The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-12-12
HER AUNT'S WILL
BY JACK LAYTON.


chair and regarded her niece wrath
fully. N pi
If you persist In your intention to
marry this nobody" she said, 81 will
cut you out of my win and leave the
money to charity. Was 1t to marry
poor clerk that gave you education
and accomplishments OF the bestF"
Harry is not a nobody" Rhoda In
dlgnantly retorted, 'he is a good man,
and true. And he will not always be
a clerk. His chosen business is one
which promises steady advancement.
But IL 1t didn't" the girl added vehe-
nently, I'D marry him just the same"
mo doubt" muttered Aunt Trimble
scornfully, this Harry has not used
his dark romantic eyes in vain. But
If he were the man you think him TO
be, he would never accept the sacrifice
you are making"
Sacrifice /" cried the girl, the blue
eyes cleaning. "Do you compare love
for him with an old house no mater
how grand and imposing? Why, Ia
be happier in two rooms, with my Har-
ry, than mistress Of all this estate"
'You shall have your wish then, un-
grateful girl" the Aunt said bitterly;
impulsiyely she tapped bell at her
side.
Get Mr.. Timmons, my lawyer on
the phone" she commanded the maid
who answered. ''Tell him my business
is Immediately important. ! wish to
change my Will"
A mans figure came quickly through
the hall.
II could not help hearing" said
grave voice, "what has just been said.
Your voices carried, as / came up"
The young man turned white face
upon the girl his eyes were tragic.
"And Rhoda," he went on, "yourAunt
is right about my selfishness in allow
Ing you to make this sacrifice. +
can't take you this way dear; I'm but
a poor clerk after all, and ! have not
the courage to face those two rooms
of which you spoke, for your home.
After all the luxury of your bringing
up, in your heart, you would soon re-
proach me. But, neither can | give
you up dear Won't you wait Rhoda,
until see my way perhaps to better
things? / exact no promise; you shall
be free to choose, but"
The old lady leaned forward, rus
Ting in her silks.
'You hear your lover" she said
sharply. "Even he at last realizes the
barrier between. You can give him
your promise OF waiting, without being |
actually bound. Then, when Mr.. Tim
mons arrives, ] shall say that his pres
ence is not needed. My will shall re-
main as 1t Is, with you as sole legatee."
Will burning cheeks the girl stood |
regarding them both--the trembling
old aunt, the sorrowful lover.
"You may do as you wish with your
will, Aunt Trimble," she said quietly.
"And you, Harry, may renounce me If
you win. l have no wish to wait for
a more successful suitor-fOr that
suppose is what the waiting amounts
TO-" She left the room before either
could reply.
The man bowed to the old woman
in her chair and went sadly down the
hall and out into the street. When
he endeavored upon the following
morning to see his sweetheart, and to
make a further plea for her own inter-
ests, he was met by the discouraging
announcement that Rhoda had secret
ly departed from her aunt's dwelling
the night before, leaving only brief
message to the effect that she had gone
away to "earn her living"
The aunt looked white and worn
when Harry Amsden sought her out.
"Rhoda has left us completely in
the dark as to her whereabouts, "gshe
said YEARLY, "but, she will come
back"
Rhoda did not come back. Harry's
own search for her was unavailing.
The girl had apparently been lost
among the many brave workers of /
whose lives she had heretofore known
nothing.
Hopelessly, from time to time, the
lover sought the stern old woman. An
occasional communication came from
Rhoda at various places, She was ev-
identity using chance friends to mall
her letters from different points. The
messages told them merely that she
was well and self-supporting. The
last brought slight clue, which Harry
followed Immediately to success.
Rhoda greeted him wan and joyous
eyed, from behind the head Of Gus
toner upon whom she had been try
ing various hats. But Harry did not
leave his love, thereafter, until he
brought her home with him as his wife.
He had telegraphed Aunt Trimbla
as soon as Rhoda had been found.
Later he sent word OF their mar
riage; but when the two ascended in
some trepidation the steps of the
stately old mansion, Mr.. Timmons, the
the lawyer, met them at the door.
"Your Aunt Trlmble went happily
to sleep last night" he told them. ut
is a sleep from which she win never
awaken" And then Rhoda and her