on this occasion,and as soon as Patsy had left her Miss Merrick tore off the signaturesand burned them, wrote "void" in bold letters across the face of thepaper, and then, it being rendered of no value, she enclosed it in alarge yellow envelope, sealed it, and that evening handed the envelopeto Mr. Watson with the request that it be not opened until after herdeath.

  Patricia, in her delight, whispered to the lawyer that the paperwas really signed, and he was well pleased and guarded the supposedtreasure carefully. The girl also took occasion to inform both Bethand Louise that a new will had been made in which they both profitedlargely, but she kept the secret of who the real heir was, and bothher cousins grew to believe they would share equally in the entireproperty.

  So now an air of harmony settled upon Elmhurst, and Uncle Johnjoined the others in admiration of the girl who had conquered thestubbornness of her stern old aunt and proved herself so unselfish andtrue.

  One morning Aunt Jane had Phibbs wheel her into her little garden, asusual, and busied herself examining the flowers and plants of whichshe had always been so fond.

  "James has been neglecting his work, lately," she said, sharply, toher attendant.

  "He's very queer, ma'am," replied old Martha, "ever since the youngladies an' Master John came to Elmhurst. Strangers he never couldabide, as you know, and he runs and hides himself as soon as he seesany of 'em about."

  "Poor James!" said Miss Merrick, recalling her old gardener'sinfirmity. "But he must not neglect my flowers in this way, or theywill be ruined."

  "He isn't so afraid of Master John," went on Phibbs, reflectively, "ashe is of the young ladies. Sometimes Master John talks to James,in his quiet way, and I've noticed he listens to him quiterespectively--like he always does to you, Miss Jane."

  "Go and find James, and ask him to step here," commanded the mistress,"and then guard the opening in the hedge, and see that none of mynieces appear to bother him."

  Phibbs obediently started upon her errand, and came upon James in thetool-house, at the end of the big garden. He was working among hisflower pots and seemed in a quieter mood than usual.

  Phibbs delivered her message, and the gardener at once startedto obey. He crossed the garden unobserved and entered the littleenclosure where Miss Jane's chair stood. The invalid was leaning backon her cushions, but her eyes were wide open and staring.

  "I've come, Miss," said James; and then, getting; no reply, he lookedinto her face. A gleam of sunlight filtered through the bushes andfell aslant Jane Merrick's eyes; but not a lash quivered.

  James gave a scream that rang through the air and silenced even thebirds. Then, shrieking like the madman he was, he bounded away throughthe hedge, sending old Martha whirling into a rose-bush, and fled asif a thousand fiends were at his heels.

  John Merrick and Mr. Watson, who were not far off, aroused by thebloodcurdling screams, ran toward Aunt Jane's garden, and saw in aglance what had happened.

  "Poor Jane," whispered the brother, bending over to tenderly close thestaring eyes, "her fate has overtaken her unawares."

  "Better so," said the lawyer, gently. "She has found Peace at last."

  Together they wheeled her back into her chamber, and called the womento care for their dead mistress.