The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-07-24
The Legacy
T.
BY 8. 2. HAcKLEY

mail, q single letter, on n silver tray.
Old Hester Anne Wallace read the
letter twice over. then laid her glisten-
Ing white head wearily back on her pill.
low. After half-hour's perplexed
thought she rang the bell.
Telephone Richard Benton to come
to me-" she bade the girl. ''immedi-
ately"
In fewer than thirty minutes the
brisk little lawyer appeared. Mrs.
Wallace spread the letter before him.
"Aunt Hester Dear" 1t read, II will
not be married to Francis Arledge In
October. or at all, ever He-I broke
the engagement finally month ago.
trust you will not be displeased.
Your affectionate niece,
ruth LOREN"
The childless old lady had been hap
py when the favorites Of her rugged
old heart had como bllthely to her.
four months before, to tell her Of their
engagement.
The girl had clung to her with shin
ing eyes when she had asked her when
the marriage was to be.
"In October. II Francis can be ready
for me I"
"And will be ready then II putting
the best that's In me In the business
counts for anythingw Francis had
said. "Oh, yes. Aunt Hester. I'll be
ready"
II had set my heart on Mary Nc
Allister's boy marrying my girl" the
old lady told her lawyer. "but the silly
things have quarreled. They are both
stubborn. and II something isn't done
they'll never willingly see each other
again. that's certain. thought at first
I'd tell her what meant 20 do before
I sent for you. then remembered Doc
tor Baird's tale that this heart Of mine
is likely to quit work at any time.
"You remember how that will You
wrote for me reads, Of course. One
ffth Of my property to be divided
among my nephews, Mortimer. Har-
vey. Burrus and Otwell Halnmel. and
four-nfths to 60 to my niece. Ruth
Loren.
II wish to yoa rewrlte that will. so
that Ruth's share of my property will
come &, her conditionally. I desire
her marriage to Francis Arledge Of
Langdon, Va, to take place not later
than six montils from this date. II
she has not married Mr.. Arledge by
October 13 then I wish my four
nephews to be the sole heirs to my
entire estate"
waen the lawyer had revised the
will. two OF the servants witnessing It,
the old lady bade them a smiling good.
night.
When her maid went to awaken her
next morning the stern lines of the old
face were softened into wonderful
gentleness. "Aunt Hester's" heart
had stopped work" forever.
II killed Aunt Hester I" Ruth sobbed
Il wrote her Francis and had broken
our engagement, and the worry killed
her. know It did! Oh. auntie,
auntie!"
Pallid In her mourning garments
with the going Of summer Ruth
dropped liked a storm.beaten lily.
"She may be a-grieyin' for old Hes.
ter some." was her cousins inward
comment. ''but it's not all grief 10,
that cranky old woman that's maxim
her lose all interest In lifev"
"You ought to make up with that
Francis Arledge. Ruthie. like your
aunt wanted you to, and get thai
money" she saiI, to the girl for tht
hundredth time one day In the earl,
autumn. "Yon've got enough to liv'
on your father left you. but you'd JUS
as well have more. To think Of al
that money going to those foul
Hammel brothers. and every one o.
'em well to do and not needIn' It q
ALI"
Ruth's bloodlcss face crimsoned.
Ell couldn't make up with Francis
Arledge just for the sake Of money !
she faltered. "and he--he'd die first !
In spite Of Ruth's demr-s the mex
week found her In the little tow
among the hills where for two week
the fox hunters of the state were L
hold high carnival.
Evelyn Forsyth gave her gla'
welcome.
"I've got Beatrice Cline-shes iron
Louisiana. Ruth-the sweetest, pret
tiest thing you ever saw--staying witt
me. and Kenneth Marion and Juniu
Craft, from Knoxvllle--you know then
--pnd Mildred Lee. and Milan OmeI
from Maryland, and--and Francis Al
! ledger she added little uneasIly.
At dinner that evening Ruth, led on
to the dining room by the handsom
Marylander. Milan Omer, held he
brown head high and her soft laug
rang out.
Omer, fascinated. never took hi
black eyes from her animated face
And Francis Arledgc sat out the eve
ming hours with Beatrice Cline, evl
IDENTIFY a willing captive to the lovel
Louisianan's languorous charm.
And each day, in the runs with tn
L 4 4 IL 4 IL .