Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-05-30
Lucia $ Legacy
Ely VERNON LEE
Ely VERNON LEE

1t was the day after the funeral that
these legatees were so advised by his
lawyer in the living room OF the dilapi-
dated old house.
"All his realty, eh?' sneered Purvin.
There's lot of it, isn't therel" and
he sourly viewed the scrubby lot with
broken fence and dilapidated out
buildings. "And what, may ask.
comprises the opulent personal hold
ings of my illustrious relative|
Lucia was crying, but she looked up
and spoke brokenly: 'How can you
act so disrespectfully to Uncle Adam
He thought enough of both of US to
mention us in his will, and he helped
you get into business and he paid for
what education have received"
II had a right TO better expecta-
tons. The old spendthrift! There
is no doubt that he had quite for
tune FIVE years ago, for he Dragged
to me about it then. What's become
of thigh living?"
Hardly" half smiled the young
lawyer 81 happen to know that Mr..
Lysle lost very heavily in a specula-
ton. ! also chance to be aware of
the fact that he lived on the most
meager fare during the past year."
Lucia knew it likewise, only too
WELL Many a time she had come over
to the old home to bring life-sustain-
ing food and nurse the lonely old man
when he was ailing and Ill. Even
now she could recall his words:
''You are good girl, Lucia. You are
the only one of ali my friends and
relatives who cares for or thinks OF
me-"
well, you can sell this old rattle
trap for what it will bring" said Fur.
vim Grossly. "And Lucia gets the per
sonal property? Fortunate legatee!
The young heiressl What viii you
ever do with such rich possessions7
Bah =" and the disappointed Purvin
swung from room and house with a
new snort of irritability. Lucia looked
I'D to read in the face of the young
LAWYER the profound contempt he felt
"There isn't much to count on, Miss
Vale" he said respectfully, but such
rs IL is becomes subject to your or
der. The furniture is old, but it Will
bring something. There is the COW
and the horse and wagon and buggy
and the parrot"
Poor Ceasarr' murnured Lucia,
going over TO the cage of the only
house pet Mr.. Lysle, had ever cher
lshed. ST have tried 20 feed 1t but 1t
refuses to eat and sits all day silent
and respondent looking. 7 really be-
lieve it misses its master and is
mourning over his death. / will take
Caesar home with me. AS to the rest
of the personal property, if you will
kindly take charge of 1t and sell 1t
for what it will Rring, shall be CRATE
full to you"
II was with emotions of profound
esteem for the supplemented Lucia
that Granville Rowley went his way,
and TO her his thoughtfulness and CO.
operation were as CLEANS of sunshine
ir dreary routine of labor. Lucia
was an orphan and lived with an In
valid aunt. acting in the capacity OF
nurse and housekeeper. For this
service she was awarded food and
lodging. but had TO do some outside
sewing TO keep up her own modest
wardrobe.
Granville called upon her the fol-
lowing week to report as to the as
poSal of the personal property. The
sale had brought two hundred dollars,
he fold Lucia. She at once handed
him half of that sum and asked him
TO see that an appropriate headstone
was placed at the grave of her bene-
factor. A few days later Lucia
learned that Granville had purchased
the house and lot from Purvin for
merely nominal sum.
'sPurvin made such ridiculous
sacrifice of the property" Granville
explained to her next time they met,
shat was tempted to invest my all.
| IT isn't the worst house In the world.
A little repairing would improve it
wonderfully, and maybe-and maybe,
if | could find a wife who would be
content TO start life in modest way,
why. we would have our first horne
stead ready at hand"
Granville laughed as he said this
but regarded Lucia with half-quiz-
| zical. hGlf-earnest glance and she
blushed and fluttered. His visits be-
gan TO become regular and at the end
of three months he and Lucia became
engaged.
She met him near her home one
evening. fiustered and excited, and
/ told him that Caesar had escaped
from his cage and asked him to help
her find him. At the end OF an hour
they traced the truant to his old
home perched on a porch rafter and
| making up for lost time by shouting
out his whole vocabulary. wen hide
IT in the cellar!' Caesar kept repeat
ing over and over again, as if some
familiar saying of his dead master
had wildly required to him. Gran
I L.