The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-01-10

~ 10 diuOSI 100 commonplace 10
describe, that low-browed cottage,
where Miss Almeda Brown lived alone.
Miss Almeda herself was the least
commonplace of ALL a 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 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
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, Welt" she exclaimed, taking
1t by the corners and peering at It
suspiciously, as if suspecting dyna-
mite. who can have written to me
in machine writing?"
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
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 Il will and bequeath
to my step-niece, Almeda Brown" but
the interesting clause followed later,
convinced that she will make of it a
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
a definite plan of action suggest itself
to her bewildered mind.
III 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 a
real good business man I've heard, and
need his advice"
A week later and Miss Almeda was
taking her breakfast in New York, at
a most unearthly hour, according to
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 u.s." added Jane re-
Cousin Almeda with a
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 a knitting
Of the brows for an instant in an eff
Tort to remember; after all IL was
pleasant to be so warmly welcomed.
and she would not harbor a cynical
thought. Il haven't quite decided yet"
she said, slipping her coffee and won
iering IL she could ever become recon
lied 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
" polite entertaining, and she gave {
tea and a musicale, a correct and {
stately dinner party in honor of the I
suest, at all OF which affairs Miss AL [
media was introduced to so many peo- I
lie that she felt as IL there was a I
Wheel In her head, buzzing out names 8
She was beginning to weary of city g
lie, and to long for her little brown /
ottagc. with its newly-shingled roof, q
nd the simple companionship of her A
at and dog. O
In the succeeding days Miss AL. e
media saw more OF the city's poverty C
nd suffering than she had dreamed t
( as a possibility, but somehow the d
OF the poor, touching as
was, did not appeal to her as did a
he dumb, animal life of the great city. d
he CALLED and goaded horses strug- a
ling along under loads far too heavy v
Dr. them, which everywhere met her
lew. touched very tender chord in I,
err heart. {,
She could have wept for very pity
} she saw them hauling great vans, h
cavity loaded street cars. hucksters h
agons, with patient, gentle eyes too v,
ten turned toward brutal drivers in o.