The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-12-19
"why you told"
By BOOTH HARRINGTON

i 4hCh IL was OhStc NCOISC. hC
told me you had enough to fall back
on. That's just what he said: ito fall
back on He said you'd lost more
than you should in the headlight COM
pany, but he'd insisted that you should
hold, out enough, to live on, and you'd
very wisely followed his advice"
II know" she said weakly. ~ told
him so. He didn't know, or else he'd
forgotten how much Wilbur's insur-
ance amounted to, and I-Oh, 1t seemed
such sure way to make a real for
tune out of a little-and thought l
could do something for you, George,
IL you ever came to need it-and 1t all
looked so bright just thought I'd put
it all in. I did-every cent except my
last interest payment-and It's gone"
"Good Lordl" George began to
pace up and down the worn planks of
the bare floor. "Why on earth did
you wait till now to tell such thing
as this?'
81 couldn't till I had to-" she said
piteously. 1t wouldn't do any good
not any good on EARTH" She got out
her lace handkerchief and began to
cry. Nothing does any good, guess,
in this old world! Oh, how tired of
this old world I ami didn't know
what TO do. just tried to go ahead
and he as practical as could, and ar
range some way for us to live. Oh,
l knew you didn't want me, George
can see that much! You don't sup
pose 1 want to thrust myself on you,
do you? 1t isn't very pleasant to be
thruSting yourself on a person you
know doesn't want you-but knew
you oughtn't to be left all alone In
the world; 1t isn't good. knew your
mother'd want me to watch over you
and try to have something like home
for you-I knew she'd want me to do
what I tried to dol" Fanny's tears
were bitter now, and her voice. hoarse
and wet, was tragically sincere. "Oh !
and now-you don't want-yOu want
you want to leave me in the lurch
You"
"Oh, my Lordw He went to her
AMI lifted her. "For Gods sake get
up! Come, let's take the coffee into
the other room and see what's to be
DONE"
He got her to her feet; she leaned
upon him, already somewhat comfort
ed, and, with his arm about her, he
conducted her to the dining room and
seated her in one of the two kitchen
chairs which had been placed at the
rough table. "There!" he said, "get
over It'll" Fanny's spirits revived ap-
preciably: she looked up with a plain
tive eagerness. II had bought all my
fall clothes, George" she said; "and /
paid every bill owed. don't owe a
cent for clothes. George"
THAT'S good" he said wanly, and he
had a moment Of physical dizziness
that decided him to sit down quickly.
For an instant 1t seemed to him that
he was not Fanny's nephew, but mar
ried to her. He passed his pale hand
over his paler forehead. "Well, let's
see where we stand" he said feebly.
Lets see If we can afford this place
you've selected"
Fanny continued to brighten. 'Pm
sure it's the most practical plan we
could possibly have worked out,
George-and it is a comfort to be
among nice people. think We'll both
enjoy it, because the truth is we've
been keeping too much to ourselves
for long while. 1t isn't good for
people,"
81 was thinking about the money,
Aunt Fanny. The rent is thirty-six
dollars month; the dinner is twenty
two and half for each of US, and
we've got to have some provision for
other food. We won't need any
clothes for year, perhaps"
ooh, longer!" she exclaimed. $50
you see"
81 see that forty-five and thirty-six
make eighty-one," he said eat the
lowest, we need hundred dollars a
month-and I'm going to make thirty
two"
II thought of that, George" she said
confidently, "and I'm sure 1t will be all
right. You'll be earning a great deal
more than that very soon."
II don't see any prospect Of it-not
till I'm admitted to the bar, and that
will be two years at the earliest"
well, there's the six hundred dol
lars from the sale. Six hundred and
twelve dollars it was"
at isn't six hundred and twelve
now" said George. "It's about one
hundred and sixty"
Fanny showed a momentary diSmay.
"Why, how"
Il lent Uncle George two hundred: I
gave fifty apiece to old Sam and those
two other old darkies that worked for
| grandfather so long, and ten to each
OF the servants here"
sand you gave me thirty-six," she
said thoughtfully, "for the first
months rent. in advance"
'Did I? I'd forgotten. Wen, with
about a hundred and sixty in bank
and our expenses hundred a month.
it doesn't seem as If this new place"
"Stilf," she interrupted, 1--WE have
paid the first months rent In advance.
and it does seem to be the most prac-
| teal"
George rose. "See here, Aunt Fanny"
he said decisively. "You stay here and
look after the moving. Old Frank
doesn't expect me until afternoon,
this first day. but I'll SO and see him
now"
=. 1t was early, and old Frank,
just established at his big, fiat-topped
desk. was surprised when his prospec-
tive assistant and pupi, walked in. He