The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-11-23
A CONDITION
OF THE WILL.
BY EDYTFI KIRKwOoD
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

self out of employment. She ad-
dressed envelopes, wrote advertise
ments, did mending and made herself
otherwise useful to her landlady to
exc out her board. She was growing
lean and hollow-eyed, and utterly dis
couraged, when one bleak November
day when the wind was whistling past
the flreless chamber and the clouds
were so heavy she could scarcely see
the print. she happened on an adver-
tlsement which gave her hope. An
Old gentleman living in the country,
who was writing work on the scien-
tlflc culture of roses, desired the ex-
elusive services of typewriter and
amanuensis. The salary was good. the
locality agreeable. Miss Waring
wrote promptly to ask if young
woman might fill the Office acceptably,
giving her name, age and capabilities,
and inquiring, of course, concerning
chaperone. The reply was satisfac-
tory. The housekeeper would act as
chaperone, and Mr.. Milton the old
scientist, hoped Miss Warins could
make 1t convenient to come soon.
AT my age" he wrote, I'VE no
longer count by days or even hours"
Miss Waring telegraphed that she
would start at once It did not take
her long to pack her few possessions,
and that same afternoon she was
rushing by express to her impatient
employer.
+1,e,
housekeeper, at once took her to the
room she was to occupy.
She was quite unprepared, ON going
down to the evening meal, to find the
parlor occupied by another individual,
OF whom no mention had been made.
He was a long. thin, not especially
good-looking man of perhaps 30
years.
He had risen, and was placing an
arm-chaiz f her beside the cracking
Miss Waring,'' he said easily II
am John Atwood, another of Mr. Mil
tons assistants. Here are the latest
magazines. You will allow me to fin
ish this article in which I am much
interested? Thanks
He resumed his reading, and
straightway forgot all about her. In
deed, as the days went on, she saw
but little Of her fellow worker. Mr..
Atwood, she found, was illustrating
the work on rosiculture, and his time
was fully occupied. He went out on
horseback for an early ride every day.
but he never turned up around the
grounds when she went out walking,
never was to be seen about the house
except for about half an hour before
tea, when he read with such ardor and
absorption that he was oblivious to
her presence if she chanced to stray
into the room. Being human and
young, she could not help wishing he
would try to amuse her, or at least
appear aware of her existence.
Her own duties we're not light. She
worked all morning and part of the
afternoon with Mr.. Milton, writing
from his dictation, Copying, correct
ing; but after four o'clock her time
was her own. There was a good
piano in the parlor, and the old gen
tleman, who was fond Of music. insist
ed on her practicing daily, and often
begged her TO play or sing during the
evening, while Mrs. O'Grady serenely
piled her needle. Mr.. Atwood seldom
joined them.
Mr.. Millions book finally lacked but
few chapters for its completion. The
chapters, in fact, were written, but he
wished to amplify and alter a few
pages. When this was accomplished
his great work would be done, and
he ventured to hope, we'll done
One morning old Mr.. Milton did not
appear The housekeeper went to his
room, and came down with a pale,
scared face. Mr.. Atwood rode off in
haste for the doctor, but the physician
could only confirm their fears. The
good old gentleman had passed away
in the night.
When the funeral was over Miss
Waring began to pack her trunk. The
dreary little attic room in the board
ing house must be faced again and
the battle of life renewed. She look
ed back upon the few weeks past as
among the happiest of her life; but
they were over. She must not linger.
Some tears fell as she folded her shah
by frocks and made ready for depart
ure. While thus occupied she was
summoned to the library Mr.. Mil
tons lawyer desired to see her. About
the book. she supposed
She found the household assembled
for the reading of the will. Mr.. At I
wood placed chair for her, and she
asked in low tone why her presence
was necessary. .>..<*
Il do not know" he answered in the 1
same tone,> "why either of us should
be here, but, like you, was requested
to come" =. .es;,.s Zsz=S==z<:s .zs&==|.
They had not long. to wonder: NJ.
Milton left legactes.s important and .un-51'