"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 word to me I shall be sorry that I ever loved you; I shall repent that I made you my heiress." And her voice rose to a sharp, shrill tone. "I'll haunt you as long as you live."
The girl shrank back from her.
"Don't mind a poor old woman whose hours are numbered, but you'll keep yer promise, won't yer, Alice?" And she grasped both Alice's hands convulsively.