Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-06-22

that really speaks of him. You know
they We're fond of each othat aud il it.,
hadn't been for grandfatherS obstl43e2
MOTHER"
II am sure he was veryNanlaarseful
for many years. hut lie possessed the
kittrel.c obstinacy to u degces:| ~
darkened all his later days"
II am sorry" said Anita, with teQc
filled eyes.
Now" said the lawyer hriskly. sup.
pose you walk around sud select some
things. Take your time. Anything that
is not already chosen is yours. So make
wise choice"
At distance he followed Anita
around the house, watching her anx-
iously, as il fearful that she might
make an unwise choice.
Once Anita paused before her grand
fathers desk. 1t was Il huge affair OF
mahogany and stood in the library.
But another heir had chosen it. feeling
certain that Its secret drawers ard hid.
ing places must give up some untold
wealth or ut least another will.
How disappointed he must have been
when all he discovered was package
of cancelled bank checks and some
worthless mining stocks!
In the dining room Anita fingered
longest.
Over the mantelpiece hung two por-
traits. One was that of her grand
father, aud the other her grandmother.
They We're finely executed in oils, and
she had often heard her mother speak
of them aud wish that she might even
have IL copy Of her parents pictures.
Pauline Clark. passing through the
room. saw Anita regarding the po--
traits.
My dear child. you arc never going
to he so sentimental as to choose
those portraits?" she asked, in horror.
| Anita nodded.
II shall choose one for mother, and
the other for myself" she said gravely.
Little goose" laughed Mrs. Clark as
she went. out to give orders to her
chauffeur to make room in the limou-
sine for the khorassan rug.
Anita turned her head and saw the
lawyer standing beside her.
He was looking keenly at her.
Have you made choice. Miss
Anta:" he asked.
"Yes." said Anita. IL have chosen
the portraits-one for mother and the
other for myself. They are my grand
parents, you know" she added.
81 know. Miss Anita. Your grand
father was quite right" said the law
yer. "Shall send the pictures down
to you?
"If you please. Mr. Drayton."
He glanced at his watch.
1.-The others have all gone home with
their belongings. My motorcar is out
side. Suppose / take you and the
portraits home n0w.''
"Thank you, that will be SO nice. "
agreed Anita, and she helped the law.
yer remove the portraits. busting them
carefully before placing them In the
tOnneau of the car.
When they reached the little cottage.
where Anita lived MIR. Drayton carried
them In the living room where Mrs.
kitlredge could see them from her
easy chair.
AS the lawyer turned to go. he said
to the tired looking girl:
will you invite me to tea tomorrow
night Miss Anita?'
"Of course. We shall be SO glad to
see you. she cried.
The next evening Mr.. Drayton ap'
-sl.I. AZ
his clerk. grave faced. earnest youn.
man whom Anita had met several
times.
81 brought Tom along with me-
There is IL little matter of business to
he transacted" said the lawyer. as An
ita laid another plate for Tom Baldwin
After the pleasant little meal. which
was rendered very festive by MIR. Dray.
tons Offering of flowers and box Of
bonbons the lawyer turned to Anita.
Miss Anita. your grandfather WIS
so certain that you and your mother
would choose those portraits as yr,ll
share of the inheritance that he pre-
pared a surprise for you. Tom. yn,, ar.
tall; hand me the portraits"
Under the wondering eyes of AMT:
and her mother Mr.. Drayton remove,
a thin linen covering from the back y
the frames and disclosed layer afte
LAYER Of valuable stocks and bond
worth in all many hundred thousands
of dollars. half OF the colonel's larg,
fortune
This is the Inheritance Which goc:
to you two. the ones who scorned world
ly value and chose the pictures because
you loved the originals. In my safe u
!, the Office is a document which set
forth this entire transaction and make
: it quite legal. In the meantime. accei,
, my congratulations"
= And so Anita Kittredge and he
mother came into their rightful inner
itance and bought in the mansion OF
the hill and all its contents. AS 10
Tom Baldwin he rose rapidly TO fam
and III time married Anita and they al
= live together on the hill. where Lawye
= Drayton is a frequent visitor
When Mrs. Clark heard ct the hid
den fortune she gasped indignantly:
"Of course | would have chosen til
portraits III l had only known what VII
. hidden there And To add to her hi,
terness the khora:san rug proved tn Il
clever imitation and web nc.ilaps
hundred dollars.