Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-11-24
''It seems SO dreadful to do that when
he is hardly through with Them" she
said


with all that? Besides, mother wanted
something very personal, something
that really speaks of him. You know
they We're fond Of each other, and If It
hadn't been for grandfather's obstinaey
believe he would have forgiven
mother"
81 am sure he was very remorseful
for many years, but he possessed tho
Kittredge obstinacy to a degree. It
darkened all his later days."
II am sorry" said Anita, with tear
filed eyes.
"Now," said the lawyer brislly, Sup.
pose you walk around and select some
things. Take your time. Anything that
is not already chosen is yours. So make
q wise choice"
At distance he followed Anita
around the house, watching her anx.
iously, as If fearful that she might
make an unwise choice.
Once Anita paused before her grand.
fathers desk. 1t was a huge affair OF
mahogany and stood in the library.
But another heir had chosen II, feeling
certain that its secret drawers and hid.
ing places must give up some untold
wealth or at least another will.
How disappointed no must have been
when all he discovered was a package
OF cancelled bank checks and some
worthless mining stocksl
In tho dining room Anita fingered
longest.
Over the mantelpiece hung two Dor.
traits. One was that of her grand.
father, and the other her grandmother.
They were finely executed in oils, ,and
she had often heard her mother speak
Of them and wish that she might&even
have copy Of her parents pictures.
Pauline Clark. passing through the
room, saw Anita regarding the por.
traits.
my dear child, you are never going
to be so sentimental as to choose
those portraits" she asked, in horror.
Anita nodded.
81 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.
"IIave you made n choice, Miss
Anitap he asked.
yes" said Anita. II have chosen
the portraits-one for mother, and the
other for myself. They are my grand
parents, you know" she added
II know, Miss Anita. Your grand
father was quite right" said the law
yer. "Shall send tho pictures down
to your
"If you please, Mr.. Drayton."
He glanced at his watch.
"The others have all gone homo with
their belongings. My motorcar is out
side. Suppose ! take you and the
portraits home now"
"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
t0nneau of the car.
When they reached the little cottage
where Anita lived Mr.. Drayton carried
the pictures into the house and hung
them I'm the living room where Mrs.
Klttredge 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 AnitaT
"Of course! We shall DO 80 glad to
see you" she cried.
The next evening Mr. Drayton ap.
peared, vIslbly excited With him was
his clerk, n grave faced, earnest young
man whom Antn had met several
times.
~ brought Tom along with me.
There Is n little matter OF business to
be transacted" said the lawyer, as An
tta laid another plate for Tom Baldwin.
After the pleasant little meal. which
was rendered very festive by Mr.. Dray-
tons offering Of flowers and box OF
bonbons. the lawyer turned to Anita.
Miss Anita. your grandfather was
so certain that you and your mother
would choose those portraits as your
share Of the inheritance that he pro-
pared n surprise for you. Tom. you are
tall; hand me the portraits"
Under the wondering eyes OF Anita
and her mother Mr.. Drnyton removed
n thin linen covering from the back Of
the frames and disclosed layer after
layer Of valuable stocks and bonds
worth in all many hundred thousands
Of dollars, half Of the coloners large
fortune
"Thls Is the inheritance which goes
to you two, the ones who scorned world.
~ value and chose the pictures because
yOu loved Che originals. In my safe at
the Office Is document which sets
forth this entire transaction and makes
Il quite legal In the meantime, accept
my congratulations
And so Anita Kittredge ana her
mother came into their rlghtful inner
ltancc and bought In the mansion on
the bill ana all It's contents. As for
Tom Baldwin. he rose rapidly 10 famo
and In time married Anltn. and they all
live together on the hill. where Lawyer
Drnyton II n frequent visitor.
When Mrs. Clark heard Of the hid.
den fortune she gasped Indignantly:
"Of course ! would have chosen the
portIalts If ! had only known what was
hidden there!" And TO add 10 her BIT
terness the Khorassan rug proved to DO
a clever imitation and worth perhaps n
hundred dollars