The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-13
THE BULK OF
AN ESTATE
BY HELEN APHERsoN

keep her In comfort, ara IL she hac
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 coddled
he was forced to work for every bit OF
pocket money he spent.
When John was eighteen years old
he was offered position In distant
city, and 1t was considered advisable
by his mother and himself that he
should accept 1t. Mrs. Barlow had
lived so long In her home that she pre-
ferred not to leave 1t, and John went
alone to his new field of labor His
mother, being lonely after his depar-
ture, adopted the child Of a friend who
died, Mary Chamberlin, twelve years
old.
Wien Mary became a wcman she
showed 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 as valuable gift as can be
bestowed upon sny one.
While John Barlow was passing The
period from eighteen TO twcnty-six
away from his mother Mary Chamber
lin was passing from twelve to twenty
In close connection with that mother.
After Mary had lived with MrA Bar
few some SIX Or seven years the old
lady wss puzzled to know just how
to leave at her death some $4,000 she
possessed. The income Was about SUI
fic!ent to give Mary living; divided
1t would not John Vas doing well In
business and did rot need 1t. But
John Was Mrs. Bartow's own son, and
hhs Gid not like to deprive him Of her
properly st her death, especially Ii SIZE
ieft 1t TO one In whom he had NO In.
terest. She said nothing - to this
20 either John or Mary, and 1t is Ques-
tionable II either thought about it.
Finally Mrs. Barlow fell Ill. John
went home quite often during her H.
ness and was greatly relieved, when
obliged to depart, to leave her under
the care OF Mary Chamberlin. Indeed,
he was conscious that * 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
10 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
hat you get on"
When Mrs. Bartow's will was open
ed 1t was found to read: II give and |
oequeath my twenty mortgage bonds
81 the r. L. and p. railroad to Mary
1hamberlin. who has long been q
laughter to me. The residue and far |
more valuable part of my fortune / be-
lueath to my beloved son. John Bar
ow. hoping that it may bring him as
much comfort as it has me. He will
ind 1t in bureau drawer In my bed
'oom."
John congratulated Mary on being
eft with an income, at the same time
surprise that his mother
lad left an estate SO large that she
hould also have been able to leave
i'm the more valuable part of her
After congratulating Mary
lie went to the bureau drawer to pos
ess himself Of his inheritance. When
e came back Mary was waiting for
i'm, eager to know what he had found.
'ut John. who did not show by his
Expression that he had acquired q for
une, said nothing. Mary was not the
irl to ask him questions and refrain
d. John. however. took her hand and :
ressed It as much as to say: "Do not ,
ear that I covet your inheritance
m well satisfied with what my moth. !,
r has DONE"
The house in which bis mother had /
we'd belonged to John. Ho told Mary .
he was free to remain In it without e,
mt II she chose. She said tearfully :
nat she would be too lonely there and
'ould seek another home. but where
lat home would be she did not know.
Then John told her that II she would
larry him she would ind q home so
lr rs he could make Il one. She de-
,urred On the ground that he made
10 offer out q love for his mother
lther than for her But John safd
be need have no fear Of that; he need
her moro thar she needed him. Re
IRE John was ready to leave she had
,cepted his offer. and when he went n
ie went with him. n
Not long after they were married
.hn's wife said TO him: I
me about the fortune your mother Ii
II you IN her will she called IL by Y
II the more valuable part of her prop Il
~. have seen nothing Of II. Where y
hT~