The suburban citizen., 1900-10-20
EFFIE'S LEGACY.
BY FLORENCE B, HALLOWELL.


waiting for us. And I'd like to have
the heavy blankets looked over and
packed away to-day II it's so we can
get round to EN-"
Effie sighed heavily, and began TO
roll up the sleeves Of her calico dress,
thinking the while that it was in
doing such homely tasks as kneadlng
bread, churning, ironing and putting
away winter blankets that her life
was 10 be spent
'gThere goes Herman off on Jerry"
presently remarked Aunt HepSy, as
the sound of horses hoofs was heard
on the hard road. "Why, where can
he be going? He said he wanted to
finish that strip of plowing to day"
Efie glanced out Of the window and
saw her brother riding away, Leo
bounding along close at the horses
heels
Going on some errand more impor-
tant than the blowing, / suppose" she
replied, indif1erently, and resumed
her workS
BY noon the churning was done the
bread lay on the pantry shelves in deli.
cious-looking brown loaves, the iron
ing was well under way, and Aunt
Hepsy had looked over and put away
the blankets
We've got a sight of work out Of
the way this morning. she said, as
she sat down to rest for a moment in
the old wooden rocker. And l feel
so beat out that if you don't mind
Efie, I'll run over after dinner and
sit awhile with old Miss Hope. She's
always glad of company"
IJftie had no objection at all to this
plan; in fact, she was pleased at the
idea Of being left alone free to indulge
her gloomy mood undlsturbed,
The aunt and niece sat down to din
ner alone, for Herman had not re-
turned.
II can't think what's come TO the
boy to stay away over dinner" Aunt
Hepsy observed, anxiously. 1T isn't
bit ike him to go away without let
ting US know anything about it,"
There's no need to worry" said
Efie, a little impatiently. Hell be
along aft5 a while, l suppose
Aunt Hepsy departed as soon as the
dishes were washed and put away,
and EfTie went to work to finish the
ironing. But she had ironed only a
few pieces when she heard some one
calling to her from the front gate,
and running out, saw Farmer Hilton,
a near neighbor, in his light wagon.
Here's a letter l got out Of the
Office for you, Efie," he said. but
couldn't get down, for these colts
won't stand"
"A letter for men' Efie repeated, in
surprise, for her correspondents were
very few, and the receipt Of letter
was q rare occurrence.
She stood looking at it doubtfully as
! the farmer dove away, and turned it
over several times before she opened it,
The envelope bore in one corner the
stamp Of a lawyers firm in the city,
and she did not know the handwriting
Of the superscription.
When she opened it, at last, she
found it was to inform her that old
Miss Allen had recently died, and
had left her the sum CT $500, which
was subject to her order in n city
| bank.
Effie read the letter over three
times beforl she felt sure that she
was not dreaming, and then. forget
ting the irons cooling on the stove
forgetting her misery about the Faulk-
ners' garden party-fOrgetting, indeed,
except the joyful fact Of her legacy
she sat down on the kitchen door-tep
and abandoned hel self to thoughts of
the delightful future in store for her.
she had laid out all her plans, and
in Imagination had entered on the in
toxication Of n life = the city, when
the clatter Of horses hoOfs on the road
reused her from her rose -colored rev
erie, and she looked ~ to see her
brother pausing at the gate.
He ca""'ed L brown paper parcel un.
der his arm, but he did not throw II
to her, as she half expected he would
Where have you been, HermY she
asked, as he passed her on his way to
the barn.
"Only to Barwater,' he answered.
He looked tired an dusty, and the
smile he gave her seemed rather
forced
She concluded at once that he was
still troubled about the bitter word:
she had uttered that morning. o.
perhaps it was the ught Of the over
due mort age.
The mortgage! 1t Vas for $500
just the amount Of her legacy-anc
HERNIA" had said so often what a re
lief It would be to him If It were only
paid of But there was no prospect
Of it, de could not work any harder