The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-11-03

! ~ society girl Sne WOuIu not Slunu IL
his way. We had not crossed the
ocean before she showed not only great
dependence upon me to do things for
her. but began to rely upon me for
cOmpanionship and for sympathy. Her
son had provided her with reading mat
ter. and she desired me to read TO
her. but | saw at once that the books
he had selected were far above his
mothers requirements. found light.
er works in the ships library, which |
read to my charge and by doing SO not
only kept her from harassing me. but
| was enabled to pass such time as !
devoted to this work pleasantly,
During the latter days of the ocean
voyage | got Mrs. Switzerland on deck
occasionally. and she was benefited by
the pure air of an ocean whose cur
rents were unobStructed. but when we
entered the smoke and perpetual rains
of London she fell back to her previ.
GUS condition
One duty fell to me that found very
difficult, Mrs. Switzerland directed me
to write every few days Of her condi-
ton to her son. or course she read
the letters | wrote I tried telling the
young man that his mother was doing
we'll and improving steadily This let,
ter she forced me to write over. telling
him that she was no better and would
never be any better. | obeyed the or,
| der, but since ! was commissioned
with the posting Of the letter opened
| 1t and put postscript stating that the
health report was his mothers and
not mine In my next letter stated
that the patient was feeling poorly
was directed to write It "tolerably well
for broken down old woman"
Since | wrote In the mothers name
the son replied directly to her, but his
letters invariably contained thanks to
me for acting as her amanuensis. He
seemed constantly solicitous about his
mother. and it was evident that he
was very good and afferti0nate son
We reached Switzerland as the hot
weather elsewhere was coming on, and
took my charge to small hotel on
Lake Geneva | had hoped the Swiss
mountain air would do her good. and
do not doubt 1t would have done so
had 1t not been that her vitality was
gradually failing.
During our stay in Switzerland was
told by physicians whom ! had called
In that she would last but few weeks
wrote privately to Roy Switzerland
of this report
Roy started at once to join US, but
arrived too late to see his mother
alive. During the last week Of her life
she became aware that she had but q
short time to live and called In no
tary to draw will. was surprised
at this. for she had told me that she
had made a will before she left be.
queathing her fortune to Roy, but had
determined that If he married against
her wishes during her lifetime she
would change it. However, it was nat
ural that she should make q will with
death facing her to provide for imme,
date requirements. Indeed. she told
me that she had stipulated in the in
strument that | should be paid my sal
airy for year from the date Of my en-
tering her service
A few days after Mrs. Southerland's
death We started on our return to
America gave Roy his mothers
will. but he was too much affected by
her loss to open it. thruSting it into his
pocket
When | reached America went
directly to my home Not long after
my arrival Roy Switzerland called
upon me, and from the moment en-
tered the room where he was ! knew
something momentous had happened
He spoke to me in a reserved tone.
Are you aware of the contents of
my mothers will so far as 1t concerns
yOuf"
"0nly what she told me-"
What did she tell you?"
That WAS to receive years sal
airy"
DO you know any thing else that is
In it?"
Nothing whatever supposed that
she would call upon me for one Of the
witnesses. but she did not
While he was asking me these ques
tons be was scrutiniZing me. Ii was
evident he was searching for some
truth He asked me one more ques
ton
did mother ever talk to you about
how she had left her property
she told me she had left will at
home bequeathing you everything, but
added that in case you married with
out her consent she would change 1t
When | said this an expression came
over his face which seemed to indicate
that he had elected what be had been
searching for He did not speak again
for a few moments. then In changed
voice said
"All my mothers property after
few small Iegacies is beQueathed ~
upTr