Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-07

| lie Smith. But, of course, it was
| mistake If she had any relatives il
the world, they were so far removed a
| to have been overlooked, and certainl,
! none of them was rich enough to sen,
| her $4,000
Talbottom was small, unprogressiv
town, whose struggling arms reached
out drowsily to the line fence of tn
| Smith plantation. Willie crossed tw,
fields and went down a short lane, anl
was then in the principal street. Their,
was but one bank, and it's cashier wa.
an old friend of her grandfather's. Sh,
went directly to him and explained hel
errand.
Il reckon it's all right, Willie" sale
the old man. after he had carefully ex.
amined the envelope and it's contents
Its directed to Willie Smith, Talbot
tom, and you're the only Willie Smith
| know. And Waldron & Co. are all
right Our house has dealt with them
And I'm bound to say, my dear" put
ting down the papers and looking at
her beamingly. I'm plumb glad for
this windfan. l can almost hear yo
grandfather chuckle in his grave"
But it can't be mine, insisted Will
lie. Il don't even know that l have a
relative in all the world"
Somebody yo' family has lost sight
off, said the cashier genially. Now,
there's a man over in Jasper county
got fortune from a cousin he hasn't
heard from in thirty years. l reckon
this is something that way.
IT'S likely yo' mothers cousin OF
somebody else. Anyhow. it's all right,
and I'm willing to take the check. VIII
you have the money, 6r leave it on de-
post ?"
Il wish 1 felt more sure" hesitated
Willie.
We'll, suppose telegraphed to Wal
dron & Co. Can you come in again
this afternoon?" (
Yes"
When she returned in the afternoon
the cashier handed her a slip of paper
1t read:
Merchants Bank, Talbottom, Ca
Gentlemen: Nothing t. explain We
forwarded check to William Smith
Talbottom, as requested. If the party
presenting it can be identified you may
cash same with perfect safety. Yours,
WALDRON & co.
/ so you see it is all right" said the
cashier. Now, you will please in
dorse the check
I Willie did SO with a sudden feeling
of exultation.
How will you have it??" brskly.
Suppose you give me $4,000. That
will pay off the mortgage and make
some necessary repairs. The rest
will deposit with you. And-and sup
pose you let me have check book; ii
will be more convenient"
/, The next few hours were momentous
ones in the young girls life. The
mortgage was paid, and visits Were
made to grocery and hardware and
seed stores. and to painters and car
penters and stone masons; and before
she went home check was on its
way to the principal of her school at
Staunton.
In the morning men came out and
made estimates. and they were followed
by painters and carpenters and la
borers, who began to repair the ole
family mansion. and to surround the
neglected fields withasubstantial fences,
and TO build new cabins under the
live oaks that grew along
one side ofsthe plantation.
Willie spent most Of her time out
doors watching the work and making
occasional suggestions. The new cab
ms were surrounded by generous truck
patches and when they were finished
she was careful to rent them only to
Industrious, reliable negroes. In this
she was greatly assisted by the cashier.
who came out frequently to watch the
progress of the work and whose advice
was always valuable.
One day brisk, prepossessing young
man stepped into the Talbottom post
office.
ANY letters here for Willie Smith? ?"
he asked.
hour ago"
"She?" curiously.
YES. Generally her man lobe gets
them, but she happened to be in town
this morning. You're one Of the men
working out there, I suppose?"
mo, not exactly"
He left the postoffice and walked
across the street to the bank.
HAS Willie Smith presented check
here Tor $40, 600 recently?" he asked
Miss Willie Smith has," replied the
cashier.
Il beg your pardon, I meant Miss
Willie Smith. You see, out west, we
get in the habit of dropping ceremony.
Tie old cashier looked at him
thoughtfully.
so your are westerner, are you?"
he asked.
Il was, but expect to be southern
err now" said the young man frankly.
My mother left this country nearly
thirty years ago, but I; have often
heard her describe her old home. When
l made my pile 1 concluded to come