The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-02-06
UNEXPECTED $4,000.

" INV t'HiiAn was -Uitites viva
clous. ambitious. but just now the very
much discouraged owner OF the Smith
plantation and Its encumbrances Two
weeks before she had been summoned
from her school at Staunton by the
death Of her grandfather. and. as there
was no other relative. had entered at
once into possession of the property.
A few days after the funeral the own
or OF the mortgage had made an osten-
sible visit OF coincidence. but had so
interpolated his expressions Of sym
patty with matters OF practical slgnlh-
canoe that when he left Willie was for
the first time aware that she was only
the nominal owner Of her plantation.
At first she was stunned, for she had
already begun to make plans for the
Improvement and extension of the an
cestral acres The poor cabins of the
negro tenants were to be replaced by
new ones, neglected fields were to be
again fenced and brought into cultiva-
ton. and better methods and better
machinery were to be used. Her grand
father had been easy-golng and i'm
practicable. but she had supposed that
her schooling and the house expenses
had been met by the rents paid him by
negro tenants. Now she knew that the
mortgage had been gradually increased
to meet the deficits.
This morning she was In the kitchen
helping Aunt Chloe with the ironing,
but her thoughts were busy with the
formidable problems of the future.
There were the expenses and the in
terest to be met. and. worst Of all, there
was 500 still due her school mt Staun-
ton. She could not see any possible
way to pay 1t. for the season had been
bad, and the renters, instead of paying
what they owed. were beginning to
clamor for advances on the next years
crops: and the creditor had delicately
limited that her grandfather had al
ready raised the mortgage out of all
proportion to its security. In anxious
succession her mind went over her own
accomplishments IN search of some
thing that would be money-producing.
She was fond of scribbling and was
fairly good at drawing and music. and
had won a school reputation as n lin
guist. But she was too honest and
practical to overrate these accomplish
ments. They were good things to
know. but would not help her at this
crisis. No she must struggle as best
she could until the creditor foreclosed;
then she would go out and seek place
among the wage earners.
"Heycr's yo' mail, Mis- Willie" called
Uncle Tobe's voice through the open
window. and black hand was thrust
in with a package Of letters. She took
them and glanced over the postmarks
carelessly. Most of them were from
school friends at Staunton. Several
were circulars. and one was one from
Leadville. Col. She selected this and
examined 1t curiously. She had nc
correspondents in any part Of the West
Inside was check and short letter
with the printed address of a Leadville
banking house The letter read:
willie smith. Talbottom. Ga: w,
are requested TO forward you the in
closed check for ten thousand dollars
(S1O.OoN Please acknowledge receipt
and oalige. yours truly.
"WALDRON & Co"
She stared at 1t for a moment. ther
nurriedly examined the check. Yes. 4
was for $4,000. made In favor of VIII,
Smith. But. of course 1t was a mis-
take. If she had any relatives In th'
world. they were so far removed as {,
| I.
none OF them was rich enough to sent
her $4,000.
Talbottom was small. unprOgres
sive town. whose struggling arms
reached out drowsily to the line fenc,
OF the Smith plantation. Willie cross
ed two fields and went down a shor
lane. and was then in the principa
street. There was but one bank. anC
its cashier was an old friend Of he
: grandfathers. She went directly I,
= him and explained her errand.
Il reckon it's all right. Willie" sal,
the old man. after he had carefully ex
: amined the envelope and its contents
ITS directed to Willie Smith. Talbot
tom, and you're the only Willie Smitl
; know. And Waldron x Co. are al
right. Our house has dealt with them
And I'm bound to say. my dear" put
ting down the papers and looking at he
beamingly. I'm plumb glad for thi
windfall. | can almost hear 20 grand
father chuckle In his grave"
I. But II can't be mine.' insisted Wi
! lie. Il don't even know that have
4 relative in all the world"
Somebody yo' family has lost sigh
Of" said the cashier genially. Nov
there's a man over In Jasper Count
n got a fortune from a cousin he hasn'
r heard from in thirty years. recko
o this is something that way. It's likel
y yo' mothers cousin or somebody els
Anyhow, It's all right, and I'm willin