South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-16
WHY AIADGE DECIDED THAT SHE
WOULD NOT USE JACKS
LEGACY FOR HERSELF.

he spoke Of Mrs. Stewards message
concerning my brother-cousin's prop
erty warned me that a new and most
perplexing problem had come TO me
with Jack Bicketts death.
The shock OF the news had COM
I pletely put out OF my mind the fact
that I was the heiress TO Jacks
modest fortune
When my brother-cousin had sail
ed away TO France and the great
war ne had sent me a letter OF fare
well, telling me that if he should be
killed all that he possessed was to
| be mine.
And now the end cas- come. Some
where in that awf>h European hell
| Jack was lying stark, probably I'M
buried shfvered as the horror OF
the thought struck me-and the
princely gift he had left me was
only waiting for my hands to take
| il.
But l knew as well as II he had
spoken the words that Dicky was
utterly opposed to my receiving this
gift at the hands Of my brother
cousin. even though those hands
were stiff in death on a distant battle
field.
If my nerves had not been taut
/ like violin strings / should never
/ have made the mistake of speaking
TO DicBy concerning the money when
/ ! knew that he was still chatting
under the wild idea tina, Jack Beckett
meant more 20 me. dead. than he
my husband, had meant to me liv-
ing But throwing my common
! sense TO the winds, 1 shot a direct
question at him
| do you object TO my taking this
money. Dickey?" I asked. and my
voice was tense with emotion.
"Object?" the words came from
| Dicky's mouth explosively, then he
/ jumped to his feet and paced up and
/ down the room rapidly Tor a moment
\ or two, his jaw set, his eyes stern
When ne stopped by the bed he
had evidently recovered his hold on
\ himself. but his words came quickly.
/ jerkily. almost as if he were afraid
TO trust himself to speak.
/
/ cuss this tonight" he said. dropping
/ his hand on my hair. I'VE will speak
Of il again tomorrow. when you have
somewhat recovered. Now you must
try TO go 10 sleep. I shall have to
call a physician if YOU do not"
seized the opportunity 10 dis
miss him.
you are so thoughtful, Dicky
dear I murmured, and 1 felt n
very hypocrite as I spoke, Il be-
lieve ] can go TO sleep now if the
light is turned out. I am perfectly
all right now, so you run along 10
/ bed. There's a good boy. I'll see
you in the morning.
To my surprise and relief Dicky
made no opposition TO my proposal
He kissed me good night, tucked me
up warmly. opened the window, saw
that my hashlight was within easy
reach under my pillow. and turning
out the electric lamp, went quietly
out OF the room.
lay awake for hours debating the
problem which had come TO me. I
saw clearly that Dicky did not wish
me TO take this bequest of Jacks
Indeed, I knew that he expected me
to refuse it, and that he would be
bitterly disappointed if l did not do
/ so
! My heart was hot with rebellion
\ Il seemed like PROCLAMATION OF
Jacks last wish. like hurting a gift
into the face of the dead, to do as
\ Dicky wished.
II My thoughts went back to my
early childhood, when my brother
cousin. Jack, was my constant play
mate. then travelled slowly in retro
spect down the years. every one OF
them punctuated with evidences o.
Jacks love and care for my mother
and me. Then reluctantly, and with
bitter remorse, I thought Of the way
in which l had requited that faithful,
tender affection.
When the Solution Came.
Because my love for Dicky had
swept me off my feet had married
him without waiting for Jack to
come home from the wilds of South
\ America. where he had gone after
\ my mothers death. To do me JUS
tice T had not dreamed that JACK
cared for me in any other fashion
than that OF a brother, whom I had
never had. and whose place he had
always taken. But my conscience
whispered TO me that I could not
have treated an own brother in tina.
way. and no brother of my own
flesh could ever have been kinder
TO me than was my cousin, Jack
Beckett.
could still see Jacks stricken
face as I saw il on the day after he
came back and learned that I had
married while ne was away. Be
fore I had had a chance 10 tell him
he had poured out to me the story OF
his long depressed love for me. and
his wish 20 make me his wife. His
eyes. when ne found out the truth,
had haunted me for days afterward.
7 could see them again as covered
in my bed with the terrible knowl-
edge that Jack was dead and that
had sent him TO his death.
His last thought and care had been
for me The property that he had
left would insure me a modest com
fort. no matter what happened q