The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-08-19
The
Inheritance
By EVELYN LEE

share Jour romantic views Irene was
the somewhat spritles, reply. IL
Uncle Bortelle planned purpDsely 10
put us through a prriDI ~ uncertainty
and suspense wasting ia, best year
Of our lives In Idle guesswOrk aud
waiting. he couldn't have done u more
effectively"
Il don't see as to wasting aud wait.
ing Ward" said Irene. "on the con
trnry. Mr.. Bortellc seems t0 have
blocked out most reasonable aud
practical program for you t~O. OF
course IL means work. and you two
have never done much II that hut
when the year Il over, II you ~
through the ordeal creditably. jus,
think how the experience will benefit
and uplift you. Of course you aud
Victor will start la NJ oncef'
Il suppose we will have to-" re-
sponded Ward. but In grudging tone.
We are not sponges. and haven't been
DESIGNATING the future with hopes that
Uncle Bortelle might die ana leave u
his fortune but | must Soy he I'D u
to believe that We could count ON
something substantial. no matter What
happened
Yes, think h. has spoiled you t~o
boys" said lr.ne severely. He has
certainly encouraged you 10 keep from
soiling your delicate white hands, and
stay around his home like tender
young children who might fall down
aud stub your toes u they did not
have n guiding hand. oh | can scold
when you deserve Il. and ! always tell
the truth. aud | advise you strictly To
follow out the injunctions of your dead
uncle. who was ~ good and kind 60
you"
Somewhat Ia the same way at that
sry hour Victor Read was reciting hi>
woes to Madgr Steele. The two young
men wer. like brothers Instead Of
cousins. aud the young ladies had been
close girl chums Tor years. Mr.. Bor-
tell- had approved the double match.
only for several months before his
! death he had seemed anxious To post
I,nne H. His lawyer alone was aware
Of the fact that some unWise Invest
fnentS had almost beggsred him.
Just after the funeral Lawyer Marsh
had called Ia the nephews for = cont
Dental consultation. Il have some I'm
portant but strange disclosures To
make 10 you. young men" he said.
/ You will notice Mr.. Bortelle's old safe
in the corner ~ my Office here. II l.
upon his written Instructions that
have removed II. Its combination l.
In sealed envelope Ia the bank safety
deposit vault box. directed to be deliv-
cred e. you one year 10 day after
his death. Until then the safe cannot
he opened"
But why did uncle ~ to all this
circumlocutionf" spoke Ward.
"Yes. and what IN In the safe. to be-
guarded 81 mysteriouslyf" questioned
Victor.
I'll. told me that I was TO reveal
these facts To you. He directed that
both II you arrange 10 remove tn Lup-
ton. where. us you know. he owns the
local furniture store and also a garage.
You. Ward. are 20 take charge of the
former as manager. and Victor. In n
like capacity, the garage. He hopes
you will work hard 10 make them pay I;
yau are To- have each drawing accounts
OF forty dollars per week and make
monthly reports Of the business to me.
AZ the end NJ year you are TO open
the safe"
but all the property uncle ownedf''
said Ward.
"Yes. and his bonds aud money!
added Victor.
Young men," replied Mr.. Marsh Sc
riously. Il would advise you not 90
bank on those former assets. To be-
plain. except for the old home and his
two stores Mr. Bortelie left little OF
value. lie was generous aud loving Ia
you while In life. Be dillgent and
show your respect for him now In fol.
lowing out his wishes"
We'll do II :" cried Ward. stirred by
memory Of the generous uncle.
Il was hard for Ward and Victor &c
20 forty miles away from old scenes
aud Irene aud Msdge. aud see them
only every alternate Sunday on ny'
ing home visit. IL was harder still a.
set mind. energies and muscle at tbs
unfinished task of real work and bust
ness responsibilities. but by the end oi
month results showed. Ward was 4
naturalhorn salesman and had never
guessed Il until now. Victor. pleasant
aud popular. drew business 10 ths
garage. MIR. Marsh commended then
cheeringly for the systematic manner
In which they managed their respec
tive enterprises.
An inkling OF the fact that their loS
ers were not 10 Inherit untold richie,
gave Irene aud Madge an economical
and industrious impulse. aud they sci
at work To plan for the future ON 4
sensible scale.
And one year To the day after ths
death Of Mr.. Bortelle the safe In ths
lawyers ONCE was opened. II was
empty. except Tor a single sheet OF
paper. which read:
IF Ward and Victor are the kind OF
I -. n shls.L 0NaU NhaU will haUs