Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-02-19

| orner uno surreu DUCK uucK us noun
ing else had ever stirred it before.
| found her one afternoon gazing va
cantly at some legal documents spread
out before her on the table and evil
IDENTITY overcome by their contents.
There was first lawyers letter In
forming her that by the death of her
husbands father she had come into
the whole Of the Mavor estates and all
the wealth pertaining thereto. The
letter asked for instructions and urged
an immediate return with a view to a
personal superintendent of the es-
tates. y letter, too, from distant
cousin of her husband urged her imme-
date return for many reasons, but
chiefly on account of the old mother,
who had been left alone, with none
nearer of kin than himself to care for
her and cheer her old age.
With these two came another letter
from her mother-in-law herself The
Grabbed, trembling characters were
even more eloquent than the words
with which the letter closed:
husband is gone, and l am lonely wo-
man. l have many servants and some
friends. but none near to me, none so
near and dear as my dead sons wife.
My days are not to be many. Come to
me, my daughter. l want you and
Lewis child
"Must 1 go?" she asked, with white
lips.
"Do you know her well?" 1 asked.
81 saw her only once or twice." she
answered, "but she has been very good
to me-"
"She can hardly need you. She has
friends. And surely you are needed
here"
She looked at me eagerly.
do you think 500" she said.
"Ask any man in the camp-Shaw,
Nixon, young Winton, Geordie. Ask
Craig" replied.
Eyes, he will tell me-" she said.
Even as she spoke Craig came up the
steps. l passed into my studio and
went on With my work, for my days at
Black Rock were getting few, and
many sketches remained to be filled in.
Through my open door l saw Mrs.
Mavor lay her letters before Mr.. Craig,
saying. II have call too" They
thought not of me.
He went through the papers, careful
ly laying them down without a word
while she waited anxiously, almost i'm
patiently, for him to speak.
''Well," she asked, using his own
words to her, SHOULD l go?"
81 do not know" he replied. ''Thut
is for you to decide. You know all the
circumstances"
1.-The letters tell ALL"
Her tone carried a feeling of disap-
pointment. He did not appear to care.
"The estates are large? he asked.
Eyes, large enough-twelve thousand
a year.
"And has your mother-in-law any
one with herr"
"She has friends, but, as she says,
none near Of kin. Her nephew looks
after the works-iron works, you know.
He has shares in them"
"She is evidently very lonely" he an.
swered gravely.
knew she was waiting to hear him
urge her to stay, but he did not see or
at least gave no heed.
81 cannot say" he repeated quietly.
There are many things to consider.
The estates'-
1.-THE estates seem to trouble you,"
she replied almost fretfully.
He looked up in surprise. l wonder
ed at his sowness.
"Yes, the estates" he went on, "and
tenants. suppose; your mother-in-laW,
your little Marjorie's future, your own
future"
1.-The estates are in capable hands,
should suppose" she urged, "and my
future depends upon what choose my
work to be-
"But one cannot shift ones RESPONSE
bilities."" he replied gravely. ''These
estates, these tenants, have come to
you. and with them come duties"
81 do not want them!' she cried.
"That life has great possibilities Of
good" he said kindly.
81 had thought that perhaps there
was work for me here" she suggested
timidly.
"Great work." he fastened to say.
you have done great work, but you
will do that wherever you go. The
only question is where your work lies"
"You think l should co." she said
suddenly and little bitterly.
II cannot bid you stay" he answered
steadily.
"How can 1 go?' she cried, appealing
to him. Must 1 go?"
How he could resist that appeal
could not understand. His face was
cold and hard and his voice was al
most harsh as he replied:
"If it is right, you will go, you must
co.
Then she burst forth:
81 cannot go. shall stay here My
work is here. My heart is here. How
can l go? You thought it worth your
while to stay here and work. Why
should not ~"