Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-09-02

ouAI9'
"As we have just said-and was
glad to find you agreeing with me-a
woman does well to let business alone.
There is an immense amount of detail
connected with an estate-eVen a COM
paratively small one, like your moth
er's. There are many to Keep.
I have kept them for years in my own
way. l am not an expert accountant
but I hope that my work Is accurate
At any time that you would like to e1-
anime the books, l should be glad 20
aid YOU"
Thank you-yes. of course" said
Zelda, hurriedly. She had been think
ing of other things; but she now hX@d
her attention upon what her father WAS
saying.
Il have thought, Zee that perhaps
you would like to continue his trLS-
teeship. No one else understands tue
nature of the property so well as ! l
hav given the best years of my life 70
studying 1t. The burden Is a consld-
cradle one for my years. ! am nearing
70-but II o would like to nave ne
go on, I should be willing to do 80.
Your dear mother gave me her er'l:'a
confidence; 1t would please me II l
could feel that your own trust in ne
was equally great
Il there Is no hurry about
1t, father. 1t would be just as well Tor
me to go over the whole matter at the
time of the change" She spoke care
lessly, but a bitterness had bcSuA %
creep into her heart. The contempt
hat she had smothered for a year now
ceased to be a smoldering ember and
leaped into flame.
II wished to propose that myself
he replied. smiling. And l will tell
you now what I had expected to con-
zeal until your birthday, of a little gift
I am making you. l have placed two
thousand dollars to your credit at the
bank. 1t is subject to your check. 1t
Is from my own estate. Of course. /
should hardly make you a present Vt
| your own money"
you are very kind; it Is a hand
some gift; but l think we'd better put
it into the new trusteeship. Then I
shall not be tempted into %extrava-
| gances."
He had expected some exuberant eX-
| preston of pleasure; but she had
| spoken coldly, and her trou-
| bLed him. He took from the table a
brown paper parcel and opened Il.
carefully untying the knot In the tape
which fastened it.
II think you have never seen a cop
| of your mothers will, ~Zee-unless per-
haps your Uncle Rodney has shown it
to you"
NO; 1 have never seen it," she an
swered.
/. He unfolded a copy of the last will
and testament of Margaret Cameron
carefully, and then refolded it length
| wise to emove the creases for greater
convenience in examining it. He pro-
ceeded with ar exaggerated delibera-
ton. A man likes to mystify a woman
about business matters: his own wis
dom grows refulgent in the dark re-
cesses of her ignorance.
cameron read his wife's will
through. and Zelda listened attentive
ly, though few of the terms meant
anything to her. and the umbers Of
lots and the names of additions, divi.-
Ions and subdivisions were only rigma-
role. Her father paused now and then
to make some comment on an item, ex-
planning more fully what was meant.
Either her uncle had deceived her Or
her father was lying; and she knew
that her uncle had told the truth. The
situation cleared for her slowly. His
| TeQucSl loI q VI LIS lTuS-
teeship yelled his wish to keep her af-
fairs in his own hands. without a
break. 1t was a clever plan and In an
impersonal way she admired his au-
dacity.
You understand" her father contin-
ued, that the personal property-that
means stocks. bonds and so on-was
to be sold and the proceeds %reinyested
as I saw At. 1t was necessary "a
change most of i'll had no option IN
the matter. Your grandfather. Zee
had been one Of the early railroad
builders in this part Of the country,
and the original small independent
lines have all been merged into great
systems. 1t should be a matter Ct
pride to you that your grandfather was
q man SO far-seeing and progressive.
But now, his children and their chill
dren derive the benefit. I recall that a
representative in Congress from our
State was defeated for reelection back
In the '40s. for voting an a]ppropria-
ton to aid Morse in his experiments
with the telegraph. They charged him
with wasting the peoples money. Blu,
times change. and men change with
them!"
He sighed, and the thin leaves of his
SOpy " ile WILL IuSlleu III Ills HlSerS
as he sought the place where he hat
dropped his reading. He fingered ov,:
the words that described the nature q
the trust. They Were very sweet tc
hm. because they were at once a jus
LITIGATION Of himself and a REPUTATION
Of the ISLANDERS of his wife's family
He knew. too. that they gave emphasis
to the suggestion that he was nov
making to Zelda, that she renew tn.
trusteeship. He wished to put thi.
as much as possible in the light OF :
favor to the girl.
II am very sorry that my friend aac
counsel. Mr.. Carr. is absent, as
should like to have him prepare tn,
new deed Of trust. He Is a man Of TIL,
highest probity. He Is the ablest law
yer at our bar. In Mr.. Cars absenc,
I have not thought 1t wise to take an.
other attorney into our confidence. .
have prepared a deed of trust myself
Shall / read the deed"
Yves, please" said Zelda. II shoult
like to hear it."
He had, as he said, copied the form
OF a trust deed that was well-knowr
among local lawyers. AS a trust deet
It was absolutely above reproach
save only that neither the property as