Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-04-25
BETWEEN
THE LEAVES
py JENNIE &. SARGENT
Copyright 1909, by
Jennie K. Sargent

The good people Of Leydenville were
wrought. up to fine pitch Of right
eous indignation. but II old Henry Ley
den, three days In his grave, could
have heard the comments which fol
lowed the reading Of his will he would
probably have chuckled just as he ha'
done in bygone days when his neigh
bors had discussed his domestic OF
business affairs.
The will was q marvel Of simplicity
and Judge Barrow declared that nc
court OH earth would set 1t aside
Nevertheless the women who loved
Lucy Leyden for her gentle disposition
and kindly heart openly grieved. The
men who had admired John VII
loughby's brave struggle against heavy
odds swOre ut the deceased roundly
for a stubborn meddler with fate.
Even Miss Polly Fowler. who had
taught them both at the little red
schoolhouse, had been heard to remark
in a tone not wholly devoid Of fear at
her own "brashness" that, while she
didn't wish anybody bad luck, she
shouldn't shed tears If she heard Hen
~ Leyden had met his "cOme-uppance''
In the next world.
But the fact remained that the dead
man had beQueathed his stock In the
Decatur and Leydenville road to his
nephew, Ben Morris; his stock In the
Leydenville bank to distant home
for cripples Henry Leyden had been
afflicted from birth with q clubfoot),
and, after few scattered requests to
distant relatives, to Lucy he had left
only the old homestead and all per-
sonal property found thereon at the
time Of his death.
mother the same refuge that had been
open to them ten years before. when
George Leyden went the way Of prod
igal sons, leaving the two women to
the mercies Of his crotchety but
wealthy brother. But the income that
had supported the homestead died with
Its owner, and the question Of how 1t
was to be kept up agitated all Leyden-
Vile.
Lucy and John Willoughby had been
engaged for four years, but the girls
uncle had stood firmly against the mar
rage. John had a mother and two
sisters dependent upon him. He could
not add to this burden. and the shrewd
banker proposed to adopt no nephew
in-law, however worthy the young man
might be.
The two young people did not at
tempt to veil their disappointment. but
they had more serious matters on
hand. The handsome house. tucked
in the rapidly growing business see
ton Of the town, yielded not Il cent Of
income. Mrs. Leyden was one Of the
clinging. dependent sort of women. and
Lucy knew that she must face the
problem alone.
John suggested that they sell the
place and. taking a small cottage. live
off the income Of a safe, conservative
Of the balance. But Lucy
protested against the sacrilege. She
knew that 1t was her uncle's wish that
she should continue to occupy the old
house.
Lucy thought they might take room
ers and boarders, but John pictured
the pert young clerks from the freight
Offices or the dapper youths from the
tBestop stoor' waited upon by his
Lucy, and the plan died violent
death. 1t was Mrs. Leyden-limp,
phlegmatic Mrs, Leyden-whO finally
'olved the problem.
"You ain't thought of the library,
Lucy. You remember how your Uncle
Henry always talked about 1t. He had
been years collecting those old books.
Lots OF them go as far back as the
and some Of the oldest
were printed In England before there
was any America. Don't you remem-
Der how he used to walk up and down
this room and shake his head at the
BOOKS. saying, Emmy, there's thou
sands In this room, thousandsv /
rnow he paid ridiculous prices for
,ome of them. Maybe there's others
ID dafYy about old books rs he was"
Johns face frightened, and he took
both Of Lucy's hands In his.
THAT'S 1t, Lucy. Well have buyer
,ome up from the city and look them
,ver. There may be q fortune In them,