Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-06-27
The Legacy
r.
Ey 8. e. HACKLEY

v
letter twice over, then laid her glisten-
ing white head YEARLY back on her pill
low. After a half-hour's perplexed
thought she rang the bell.
Telephone Richard Benton to come
to me-" she babe the girl, "immedi-
ateIyl ]"
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-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 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.
"In October, if Francis can be ready
for met!
"And I will be ready then if putting
the best that's in me in the business
counts for anythingw Francis had
said. ooh, yes, Aunt Hester, I'll be
ready"
81 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 if something isn't done
they'll never willingly see each other
again, that's certain. | thought at first
I'd tell her what meant to do before
/ sent for you, then l 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
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 to you rewrite that will, so
that Ruth's share of my property will
come to her conditionally. 1 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.. ArIedge by
October Is 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
gentleness. "Aunt Testers" heart
had stopped work" forever.
81 killed Aunt Hester - Ruth sobbed.
Il wrote her Francis and l had broken
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-grievin' for old Hes
.er 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, 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
Hammel brothers, and every one of
'em we'll to do and not needin' it at
ALL"
Kuth's bloodless face crimsoned.
I'll 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 Forsyth gave her a glad
welcome.
"I've got Beatrice Cline-shes from
Louisiana, Ruth-the sweetest, pref
test thing you ever saw-staying with
me. and Kenneth Marion and Junius
Craft. from KnoXvile-you know them
and Mildred Lee, and Milan Omer,
from Maryland, and-and Francis Ar
ledgei" she added a little uneasily.
At dinner that evening Ruth. led out
TO the dining room by the handsome
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 eve
ming hours with Beatrice Cline. evil
IDENTIFY willing captive to the lovely
Louisianan's dangerous charm.
And each day. in the runs with the
hounds, his black horse kept close be-
side Beatrice's bay. The young Mary
lander rode with Ruth Loren.
"Aredge is up to his eyes in love
with Miss Louisiana, Junius," Ken
meth Marion remarked at the end of