The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-13
EVENING STORY
The Legacy.


Old Hester Ann Wallace read the
letter twice over, then laid her glis-
tening white head YEARLY back on
her pillow After a half hours per-
picked thought, she rang her bell.
Telephone Richard Benton to
COME to me-" she babe the girl, i'm
mediately!
In fewer than thirty minutes the
brisk little lawyer appeared. Mrs
Wallace spread the letter before him.
Aunt Hester dear" it read, Il will
not be married to Francis Arledge In
october, or at all, ever. He-l broke
the engagmnt, finally, month ago.
1 trust you will not be displeased.
l Jul 4--@ RUTH LOREN"
The childless old lady had been
happy when the favorites of her rug
ged old heart had come blithely to
her, four months before, to tell her
of their engagement.
The girl had chung to her with
shining eyes when she had asked her
when the marriage was to be.
In october, if Francis can be ready
for met
And 1 will be ready then if putting
the best that's in me in the business
counts for anything!" Francis said.
"Oh, yes, Aunt Hester, I'll be ready"
Il had set my heart on Mary Nc
Allisters boy marrying my girl the
things have quarreled. They are both
stubborn, and if something isn't done.
they'll never willingly see each other
again, that's certain. L thought at
first I'd tell her what l meant to do
before I sent for you, then l remem-
bered> DIR. 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
fifth of my property to be divided
among my nephews, Mortimer, Har-
vey, Burrus and Orwell Hammel, and
four-fifths to go to my niece, Ruth
Loren. !
81 wish you to rewrite that will, so
that Ruth's share of my property will
come to her conditionally. l desire
her marriage to Francis Arledge, of
Langdon, Va, to take place not later
than six months from this date. If
she has not married Mr.. Arledge by
October 10, then 1 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 wonder
full gentleness. Aunt Testers" head
had stopped work" forever.
II killed Aunt Hester!" Ruth sobbed.
81 wrote her Francis and had broken
our engagement, and the worry killed
her. L know it did! Oh, auntie,
auntiei"
Pallid in her mourning garments,
with the going of summer Ruth droop-
ed like a storm-beaten lily.
"She may be a grievin' for old
Hester some" was her cousins inward
1or mt but oil crrin Of for
that cranky old woman that's maxim
her lose all interest in lifel"
You ought to make up with that
Francis Arledge, Ruthie, 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 well have more. To think of all
that money going to those four Ham
mel brothers, and every one of EN-
well to do and not needin' it at all!''
Ruth's bloodless face crimsoned.
II couldn't make up with Francis
Arledge just for the sake of money!"
she faltered, land he-he'd die first!"
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 to
hold high carnival.
Evelyn Forsythe gave her a glad
welcome
1--WE bot Beatrice Cline-she's from
Louisiana, Ruth-the sweetest, pref
test thing you ever saw-staying with
me. and Kenneth Marion and Junius
Craft, from KnoXville-you know
them-and Mildred Lee. and Milan
Omer, from Maryland and-and
Francis Arledge!" she added a little
uneasily.
At dinner that evening Ruth, led
out to the dining room by the hand
some Marylander, Milan Omer, held
her brown head high. and her soft
laugh rang out.
Omer, fascinated. never took his
black eyes from her animated face
And Francis Arledge sat out the even
ing hours with Beatrice Cline evil
IDENTIFY a willing captive to the lovely
Louisianian's langourous charm.
And each day. in the runs with the
side Beatrice's bay. The young Mary
lander rode with Ruth Loren.
"Arledge is up to his eyes in love
with Miss Louisiana, Junius," Kenneth
Marion remarked at the end of the
week. Craft laughed. Sure. he's not
giving me any show!"
And that Maryland fellow keeps
everybody else away from the little
Loren!' Marion went on regretfully.
1t was the end of the second week,
and the last run and a long one into
the more rugged country around the
little town. About ] O. o'clock Ruth
her cheeks crimson in the crisp air
found herself waiting alone at the foot
Of a low brush-topped cliff. while
Nolan Omer had ridden back the road
a quarter of a mile to search for an
important note book that had slipped
from his pocket.
Suddenly above her she heard a
running horses hoofs slip, and a big
black horse crashed over the cliff not
a dozen feet from her.
He made no effort to rise, but his
rider wrenched himself free of him,
then fell over by him.
Ruth sprang from her saddle and
ran to the fallen man. In an agony
she thrust her fingers under the folds
of his hunting shirt. He opened his
eyes and raised himself on his elbow.