There was still that fearsome thing
in the attic, but the chance of discovery was small now.
"If she
should find out," Ella had said, "'twould be the end of
the money--fer us."
"But she ain't a-goin' ter find out," Jim had retorted. "She can't last
long, 'course, an' I guess she won't change the will now--unless some
one tells her; an' I'll be plaguy careful there don't no one do that!"
The "funeral" was a week old when Mrs. Darling came into the sitting-
room one day, fully dressed.
"I put on all my clo's," she said smilingly, in answer to Ella's shocked
exclamation. "I got restless, somehow, an' sick o' wrappers. Besides, I
wanted to walk around the house a little. I git kind o' tired o' jest
one room." And she limped across the floor to the hall door.
"But, Aunt Abby, where ye goin' now?" faltered Ella.
"Jest up in the attic. I wanted ter see--" She stopped in apparent
surprise. Ella and Jim had sprung to their feet.
"The attic!" they gasped.
"Yes, I--"
"But you mustn't!--you ain't strong enough!--you'll fall!--there's
nothin' there!" they exclaimed wildly, talking both together and
hurrying forward.
"Oh, I guess 't won't kill me," said the old woman; and something in the
tone of her voice made them fall back.
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