The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-05-02
THE BULK OF
AN ESTATE
By HELEN APHERSON

Keep ucE III COLulOTt. anu IL Sue udu
any more no one except herself was
aware Of 1t, for she lived very plainly.
She had one son, whom she treated in
such manner as to best prepare him to
work out for himself an honorable ca.
reer. John Barlow was not coddlel;
he was forced to work for every bit Of
pocket money he spent. II 49,"
When John was eighteen years old
he was offered a position In a distant
city, and It was considered advisable
by bis mother and himself that he
should accept it. Mrs. Barlow had
lived 50 long In her home that she pre-
ferred not to leave it, and John went
alone to his new field Of labor. His
mother, being lonely after his depar-
ture, adopted the child OF friend who
died, Mary Chamberlln, twelve years
old.
When Mary became woman she
showed a rare judgment, and Mrs Bar
tow consulted with her constantly in
making up her mind in matters Of i'm
portance. The girl had the gift Of
common sense, which probably Is as
rare and rs valuable gift as can be
bestowed upon any one.
While John Rartow was passing the
period, from eighteen to twenty-six
away from his mother Mary Chamber
lin was passing from twelve to twenty
III close connection with that mother. !,
After Mary had lived with Mrs. Bar
tow some six or seven years the old
lady was puzzled to know just how
to leave at her death some $4,000 she
possessed. The income was about suf-
dcient to give Mary living; divided
it would not. John was doing well In
business and did not need it. But
John was Mrs. Bartow's own son, and
she did not like to deprive him Of her
property at her death, especially IL she
left 1t to one In whom he had no in
terest. She said nothing as to this
to either John or Mary, and it Is ques-
tionable if either thought about it.
Finally Mrs. Barlow fell i'll. John
went home quite often during her ILL.,
ness and was greatly relieved, when
obliged to depart, to leave her under
the care of Mary Chamberlin. Indeed,
he was conscious that IL he had been
able to remain with his mother he
could not have nursed her as Mary
did. Though he had regarded Mary as
Of practical value to his mother, he
had not before realized what there was
in her.
One day John received a message
that his mother was at the point OF
death. He hurried home, but did not
arrive in time to find her alive. Mrs.
Bartow's death seemed to affect Mary
more than 1t did John. The one had
been in constant communication with
her for years; the other had been sep
arated from her.
"This Is hard on you, Mary" said
John, mot only In depriving you OF one
to whom you are attached, but in your
living" =.
Mary looked at him as though she
had not thought Of this, but made no
reply.
But do not trouble yourself on that
score" John continued. II will see
that you get OIL"
When Mrs. Bartow's will was open-
ed 1t was found to read: II give and
bequeath my twenty mortgage bonds
Of the II. L. and P. railroad to Mary
Chamberlin, who has long been
daughter to me. The residue and far
more valuable part OF my fortune be-
queath to my beloved son, John Bar
tow. hoping that 1t may bring him as
much comfort as It has me. He will
find It in a bureau drawer In my bed.
ROOM"
John congratulated Mary on being
left with an income, at the same time
manifesting surprise that his mother
had left an estate 80 large that she
should also have been able to leave
him the more valuable part Of her
property. After congratulating Mary
he went to the bureau drawer to pos.
sess himself Of his inheritance. When
he came back Mary was waiting for
him, eager to know what he had found.
But john who did not show by his
expression that he had acquired a for.
tune. said nothing. Mary was not the
girl to ask him questions and refrain.
ed. John, however, took her hand and
pressed 1t, as much as to say: do not
fear that covet your inheritance. +
am we'll satisfied with what my moth.
or has DONE"
Tho house in which his mother had
lived belonged to John. He told Mary
she was free to remain in it without
rent IL she chose. She said tearfully
that she would be too lonely there and
would seek another home, but where
that home would be she did not know
Then John told her that it she would
marry him she would find home SO
far az he could make 1t one. She de-
INJURED on the ground that lie made
the offer out Of love for his mother
rather than for her. But John said
she need have no fear of that: he need
ed her more than she needed him. Be.
fore John was ready to leave she had
accepted his offer, and when bic went
she went with,him. 80"
Not long after they were married
Johns wife said to him:
John, you have never said anything
to me about the fortune your mother