The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-19
The EVENING STORY
Aunt Lucx,s LEGACY
(By Jane Lee.)

about poverty bringing happiness. but
Bayard Leighton kicked-literally-a
the suggestion. He had just finished
reading letter from his maiden aunt
in which she had declared: Money
has not brought me happiness. 1 have
lived alone all my life, and 1 some
times envy you IN your poverty, loved
and adored by so sweet a girl as Vir-
ginia."
We'll, what do you know about
that?" demanded Bayard of his pal,
Jimmy Bookwalter.
Il know exactly what think of her,
old man drawled Jimn,~ "but a
lady's a lady-even if she is your aunt
into parliamentary English"
you're moral coward-that's
what you are, Jimmy Bookwa1ter," de-
clared Bayard as he flung the letter
across the tiny hall room. you've
spending money in a month than you
could earn In a year. Besides which
you're too lazy to fall in love. 1 hope
you won't misunderstood me, Jimmy
when tell you that the space you oc-
cupy in my luxurious apartment is
much more valuable than your august
presence at the present moment
Jimmy rose from the uncomfortable
STRAIGHTFORWARD chair, which was the
only one in the room. Bayard had
given 1t to him when he entered and
had taken a corner of the bed for him
self
to get dressed. Ell? Well, so long, till
tomorrow night. Be sure you show up
at the club and dine with me at seven
sharp"
When he was gone. Bayard put the
inhospitabIe chair up on the bed to
make more room, and took suit of
clothes from under the cretonne cur
tain which covered his meager ward
robe.
1t did not take long to select a tie,
because he onlv had six or seven. Bay
ard seemed to be going through a men
tai reincarnation during this process of
things-not whole sentences, but just
pertinent CALCULATIONS, such as "old
FOSSIL, fought not to be out without
a keeper" .'envy me, indeed"
little later he began to whistle
snatches of popular songs, nervous lit
tie thrills. And finally, with a stick in
hand, he opened tht door of his room,
humming in most contended man.
ner, Love Me Little, Love Me Long"
After all, life was worth while!
Virginia Tracey and Bayard Leighton
had been engaged some months. Bay
ards father had lived like a rich man,
and when he died suddenly the son
found himself penniless. Brought up to
lead an idle life, unframed for practical
work. he took the first position offered
to him in brokers' Office at SIS a
week.
That seemed all right until he sud
denly realized that without Virginia
nothing was right. Recklessly he asked
her to marry him, and with all the i'm
pulsiveness of her love she gave her
self to him. They were young and they
could wait. Aunt Lucy, Bayard's maid
en- aunt, had promised to make him her
heir, and decidedly Aunt Lucy was no
longer young.
When Bayard was blue, Virginia
seemed to be doubly radiant, and to-
night she was at her best as she enter
ed her drawing room to greet him.
HAD a letter from Aunt Lucy, dear"
Bayard announced as an important
sGoodby." cried Virginia: land what
did the dear old lady have to say for,
herself?"
''She told me how fortunate I was to
have you care for me, for one thing"
began Bayard, as he watched the color
mount to Virginia's cheeks at the com
pliment. "Then she said a lot of rot
about-but let's talk about the pleasant
things. You do care for me, don't
you?" he added
SILLY! sillyi of course L do" she cried.
You're silly for a whole lot of reasons
silly to make me wait to be really
home; but if you are satisfied to take
a toothless old woman for wife
we'll
And when Bayard went home that
night he was still humming happy
air.
He took the chair off the bed tucked
it in one corner of the room and
stretched himself out for the night.
In after years he talked much about
that room. He always declared that he
could open the door with his hand and
the window with his foot at the same
time; that if he bent over to lace up his
boots he butted his head against the
side wall, and when he thrust his arm
through the sleeve of his shirt he in
variablv bruised the back of his hand
on the ceiling.
The next night while dining with
Jimmy telegram was handed to Bay
ard.
your aunt died this morning
funeral Thursday" it read.
well, hope the dear old lady will
be happy in heaven" Bayard said, not
without some feeling. "She had per-
suaded herself that she wasn't here"
THAT telegram means a lot to you,
don't it?' inquired Jimmy with an air
of finality.
yes. it does; it means that I'll have
a goodly bit of the necessary long
green, and that Virginia and 1 can be
married"
Some two weeks later Bayard was
notified by the express company that
there was package there for him with
$40 due on it, shipped from Chicago.
Bayard knew at once that 1t was some
of Aunt Lucy's valuable silver sent on
to him. Jimmy would lend him the
to pay for it.
The bill was paid and the big pack
ink case was rdarad sent to Virginia's
house. and Jimmy only invited around
to participate in the unpacking. Ham |
mer and chisels were put to use, and all
three of them entered into the gay |
spirit of the party. Piles of packing
was pulled from the box. and finally a
heavy gilt frame came to view. Coats |
were taken off and the combined |
strength of Jimmy and Bayard was put
to the test. Finally the picture was
taken out. 1t proved to be a nfe-slzed
portrait of Bayard as child.
''WelI. I'll behangedr' declared Bay