The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-26
THE M'NATT FAMILY FEUD.
How the Old Man Got Even with
His Daughter-In-Law.
(Chicago News

Chicago News.)
The feud between Jason McNatt and
Evalina McNatt had begun years be-
fore, when Evalina was Is and Jason's
only son had married her I'm the face
Of the fact that his father had picked
out an entirely different girl for a
daughter-in-law.
There was not an Objectionable thing
about Evalina, and everybody had said
Elmer McNatt was lucky to get her
but Jason McNatt chung to his own
particular point of view, which was
that Evalina had done him an everlast
Ing, unforgivable and impairment
wrong by interfering with his plans,
and some day he'd get even.
Evalina further angered him by re-
fusing to live UP to all the dire, prophe-
cie3 he made concerning her conduct.
On the contrary, she developed into a
perfect housewife and was the 1oy and
inspiration of her husbands life. Per
haps at the bottom Jason McNatt was
jealous Of the place she had in his SON s
heart, for only toward his son did the
old man ever have an unselfish, genu-
Inc affection.
So when after ten years his son died
the tragedy drove. him still further
from his duaghter-in-law Even her
sorrow embittered his as being some
thing that encroached on his preserves.
In his dazed grief he blindly figured
out that Evalina in some way must be
responsible for this trouble, as he had
made her responsible for everything
else that had baked him or crossed his
will.
The only relief he got was when in
settling up his financial affairs he
found that owing to Elmer's negligence
his father would have the doing out of
whatever pittance he chose to Evalina
Tor her support and her boys Elmer
had left only a small estate. barely
enough to keep his family Jason was
an old man and worth a couple of hun
dred thousand dollars and did not
spend half his income. But he found
no reason for increasing Evalina's
quarterly allowance. nor did she ask II.
This was a fresh insult; for it denied
him the pleasure of refusing her. All
these years he had yearned to have her
come TO him humbly to ask some favor
at his hands, but Evalina apparently
had needed no favors
Then one day Jason McNatt nearly
had heart failure when he realized
that he had no other heirs than Eva
lina's son and if he should die the bow
and the boys mother would get his
money. In sort of frenzy he began
to plan how TO outwit them. He nearly
gave fatal shock to the charity board
OF the suburb where he lived by send
ing in a check for $1,000. Nobody had
ever called Jason charitably inclined
either. He paralyzed the two churches
by making substantial contributions
Before people got over wondering what
1t meant 1t was announced that "Mr.
Jason McNatt, our esteemed fellow
townsman, intends to build the village
a library and gymnasium, to cost S25,-
600. This noble generosity and open
handed" etc.
When people woke up, to what it
meant they said it was a shame that
just because Jason felt vindictive to-
ward Evalina he was going to rob his
grandson OF his rightful inheritance.
He had nothing against the boy, either.
to tell the truth, and that was another
reason he hated Evalina-he couldn't
have the boy with him. He hoped that
she realized he was getting even with
her. Anyhow, perhaps the boy was
like her instead of like Elmer. But he
looked like Elmer. Beyond that, and
that he was a quiet, retiring youth. his
grandfather knew nothing.
Evalina went down south to visit last
fall, and while she was away Elmer.
jr., and shy little girl got married.
Elmer, jr., was scarcely of age and
earning only $40 week People said
1t would break Evalina's heart and
that now she would have to support
them both instead of just Elmer.
After the first shock Jason McNatt
began to chuckle He admired the
boys spunk. Perhaps he had done it |
to spite his mother-who could tel?
SO he sat down at his desk and mailed |
Elmer, jr., check for $500. with a curt
note containing no expressions of affec- |
ton. 1t was merely a wedding present |
Jason wrote, and he'd be obliged for no |
maudlin note of thanks. A month |
later. after Evalina had returned and |
he had caught her once on the street |
with eyes that looked fearful, he sent
Elmer. jr., another check He wrote |
that there was a nice building lot on |