Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-02
THE EVENING STORY
Aunt Mini's Money.

around a purse that has something In IL
better than an empty one that's Just TOT
show
Mimi came and admired the iridescence
of the black Minorca cockerel's plumage.
1T would be awful IL Aunt Mimi should
leave you out. she predicted. mourn
fully.
Lucia and Evelyn and Percy got no
nearer the chickens than the front par
lor They too. felt apprehensions for
Jeans prospects. When they went away
Jeans courage for the first time forsooK
her and she cried.
But I'm going on just as I've begun
she said. Il don't care what they say.
AS for Aunt Mimi never saw her in
my life. She's taken good care never to
come near one of us. The most she's
ever done is to send us each a letter
about twice a year. She's never given
us thing but Intentions, Maybe she'll
leave all her money TO some home or
other. and l don't care if she does. The
others can 60 on waiting and starving if
thev want to. | shall stick to my CHICK
ems"
The chickens. it is true. did not Weld
vast income. but with the two boarders
Jean made enough to keep up the in
terest on the place and put something
in the bank for a rainy day and keep the
two of them warm and we'll clothed ana
we'll fed She had to work hard. but
work she considered merely an outlet for
her boundless energy. She was happy
and healthy. and we'll content. and envied
no one.
Aunt Mimi continued to write as was
her wont twice a year. She was evil
IDENTIFY most un-Westlike in the regularity
of her habits. There came time. how
ever. when her silence became not only
a matter OF weeks. but months. Jean
was too busy to wonder about it until
Peter called her attention to it.
"Tt must be shes dead he said.
Aunt Mimi was dead and she had left
70 will. There was indeed. no occasion
for any. She had no money. With cum
ming and utter absence of heart she had
perpetratcd huge joke u3on her rela-
tives which she had. nevertheless. thor
oughly enjoyed. At least this was what
her LAWYER said when he came on from
the west 20 distribute the few articles
and the few dollars she had to beaueath.
He told Jean and her mother all about
it as they sat together in the front par
To-. She had had eXtTavagant tastes.
She had used UP her entire means during
her lifet me.
Mrs. West wept. but Jean laughed.
The cute old thing. she exclaimed.
But I'm sorry for Peter and the rest of
them
They. indeed were inconsolable. They
came to conGole with Jean.
Il suppose we'll have to go TO work
now in dead earnest. mourned Peter Il
guess you've got the best Of it. Jean.
You were wise to do as you did.
1t was the first time they had made
anything but fun OF her enterprise
About four months after his first APP
pearance Aunt Minis lawyer came
again. but on business of his own. 1t
was learned he had been writing to Jean
on an average twice a week ever since
his first visit to Westmore
But no was more surprised than
was Jean when he put a thTee-hundred-
dollar solitaire on her finger.
Il can't wear that when L feed the
chickens!' she exclaimed.
Il guess you'll have to give up the
chickens!' he laughed. You'll live in
a town out west. There's room for
chickens on my place. The house covers
it all
Jean laughed, too. and ran to tell her
mother.
We'll. it's something to get a husband.
even if you weren't left money! Mrs.
West said. But I'd rather you'd had
the money
"Oh. 1 don't agree with you" Jean
breathed. happy and contented
CTHE ENID