The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-03-31

must have first chO1ce OF q Iufn1-
;ture." He nodded to the lady IN ques-
ton. t.-:ss.
"Ill take the bedstead and mat
tresses and all 1t contains" said Ann
ISquires hastily.
Fanny Ray smiled bitterly and bent
her head to that Of Jane Morris. II
knew she'd take that! I suppose she
thinks the mattresses are stuffed with
banknOtes."
"Humph!" said Jane sourly. cts
my turn next, Fanny, because you al
ways claimed you was the youngest,
you know"
f. Mrs. Ray smiled sheepishly. cts
got to go according to the records"
she said family.
"Now, Mrs. Ray" said the lawyer
sharply.
cpl take the bureau" said Fanny
quickly. The bureau afforded much
space for secreting treasure, and there
might even be a. hidden drawer.
George Giles looked at the work Ia
BILE, but he was a bachelor and shook
Ills l1CGu. lICu AO CAOSO GuO A4OAl 10
chair, and Luke Howe passed the work
table and chose a patent rocker be-
cause the covering was red. Jane Nor
ris fdgeted impatiently while they
were choosing. At last her turn came.
81 wanted that morris chair" she
said bitterly, "but as it's gone I'll
have to take the work table, although
I've got n already" She looked con-
temptuously at the remaining article,
a small round cherry stand.
"Ill leave you the chair when I'm
gone," grinned George Giles.
"Now, Miss Thomasine," encouraged
the lawyer.
"Ill take the stand" said Thomasine
forlornly.
."Now, the other things. Mrs. Squires,
your turn again..
''The marble clock" said Ann prompt.
~. Jane and Fanny exchanged smiles.
.'The vases" said Fanny Ray.
u"Lamp," said George Giles.
Luke Howe snirked at his reflection
In the looking glass and said he'd take
that, much to Jane Norris chagrin.
"Andirons." she snapped viciously,
though I don't want 'em!"
"I-ITl take the parrot" faltered
Thomasine as each one arose and be-
gan to investigate his or her especial
choice. They were not unkind people,
but each n was unconsciously greedy
Of gain and none of them realized that
the youngest cousin was poor and that
the inheritance that had fallen to her.
share was the poorest of the lot. Aft
er the distribution had been made and
they had got over their disappoint-
inent at there being ne money they
would forget all u~nfriendliness and
perhaps invite Thomasine to spend va
rations with them.
Now they were busily peering and
investigating into their different arti-
cles with little success. There was
nothing but dust in the vases, and the
bureau contained naught save a col
lection of soap coupons. There was a
dead wasp in the clock, while the
work table contained many sewing ma
terials. It did not occur to Jane that
might need the work table.
They parted later, and the next morn
ing Thomasine went home aud back to
work. Ten days later the legacy came
by express-the cherry stand and the
stuffed parrot on his perch. Thomas
inc placed the parrot on the stand and
stood them ear the mantelpiece and
forgot them until one day she took in
homeless cat, which she fed and
warmed by the kitchen stove. After
awhile the cat wandered into the little
roon,j and when he saw the
green parrot sitting on the perch he
snarled angrily and few at the unof-
tending bird. When Thomasine ran to
the scene the floor was covered with
bright feathers and the stnfing was
protruding from the body Of the bird.
The cat, .chagrined at this n sided
battle, retired to a corner and washed
his face. ~
Thomasine picked.np the body Of the
bird and wondered IL she might not re.
pair the damage with needle and
thread and glue. Then her eyes open
I'd wider and wider, for the .stufing Of
that parrot was: composed of tight
wads and rolls Of greenbacks, and
twisted among them was a queer little
note from Aunt Lucia:
Dear T~homasine-i know they'll all pick
out the best and leave poor Polly to YOU
80 have made him worth while after Ill.
You need all Of this, and you can keen
It without having n dispute over Il.
Nr. Rhodes knows, and you mustn't tell
anybody but your husband, I II you yer
have one, but I don't SEQ how you ever
can, handicapped with that dreadful name.
With Aunt Lucia's loye.
Through her tears Thomasine count
ed the money and. found there was
5000, and her worn little face was
glori6ed by a smile Of perfect relief.
Now she could close her sewing ma.
chine and buy farm and. raise chick
ems! As a beginning she closed the
machine with q loud clatter. Then she
Rugged the strange cat and adopted
him on the spot, and thereafter he
waxed fat and lazy and never even
hlinked atSfhA yOun1 chickens that ran,