Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-02-10

CO HEN Aunt Eliza began to cry.
Helen never could stand that,
so she tried her best to check
her aunt's flowing tears.
What was it all about A trifle
People generally do disagree over
trifles. This cause of difference, how
ever, between Helen and her aunt was
twenty thousand dollars, which had
been left 10 Helen by a relative.
Helen declared the money did not be-
long to her.
Helen Reeve was q young widow
She looked very pretty as she stood
before her aunt in her gown of half
mourning, her Wavy brown hair comb
ed back from a broad, low forehead,
and coiled in an unruly knot at the
nape of her neck Aunt Eliza was not
inclined to find fault with the fate that
caused her to be the companion of
such charming young woman.
mot belong to you" cried Aunt
Eliza. "What on earth do you mean?"
II mean," said Helen, that this
sum will just settle the last Of poor
Jacks debts, and I am going to pay
them"
There is only one way to SETTLE
said her aunt, land that Is for you
to take this money and be thankful
to the good Lord that it has been
thrown your way, and not act so I'M
grateful to Providence for your good
luck"
Il think said Helen, 81 see what
Providence meant me to do with it.
When dear Jack died 1 know the thing
that worried him most during his last
days was the money he owed his old
friend Mr.. Bethune. Mr.. Bethune
was ruined aunty. The greatest hap
piness that this money brings to me is
the thought that 1 can do him and
his family some good The poor man
is blind. They live down near the
river somewhere, and are very poor"
Aunt Eliza looked obstinate, but
their talk ended in an agreement to
see old MI. Carruthers, the lawyer.
He was consulted and would not deny
that there was justice in Helen's de-
termination, although he did not con-
slider her called upon to carry it out
But she did. Fifteen thousand dol
lars was paid to Mr.. Betune. A letter
that she received at this time had the
effect of closing Aunt ELIAS mouth,
no matter what her inner reflections
might be. 1t was from a daughter Of
Mr. Bethune, and gave Helen such
thanks as made her heart feel warm
and her cheeks to glow with delight.
Now there remained five thousand
more. The other creditor, Mr.. Clar-
ence Bartlett, was a rich man. Bat
ties began again between Helen and
her Aunt Eliza.
II have never forgotten what |
heard he said about Jack, and he shall
have his due if it be only for the OPP
portunity of expressing my feelings.
I want Jacks name cleared from ev
cry imputation of dishonesty"
There never was any on it," said
Aunt Eliza Every body knew that
IL he had lived he would have sue
cessfully carried out his business"
"Mr. Bartlett said differently
81 declare, Helen, you make me i'll.
managed to get along with the first
affair: that turned out a mercy to be
sure, for that poor blind man, but this;
Why | never heard of anything so un-
called for"
But Helen was determined, and in
spite of Aunt Eliza the money was or
dered 10 be paid Then Helen wrote
letter in which she decidedly eX-
pressed her pleasure in being able to
settle the debt, and gave Mr.. Clar-
ence Bartlett a rap for having ex-
pressed an opinion derogatory to her
young husband, signing 1t very truly
yours" in the most dignifed manner.
To Helen's boundless indignation,
there came a letter from Mr.. Bartlett,
in which he informed her that she was
mistaken as to his ever having blamed
her husband, and coolly informed her
that although he approved of her wish
to settle her husbands debts, she could
not do so where he was concerned;
that he had always considered her
husband a personal friend; that he
would not have troubled her with this
letter. but for the reason that he felt
II due to himself to refute the mis-
representations which had evidently
been so deeply impressed on her mind
The most important letter l ever
read in my life" she declared to Aunt
Eliza. But her aunt would not see it
that way.