The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1919-07-25

letter twice over, then laid her %glisten-
ing white head YEARLY back on her pill
low. After q half-hOur's perpleXed
thought she rang the bell,
Telephone Richard Benton to come
to me-" she babe the girl, 'immedi-
atelyw
In fewer than thirty minutes the
brisk little lawyer appeared. Mrs.
Wallace spread the letter before him.
Aunt Hester Dear" 1t read, II win
not be married to Francis Arledge in
october, or at all, ever. He-I broke
the engagement finally a month ago.
l trust you will not be displeased.
Your affectionate niece,
ruth LOREN"
The childless old lady had been hap
by when the favOrites Of her rugged
old heart had come blithely to her,
four months before, to tell her OF their
engagement.
The girl had chung to her with shin
ing eyes when she had asked her when
the marriage was to be.
I'm October, II Francis can be ready
for me1r
"And ! will be ready then If putting
the best that's In me in the business
counts for anything" Francis had
said. "Oh. yes, Aunt Hester, I'll be
ready"
81 had set my heart on Mary Nc
Alllster'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 1rst
I'd tell her what l meant to do before
! sent for you, then / remembered Doc
tor Balrd'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
hfth Of my property to be divided
among my nephews, Mortimer, Har-
vey, Burrus and Orwell Hammel, and
fOur-afths to 90 to my niece, Ruth
Loren.
Il wish to you rewrite that will, so
that Ruth's share Of my property will
come to her condltionally. / desire
her marriage to Francis Arledge Of
Langdon. Va, to take place not later
than six months from this date. II
she has not married Mr.. Arledge by
october 10 then l wish my four
nephews to be the sole heirs to my
entire estate"
When the lawyer had revised the
will. two OF the servants witnessing It,
the old lady babe them a smiling good
night.
When her maid went to awaken her
next morning the stern lines Of the old
face were softened into a wonderful
g~entleness. "Aunt Hester's" heart
had stopped work" forever.
II killed Aunt Hester" Ruth sobbed.
II wrote her Francis and l had broken
our engagement. and the worry killed
her. | know II did, Oh, a%untle,
auntiew
Pallid in her mourning garments,
with the going OF summer Ruth
dropped liked a stOrm-beaten lily,
"She may be a-grievin' for old Hes
ter some" was her cousins inward
comment, but it's not all grief for
that cranky old woman that's maxim
her lose all interest in life
"YOu ought to make up with that
Francis Arledge, Ruthle, like your
aunt wanted you to, and get that
money" she said to the girl for the
hundredth time one day in the early
autumn. You've got enough TO live
on your father left you, but you'd just
as wen have more. To think Of all
that money going TO those four
Hammel brothers, and every one OF
EN- well 10 do and not needin' it at
allw
Ruth's bloodless face crimsoned.
IL couldn't make up with Francis
Arledge just for the sake OF money o.
she faltered, and he-he'd die first p
In spite OF Ruth's demurs the next
week found her In the little town
among the hills where for two weeks
the fox hunters of the state were ia
hold high carnival.
Evelyn Forsyth gave her a glad
welcome.
I've got Beatrice Cline-she's from
Louisiana, Ruth-the sweetest, pref
tiest thing you ever saw-staylng witt
me, and Kenneth Marion and Juniu,
Craft, from KnoxvlIle-you know then
land Mildred Lee, and Milan Omer
from Maryland, and-and Francis Ar
ledger she added a little uneaslly.
At dinner That evening Ruth, led on
TO the dining room by the handsom,
Marylander, Milan Omer. held heI
brown head high and her soft laugh
rang out.
0mer. fascinated, never took hi,
black eyes from her animated face
And Francis Arledge sat out the eve
uing hours with Beatrice Cline, evl
IDENTIFY a willing captive to the lowell
Loulslanan's %languorous charm.
And each day, in The runs with tn,
hounds, his black horse kept close be
side Beatrice's bay. The young Mary
lander rode with Ruth Loren,
"Arledge Is up to his eyes In low,
yifh Miss IoulSiann .Juniusn Ron