Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-03-19

had everything to live for He step
ped into fortune of half a million,
| or $4,000 q year; was in excellent
health a favorite With his friends, es-
| pecially attractive to girls, and the
management of his estate was likely
| to give him enough to do to put
an edge on his leisure moments This
the day he was twenty one years old.
But ON that same day he noticed a
swelling in his neck about the size of
a hazelnut. He had never had an ex-
crcscence of any kind on his body and
could not understand the sudden APP
pearance of this one. He stood before
Il mirror looking at it wonderingly.
He pinched it, and it hurt little,
| though not much. He thought he
would show it to doctor and get his
opinion upon it, but since he expected
to be busy with his guardian and the
lawyers nearly all day, passing the
papers in receiving his estate. he de-
ferred the matter till the morrow.
During his birthday he was so taken
up with affairs pertaining to his prop
erty that he forgot all about the swell
| ing in his neck till preparing for bed.
when he noticed it again. He was
bit troubled about it and resolved that
the first thing he would do in the morn
4 ing would be to show it to his phySi-
clan, Dr. Franklin. SO as soon as
the office hour of the physician came
round George was admitted to his con-
sulting room.
George did not leave DR.. Franklin's
office for nearly an hour. and when he
did he was in very different mental
condition from when he entered it.
The lump indicated an incurable dis
ease. The doctor tried in every way
to avoid telling him this. for the dou-
BILE reason that his patient would suf-
fer in mind as well as in body and his
knowing that he had not long to live
would hasten the end. George. how
ever, gathered from him that he had
anywhere from few months to a few
years on earth. AS to how much he
would suffer the doctor did not tell
him. Possibly lie did not know him
self He convinced his patient that he
had better remain ignorant of what
the disease was.
George was philosophic fellow. and
when he had recovered, so far as re-
covery was possible from the shock.
he began to lay plans for spending the
brief uneXpired term of his life in a
4 way to alleviate the condition to the
best advantage Miss Alice Wood
bridge was his favorite among his girl
acquaintances, and he thought he
would like to have her companionship
for the brief season of life left to him.
He called upon her, stated the case
and asked her to be his wife, agreeing
to settle half his fortune upon her, the
other half to be spent in such COM
forts or pleasures or journeys as would
help him to forget his coming demise.
Miss Woodbridge asked for a few
days to consider the proposition, but,
being Il girl with an eye to improving
her condition. when she gave her an
swer insisted that the whole amount
of his estate be settled on her except
the income during his life. which she
considered ample for his purpose
Whether or no she was right he did
not stop to consider. but broke off the
negotiations.
. George tried several other girls. One
who had no especial affection for him
, refused him on the ground that she
| did not care to tie herself up for q
) money consideration to /; man who
would he in dying condition during
: their married life. Others baked a,
this OF at that till at last George had
, well nigh gone the rounds of the girls
he would care to marry. One he haC
; not tried. She was Lucy Ellis, al
"miable, happy go-lucky girl, from
whose shoulders trouble rolled off cas-
lily and whose financial necessities Were
such that she was quite familiar witt
the pawnshop.
, TO Miss Ellis George concluded t.
make a proposal. but, being somewhat
discouraged in his quest for a compan
ion i'm his trouble. offered her muct
better terms than any he had yet pro
posed. After modestly telling her tina
he thought his income would suffice
as well as larger amount for the pur
i
coming he promised to settle his whole
estate upon her if she would MARI.
him.
To his surprise. she threw her arm
about his neck and said. with tears IL
her eyes: We'll spend it all. Ant
what will II lot OF nancy be compared
with the remembrance that we shall
have at least short time together"
| But" he protested. what will yol
live on when am gomez
"Why. won't be any worse off TO
money than am now. viii IL
She looked up at him from II pair %
ingenious. childlike eyes through he
tears, and then and there his hear
was won.
# Very WELL" he said. BE ii as 70,
: say"
Nevertheless it was not as she said
for George on the day of the wedding
unknown to her, placed 100000 il
L