Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-08
THE EVENING STORY.
AUTOGRAPH QUILT.
Copyright. 1915. by W. werner)

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We'll. I'm sure I don't know what
to do about it. To tell the gospel truth
I'm sick of the whole business" Jane
West laid her dark head against the
back of the chair and sighed YEARLY.
But, my dear child. do You think it
is loyal to Howell to talk that way.
After he has saved and stinted himself
to put every dollar he could get into
that property. don't you think you owe
1t to your husband to give him your
cooperation and encouragement?
HowelIs mother looked at her
daushter-in- Law, knitting her brows so
that they formed straight line above
up the problem of trying TO under
stand Jane, despite the fact that the
girl was still the theme of much
thousht and motherly consideration.
NO. | don't Jane burst. in From
the very first day of our marriage
Howell has talked of nothing else but
our Texas deal I've gone without
clothes. too-yes. and even household
money to pay the lawyers. When we
get the Texas deal fixed up Wen go
to New York, or we'll have an auto
mats all I've heard for FIVE years.
m going to have my say. What has
1T all come to any way? l don't under
stand law and l. won't pretend to. but
1t does seem foolish to spend two years
Chamberlain lived in 1889 when she
bought that land. What difference does
1t make where she lived? That's the
shadow on the title, they say; but it's
won't stand it any longer. Land or
no land. I'm through with it. / don't
care If it is floating in oil. I've gone
without things long enough" Jane
buried her head in the lap of the older
woman and wept bitterly.
One OF life's strange condolences had
played a prank with this young couple.
Aunt Sophia Chamberlain had died.
tract of land in Texas. The land had
been unstable. and for several years
his mother had poured her scanty saw
lnSs into the taxes assessed against
able to earn for himself, every dollar
he could spare had found the same out
let. About five years previous to the
outburst Of Howelrs rebellious young
vicinity and large corporation had
offered Howell a tidy fortune for the
property. but when it came to making
out the deeds another claimant for the
property appeared.
Several large tracts of land in the
same Texas county had been owned by
an old woman who had lived in the
town Of Alto, and. strange to say, her
ndHle was tNe same as tldL OIL Howell 1
aunt, Ann Sophia Chamberlain. She had
died intestate. During her life little
was known of her. but at her death
several heirs laid claim to her property,
possession of the state. these heirs had
endeavored to prove that this particu
lar piece Of property belonged to their
Ann Sophia Chamberlain.
Lawyers Howell had engaged had
perfected every detail of his title, with !
the one exception of accounting for
the residence of Howelrs aunt during
the year 1889. when she had purchased
insignificant, would undoubtedly prove
that his aunt and not the other woman
of the same name was the rightful
owner or the land.
AS Jane gradually quieted down Mrs.
West wavered between motherly SYM
pathy to comfort the girl and her judg-
mens to let her fight it out for herself.
Finally, as Jane arose, the elder woman
wisely left the room with a few words
of cheer
The twitting of the canary bird in its
cage caught the interest of the girl
for moment and then, walking to the
window, she looked out upon the front |
lawn. On each side of the brick walk
leading to the street was a thick bor- |
der of larkspur. The young wife smiled
tenderly through her tears, for Howell |
girlhood garden. They will look SO
pretty on each side of the brick walk"
he had said. And the ferns he had |
gathered in the woods that first spring |
now bordered the bed of pinks. |
I'm just a horrid old thing she told |
herself in sudden contrition. Il guess |
I'll make a floating island for supper |
Howell loves it SO. And I'll pick some |
sweet william for the table" She |
turned to go into the kitchen when a |
ring of the bell stayed her. 1t was the |
postman.
Letter for you, Mrs. West" he said.
And here's a package for you to sign |
for" He handed her q soft. light bun
die and a thin looking missive. In a