The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-08

NCIu Hill. WY SCepIdlner IOlks
have no interest in me nor have
any claim on them; | wouldn't press
it even if I had. My own father had
a couple of brothers; one of them
went out to Kansas and was killed by
the Indians. There's one left still
/ ! think,-Uncle Josiah who was last
heard from in Chicago. Inl-pretty
-,much-alone; that IS, excepting for
| you and Jack"
could help you?"
mo, Herbert" she said with sud-
! den grimness in her voice. "This
happens to be one of those times in
life when we just have to shut our
/ teeth and stiffen our will-power and
face our problems and solve them for
ourselves. | don't ask pity. | don't
ask charity. All want is friend
| ship-and a fair chance to work and
| live and be happy with those | love.
The shock Of losing mother was aw-
full; naturally l feel badly and will
! continue to feel badly for long
time But perhaps I've been sent all
the hard experiences Of my girl
hood to make me strong for the battle
royal I've got alongside Jack now;
perhaps there'll come day when I'll
understand why my way wasn't made
easy up to now and be thankful be-
cause the experiences I've had made
me strong and self-reliant and poised
and equipped to fight that battle a.
longside the man I marry-to make
me the proper wife for him. I'm
not feeling sorry bit for myself;
it's Jack and mother-and you-that
I'm feeling sorry for. AS for my
sclf-Ill manage somehow!
''Mary, if ever the time comes
when you need me-same as you
might need brother"
"Thank you-deeply, sincerely,
from the bottom of my heart, Her
bert
81 just come out here to give you
a letter that dad wanted l should
see you got. That's the business I
meant about your estate"
ga letter."
She took the long envelope in hand
that trembled nervously, She care
fully undid the flap and read the en-
closure. One hand held the letter be-
fore herr The other fumbled in her
waist. It found her small lace hand
kerchief. The handkerchief was sud-
denly pressed tightly against her lips.
Then the letter was lowered, the face
with the handkerchief held tightly
against it, averted. AS she got to
her feet, Short Cramps message aut-
tered out onto the lawn
whats the trouble, Mary:
In a voice which was an effort to
keep from breaking and betraying
her brave words of a moment before,
she said:
"Your father has just sent word
that I mustn't touch nor carry away
anything from here but my mothers
| and my own personal property. He
says the law doesn't recognize
anybody but 'Artie IS the heir-step-
children don't count"
@It's hard, Mary. I've known it
from the first. But don't blame the
| governor. He didn't make the law.
i 81 thought thought-maybe 1
was going to have the place and
| It's got to be auctioned," the boy
stated miserably.
| independence Day arrived. Five
weeks slipped away and came August
sixteenth, the annual observance of
the Battle of Bennington and a Yer
mont holiday. The leaves and bow
cred country lost the virility of sum-
mer freshness. They were dusty and
, faded and gradually streaked with
yellow and brown. Time was going
relentless along into another autumn
The village housewives began cover
/ ing their rosebushes and fiowerbeds
with sheeting and papers at night to
preserve their beauty for few weeks
Ioneer which was futile effort al
its best.
Canny old Truman and the Other
two dummy executors decided to wal
until after the crops were in, before
holding the Wheeler auction. The
farmers would then have time ant
money to make the sale a fnancia
success.