Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-11-25


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 Amusement. 1t was only
when reading the plainly typewriter
lines that she felt that she was not
dreaming.
one took up the letter again, al
though she now almost knew il by
heart. There, after n number of legal
phrases, was the gist of it all.
Which estate, after all lawful debts
are paid, consists Of mortgage of
$4,000 on property in the neighbor-
ing village of Bender. The said mort
gage is overdue, and oreclosure 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 cousin with whom she had not
been on friendly terms for years.
Why, 1t seemed fortune! Miss
Biggs' glance went around the room.
The colcrs in the carpet had all faded
to dull gray, but she could have q
new one row. Some of the chairs were
going through in the seat; they should
be recaned. And she would buy new
lounge like the one in Dawson's fur
niture shop, covered with maroon
leather. But, best of all, she could
have n 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.
ia, Susan!" she exclaimed in a
high-pitched voice; 81 met Deacon
Gosset n few minutes ago, and he
told me that he'd just got back from
Plainvile, where he heard that your
cousin Hiram had died and left you
all his money-so 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, 'if IT is true"
Miss Biggs replied stiflly that it was
Martha Sprague's loud voice and love
of news had always annoyed her.
"Well, to be sure" exclaimed Mrs
Spraguc. "What luck. TO them that
hath shall be given as the Scripture
says. When did you hear about it?'
81 received n lawyers letter yester-
day" replied Miss Biggs, coldly.
"La, TO think of Hiram Biggs leav.
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
nezs on her visitors face. "IIirnm was
counted pretty rich," said Mrs
Sprague, tentatively.
She had burning wish TO know the
amount of money which Miss Biggs
had inherited, but she did not dare to
ask plainly.
81 believe So" asscnted 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.
80, Susan" she said, her black eyes
swapping spitefully; guess whom Dea
con Gosset saw in Piainville. Sallie
Mayhew! Don't you remember her.
But. la, | forgot, of course you do,
and she laughed meaningy. You
know" she went on, everyone won
dered where she and Jim went. Well
II seems they went out west, where
linn made money. They came back tc
This state about ten years ago, and
linn bought quite fine place not fai
from Plainvile. But lie lost most
everything just before he died veal
oqo Deacon Gossct said that Sallie
looks so poor and miserable And shes
got a lot of children, so you didn't
miss much by not getting JIM" ano
with ano.hAs laugh Mrs. sprague went
away. nSSr
Miss B. IS had arisen with her Wis
;tor. and listened to her with apparent
unconcern, dull red which had crep'
into her cheeks being the only sigr
that Mrs. sprague's words aroused any
interest
But when the latter l. ID gone, she
threw herself into a cha buried
her face in her hi Sas). Baker o.
feeling took p Eas-. arTshored at
by the memdS ,ss,opN2 Sat1v name e;
had stirred up. MS Id Srt
them for so long, and ar
tba sprague would haVI "a
II was all so long ago-2O years
+botthe pain and shame Oft had grown
linn And he was dead! Yet was it sc
long ago? 1t seemed but yesterday
.bo1 he was with her talking of then
coming marriage. She had loved hin
so and had been so proud OF nm
.boroh she had not said much abou
a.. II had never been her way to tai
rreot deal Then came that dreadfu
day when they told her that he ha'
80 away and married Sallie, with hel
Yellow hair and pink cheeks That aw
f,,l day--she could remember th'
shame and agony Of t yet! And nov
he was dead--ha1 Nsp dead year
There was no f''vGH"4f anger in he
heart towar emse Go cersre never ha a
heen much. "a Sknown that n
was weak esL@Ghe Lad led him or n
But for he's Aow she hated her! l
rave her pleasure to recall MIS-