Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-07-08
HER
RECOMPENSE.
By ALvAH J. GARTH.

NAHNNANEAB lAAt4l 10 WAAaL mrs W III
dell is, and say it who hadn't ought
to, perhaps, for she is my own rela-
tive"
Thus Mrs. Amy Jennison, and the
criticism passed down the line Of local
gossip and eventually reached the ears
Of the subject Of the remark. That
patient, misconstrued person looked
sad and depressed because of the un-
just accusation.
It was not the first time Eunice
WardeI had received secondhand OBJ
servations that had hurt her kindly
feelings,
Mrs. Wardell had known a sorrOwful
past. She had married John Wardell
when she was twenty-five years of age.
That was ten years since Before the
first year had passed by they were
separated. John Wardell had disap-
peRred from his home and become a
wanderer. His death was reported and
Mrs. Wardeu was very generally re-
garded as a widow.
Silently she had taken up the bur-
dens Of life. She had in her own right
tic hONAC W aANGA1 AANNA 1AlrN Sd tAA
some investments her father saad left (
her A strange calm and sense of
sacrifice had come over her, and she
had seemingly decided to employ her
time and means In charity and good
deeds. She became the almoner Of a
number Of poor families, but soon
found that her generous impulses were
imposed upon by her relatives. There
were four of these, ELL cousins, two Of
them women and all married. Amid
her loneliness she chung to them, loved
them sincerely and INDUCED them.
There was one element that stood out
prominently in all Mrs. Wardell
thought, and said, and did. She was
the consistent breathing soul of truth.
1t was her way to employ candOr and
directness In all her dealings with
others. It was this quality that had
estranged her from John WardeIl.
When she came in more direct con-
| tact with her relatives Eunice pursued
the same inflexible system. She always
thought more Of bestOwing practical
permanent good than tiding over a
temporary situation. When Robert
Jennison, the husband of her cousin
Amy, started in business 1t was Eunice
who provided the capital. He sue
ceeded, but all along the line Eunice,
with sincere regard for him, watched.
advised and made advantageous sug-
gestions, but as Jennison progressed
there came pride and independence,
and thereafter resented "the inter-
ference" of his relative, forgetting that
to her he owed his success.
There was the ambitious son of an
other cousin whom Eunice financed in
his college career, but he disdained her
recommendation that he become a
lawyer and ran away with an actress,
and wasted his life in following up
cheap road shows. The son of an
other cousin became involved in con-
tentiOn with his employer as to some
missing money, and 1t took nearly a
thousand dollars to compromise the
case.
At thirty-five Mrs. Wardell was a
weary, disappointed woman. A last
investment in a stock venture of one
of her precious relatives had sadly de-
pleted her resources. Not one effort
she had made in love and kindness had
brought the success and happiness she
had anticipated. One day she went to
her lawyer.
"Mr. Ward" she said, 81 wish to
divide the remnants of what 1 possess 4
among my relatives, except what will
support me in humble way"
"Are you sure you are acting wise
ly" ventured the attorney.
81 will have my way" answered
Eunice quietly, but with force
The sacrifice made her homeless.
Then Eunice sought an aged spinster
friend and arranged to spend the rest
of her life in her home. Within a
year this companion passed away. and
Eunice took up her quarters in a cheap
room at the village hotel.
One afternoon she took a long walk
and sat down to rest on a horse block
before one of the best residences In
town, recently vacated by its owner.
Eunice had heard that the property
was for sale and as she saw a man
come from the garden wondered If he
was a prospective purchaser. She
stared, started to her feet. the blood
left her face as the stranger advanced
and caughtr her as she seemed about
to sink to the ground.
''Eunicel" he spoke simply.
She swayed as he lowered her to the
horse block and put his arm about her
to support her. She was too weak to
resist him and why should she, for was
he not her own husband, mourned as
dead and marveIously reappearing at
the darkest moment of her lonely life?
Don't break down, Eunice," he
pleaded tenderly. "YOu sent me away
rightly. for / was a burden and fought
the truth. For Eve years lOated.
Then the true conception Of your
worthy. principles came to me. l faced
about straight in the path of right
doing. but would not return until / had