Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-27

they were mostly unp1eaSants out
this one was decidedly not of that cat
egory. 1t had come by the eight
o'clock mail the previous morning.
and Miss Biggs was still in state of
the greatest amazement. It was only
when reading the plainly typewriter
lines that she felt that she was not
dreaming.
She took up the letter again, al
though she now almost knew it by
heart. There, after number of legal
phrases, was the gist of it all.
(Which estate, after all lawful debts
are paid, consists of a mortgage of
$4,000 on a property in the Eeighbor-
ing village of Bendor. The said mort
gage is overdue, and foreclosure was
about to have been made by the late
Mr.. Biggs.''
Yes, there it was, and there was the
signature in his own handwriting, of
Lawyer John Penny.
Four thousand dollars, and left her
by a cousin with whom she had not
been on friendly terms for years.
Why, it seemed a fortune! Miss
Biggs' glance went around the room.
The colors in the carpet had all faded
to dull gray, but she could have
new one now. Some of the chairs were
going through in the seat; they should
be recaned. And she would buy a new
lounge like the one in Dawson's fur
niture shop, covered with maroon
leather. But, best of all, she could
have a headstone put to her fathers
grave.
She was still absorbed in her con-
templated expenditures when knock
came at the door. Miss Biggs hurried
ly thrust the letter into the pocket of
her gown before admitting her visitor,
who proved to be Mrs. Sprague. Her
plump countenance was flushed from
rapid walking.
LA, Susan!'' she exclaimed in a
high pitched voice; 81 met Deacon
Gosset few minutes ago, and he
told me that he'd just got back from
Plainy1le. where he heard that your
cousin Hiram had died and left you
all his money-so I just ran right
over" and she sank into a rocking
chair.
do tell me-" she went on, as Miss
Biggs closed the door, and sat down
opposite her, eff it is true"
Miss Biggs replied stiffiy that it was.
Martha Sprague's loud voice and love
of news had always annoyed her.
"Well, to be sure" exclaimed Mrs.
Sprague. What luck. To them that
hath shall be given as the Scripture
says. When did you hear about it %
II received a lawyers letter yester-
day" replied Miss Biggs, coldly.
"La, to think of Hiram Biggs 1eav-
ing you his money when you were not
friends for so long. This is a strange
world" And Mrs. Sprague shook her
head thoughtfully.
Miss Biggs made no reply to this
profound statement. She sat stiff and
upright, her eyes fixed in cold polite
ness on her visitors face. "Hiram was
counted pretty rich," said Mrs.
Sprague, tentatively.
She had a burning wish to know the
amount of money which Miss Biggs
had inherited, but she did not dare to
ask plainly.
81 believe so,' assented Miss Biggs,
indifferently. Mrs. Sprague rocked
back and forth. 1t was plain that Miss
Biggs was not going to give her any
information on the subject of her
legacy, so after few desultory re-
marks, she rose reluctantly to go. As
she reached the door, she turned sud-
denly.
so, Susan" she said, her black eyes
swapping spitefully; guess whom Dea-
con Gosset saw in Piainville. Sallie
Mayhem! Don't you remember her?
But, la, I forgot, of course you do
and she laughed meaningly. you
know" she went on, everyone won
dered where she and Jim went. Well,
it seems they went out west, where
Jim made money. They came back to
this state about ten years ago, and
Jim bought quite q fine place not far
from Plainville. But lie lost most
everything just before he died year
ago. Deacon Gosset said that Sa1lie
looks so poor and miserable. And she's
got lot of children, so you didn't
miss much by not getting jim" and
with another laugh Mrs. Sprague went
away.
Miss Biggs had arisen with her Wis
itor, and listened to her with apparent
unconcern, dull red which had crept
into her cheeks being the only sign
that Mrs. Sprague's words aroused any
interest.
But when the latter had gone, she
threw herself into a chair, and buried
her face in her hands. 4 tumult of
feeling took possession of her, aroused
by the memories which those names
had stirred up. She had not heard
them for so long, and no one but Mar
tina Sprague would have dared.
It was all so long ago-eo years
that the pain and shame oft had grown
dim. And he was dead! Yet was it so
long ago? 1t seemed but yesterday
that he was with her talking of their
coming marriage. She had loved him
so. and had been so proud of him,
though she had not said much about