The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-11-18

garded as 4 widow.
Silently she had taken up the bur
dens Of life. She had in her own RICH,
the home Wardell had deserted ant
some investments her father had LEFT
her. A strange calm and sense OF
sacrifice had come over her, and she
had seemingly decided to employ he1
time and means in charity and good
deeds. She became the almoner of
number of poor families, but soor
found that her generous impulses were
imposed upon by her relatives. There
were four Of these, all 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 Mr.. Wardel1
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 Wardell.
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 it 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. s,
There was the ambitious son of an
other cousin whom Eunice financed in
his college career, but he disdained her
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 it took nearly a
uolloIS " OluIoC liz
case =
At thirty-ive 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 esources. 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, II wish to
divide the remnants of what l possess
among my relatives, except what will
support me in a humble way"
"Are you sure you are acting wise
ly?" ventured the attorney. a
II 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 inc cheap
at the village hotel.
One afternoon she took a long walk
and sat down to rest on a horse block
before M of the best residences in
town, recently vacated by it's 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. 81.
"Eunice !" 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 marvelously 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 five years I foated.
Then the true conception Of your
worthy principles came to me. / faced
about straight IN the path Of right
doing, but would not return until I had
proved my ability to provide for you
as | ought. Oh! poor, dear soul. How
others have wrecked your life | have
been learning Of your latest sacrifice to.
your u~ngrateful relatives. You have
made yourself poor, homeless. for
others. Well, ! have bought this house,
and It Is yours, and ample to sustain
it,
"Mine2' uttered Eunice blankly.
.Yes-rnless ! may share Il With
You fl'
Her head sank to his shoulder, and
she clasped his hand. John WasdeHl
knew that they had arrived at the
threshold of anew meaning ii lie.