The Ordway new era., 1916-05-05

tne heroine OF q novel, men WOulu
have cried "Tush!" and flung down
the book declaring that no such
woman existed. 1t wasn't true to
human nature! But the woman who
has stepped suddenly into the worlds
limelight proves that there is a class
of women who hold honor more sacred
than wealth.
Recently man known as bachelor
died in the good city Of churches. He
left no will, but scribbled on piece
of paper was the memorandum that
when his end came he intended to
leave, out of his accumulated wealth
of 100000, $4,000 to his niece who
was his next of kin, and the balance to
charity. The niece heard of the wind
fall of wealth. She startled the whole
world by declaring positively not
penny of her uncle's money would she
accept.
She gave as her reason that it had
not been acquired in a way she ap-
proved Of; called it tainted money"
People focked from far and near to
see the woman, who, it is said. is
poor as church mouse and who delib-
erately cast fortune cut of her hands
because of her moral principles. Rep
resentatives of the press sought her
out.
In small house, in aflunpretentious
street, the niece-who was a little lady
no longer young-rented a smaller
room. She had made her home there
for years. living on an annuity of $500.
This little lone spinster cooked, ate
and slept. happy with the books she
had gathered about her, giving not a
rap for the outside world how 1t
logged along. She envied not its luxu-
ries; cared not for society. She had
no thought of love. She was bright
and happy in her own way. She did
not feel the want of companionship or
sympathy. She would spend 80 cents
a day for her meals and 50 for copy
of Goethe or Aristotle. When not
reading or tidying up her room, she
spent hours out of doors. enjoying sun
shine and long walks. She had con-
tempt for fashion. On days when
other women were wrapped to their
eyes In furs, she sailed forth for a
saunter, her tiny form enveloped in
big Mother Hubbard cloth cloak and
hood. Her small feet boasted of
neither shoes nor other protection save
sandals.
Why woman having so little should
spurn such windfali fairly staggered
folks. The wealth which she declared
tainted" had been accumulated by
the uncle in loaning money to the very
best advantage, standing not upon
ceremony in collecting It on the day it
fell due. Be this as 1t may. the niece
had strong scruples about such deal
ings with the poor and oppressed. For
this reason, she declared that money
unlucky; that a crust of bread bought
with honest money was preferable to
a feast purchased otherwise.
There are many viewpoints to this
strange affair There are those who
may sneer at her. A far greater num-
ber Of people will thank God that the
world still holds women who set for
themselves a high standard of morals
In the mad grasp for wealth, few con-
slider its source or how it was gained.
Hearts such as this woman's are rich
in purity. There are men who think
no matter how bad a life they have led
when It comes to settling down all
they will have to do is to shake money
bags at q woman. They never dream
of being refused her hand. The type
Of woman here described will be an
eye opener to thousands of men who
haven't realized the magnitude Of
woman's honor.