Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-01-09

Miss Almeda herself was the least
commonplace of all. bright-eyed, i'm
perious little woman, with the dear
est, brightest smile and the warmest.
kindest heart as its motive power.
On this particular morning she was
eating her breakfast-a hearty, COM
Portable one, with the various courses
within easy reach of her ten active
maids, the fingers.
Pa sent up the letter. seems you
don't come to the Office very Often"
said a small voice, following a timid
knock, which Miss Almeda had not
heard in her absorbed attention to her
breakfast, and little Tommy Tinker
laid an official looking letter, ad-
dressed in typewriting, beside Miss
Almeda's plate.
We'll, WE'LL" she exclaimed, taking
it by the corners and peering at 1t
suspiciously, as if suspecting dyna-
mite. who can have written to me
in machine writing?p
Miss Almeda read the letter, her
brows knitting and her lips puckering
with the surprise of the most remark
able communication she had ever re-
/ ceived.
well, l do declared" she said at
4 length in a bewildered tone. Who'd
ever although it,"
The letter told Of the death of an
eccentric old relative, who had not
only died. but had left her sole heiress
of large property.
/ There it was in plain language, the
| copy of the will. II will and bequeath
| to my step-niece, Almeda Brown" but
| the interesting clause followed later,
convinced that she will make of it
good and humane use, instead of
throwing it away on fripperies and
nonsense"
| She went about in a dazed sort of
way all day, and not until evening did
definite plan of action suggest itself
to her bewildered mind.
I'll go down to New York on a
visit to Cousin Arson. I've always
wanted to see the city and Jane and |
used to be real chummy together when
we were girls. Arson is my cousin
on pas side, and there can't be any
| feeling about the will, because Uncle
/ Jeffries was connected by marriage on
mas side of the house. Arson is
real good business man I've heard, and
l need his advice"
A week later and Miss Almeda was
taking her breakfast in New York, at
most unearthly hour, according to
4 her country notion, and with unaccus-
! toned splendor, though when the ele-
gance was sifted it consisted mainly of
silver and cut glass, with several very
prim servants, who eyed the visitors
up country" ways and dress with
curious interest.
"Of course you will come to town
now and enjoy life" said Cousin An
son, after the last course was served
and the three were alone. You have
been mewed up in that little country
town altogether too long"
When we have urged you so, again
and again, to visit us" added Jane re-
proachfully. Cousin Almeda with
fortune was a very different person
from plain, penniless Almeda, although
Jane herself did not realize the dis
tinction which had so suddenly arisen,
and believed herself really sincere.
Miss Almeda smiled, after knitting
of the brows for an instant in an eff
fort to remember; after all it was
! pleasant TO be so warmly welcomed,
and she would not harbor a cynical
I 4 vatD
she said. slipping her coffee and won
dering If she could ever become recon
ciled to city cream. 1T is what ! have
come to consult you about, Arson.
want to look around and make up my
mind leisurely as to my future
course"
Cousin Jane was skilled in the art
of polite entertaining, and she gave
tea and a musicale, correct and
stately dinner party in honor of the
guest, at all of which affairs Miss AL
media was introduced to so many PEG.
pie that she felt as if there was a
wheel in her head, buzzing out names
unfortunately.
She was beginning to weary of city
life, and to long for her little brown
cottage. with its newly-shingled roof,
and the simple companionship of her
cat and dog.
In the succeeding days Miss AL,
media saw more of the city's poverty
and suffering than she had dreamed
of as possibility, but somehow the
wretchedness of the poor, touching as
it was, did not appeal to her as did
the dumb animal life of the great city.
The CALLED and goaded horses strug-
Cling along under loads far too heavy
for them, which everywhere met her
view, touched a very tender chord in
her heart.
She could have wept for very pity
as she saw them hauling great vans.
heavily loaded street cars, hucksters'
wagons, with patient, gentle eyes too
often turned toward brutal drivers in
mute appeal, and she thought of them
in the bitter treadmill of this rushing
city life, with never a taste of the
| green nastIirpe thafr noturou uara