The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-06-29


was suddenly left alone. within one
little week. Then had come the crash
the revelation that naught remained
of Great-Uncle Aliens legacy-it had
not been wilfully wasted, but had
vanished party through bad invest
n;ents, partly through the heritor's
generous inclinations.
And then his nephew had come
to the rescue-now for two years he
had divided royalty with Margaret
Margaret did not dream it, but, ex
cept for the dividing, he would have
courted her within a month of his
uncles death. They had not been
brought up to know each other we'll
rather with the distant intimacy OF
kinfolk known through letters. Mar
garet had written to Thomas upon
his birthdays, and after Christmases.
He had always sent her Christmas
gifts of his mothers choosing, there
fore ugly but substantial. She had
returned birthday presents largely
of her own making. Even his mother
had had to admit that her niece could
things sewn. Shirt cases, and collar
bags, and monogrammed wash cloths,
were all to her mind a sad waste OF
stitchery.
Liberal Thomas was in a sort, the
reaction from his mothers prudence.
She had died a little earlier than her
brother-thus the son had been un-
bot, LoI toll ha
name to please her--it was the last
thing she had asked of him. Since
there was only himself and Mar
garet of the blood, he had been glad
to do 1t. 1t hurt him sorely that Miss
Margaret was setting herself against
his plan for further centration of
the family.
She had never so appealed to him,
as in the shaded light that evening.
There was something shy, even visit
full about her-she spoke with soft
ly hesitant information, unlike her
usual crisp utterance.
By time she brought herself around
to her plans for the future before
she could even begin to think of shap-
ing her asking for help, he was quite
beside himself. So far beside himself,
indeed, he forgot to remember their
relative situations-forgot everything,
indeed, but that he was man, and
five-and- twenty, in the presence OF
the woman he wanted most in all the
world.
Therefore he was new person to
Margaret-one speaking almost gruf-
fly, breaking into her neat platitudes
with something incisive, If irrelevant.
She looked at him In wonder. After
Aunt Elisabeth had taken herself
away, she moved little apart from
Thomas, and tried to begin steadily:
please, please, do understand am
not an migrate"
81 can't understand any such
thing" Thomas said with the strange
new note, not waiting for her to
finish. "All l can see," he went on.
his eyes smouldering little, SIS that
you dislike me so much you can't be
reasonable"
"You are wrong-all wrong" Mar
garet sighed, TREMENDOUSLY.
Thomas stared at her-he had ex-
pected her to flash out at his injus-
tice. She went on brokenly: you
you are-the best, the kindest--
kinsman-in the world love you
for-for being so good-too much to
take advantage of the situation"
That's where we differ" Thomas
said stifT1y, a sudden comprehension
flooding his mind. 'I love you too
much not to take advantage of the
situation. In proof-this-an this
and this" raining a shower of kisses
upon her startled eyelids.
Margaret gasped-then let herself
lie against his breast for an instant.
Suddenly she pushed him away, freed
herself, and said in high voice:
II did mean to ask help OF you
now it is quite impossible"
ALSO wholly unnecessary" Thomas
retorted. Il am going to set you up
in business-whether or no."
"O indeed! What sort of busi-
ness?" Margaret asked demurely.
He looked at her steadily, then said.
shaking his head: "The business of
making a good wife, out of very
spoiled young woman 1t is the best
opening I see for you"
IL have only myself to invest-what
returns can you promise?" Margaret
asked plaintively.
Thomas caught both her hands.
"a lifetime of love and happiness"
he said-and Margaret smiled, con-
tent.