The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-28
JUST A GIRL
MIR. STEWARDS WILL.
BIZ JANE PHELPS

Dad gradually rallied a little, but
only just a little. There were two
wonderful days when he knew mother
and me. We sat with him all day
long, and at night 1 slept on the
couch, while mother reclined in a
large chair by his side. The doctor
gave US no hope, but We chung desper-
ately to the belief that he was going
| to get well.
+ Then just at dusk he spoke our
Mary, my wifelzena, love-" Then
he was gone.
How we lived thru those terrible
| days after he left as L do not know.
We chung to each other; my self-suffi-
cient mother seeming to lean on me.
1t was as if with fathers passing. all
strength had left her
When We returned to the house
after laying him away. the old law
yer insisted that the will be read. 1
thought him cruel at the time, that
mother should not be obliged to go
thru anything more. I never thought
| of myself in connection with a will.
Mother would of course have every
thing.
But as Mr.. Hardness prefaced the
reading with the remark:
81 am afraid 1 have unwelcome
news" I was glad of the apathy
which held mother and which made
her incapable of approaching that
more trouble might be coming to her.
I tried to listen, but the thought of
dad-that I never was to climb on his
knee-made it hard for me to under
stand But after he had finished the
! reading, Mr. Hardness said;
when Mr.. Stewart made this will
be believed he had money, and securi-
ties enough to enable his family to
live as they had always lived. Not
=, Id
in some stock. 1t proved worthless.
He paid up, every cent. But it has
left you and your daughter, Mrs. Stew
art, penniless. l hope we may save
your home. but / am doubtful. l want
to say this-that what William Stew
art did, he did for you. 1t was the
knowledge that he had failed, that
brought on the stroke
1 led mother from the room and
put her to bed. There she remained
for several days. 1 was afraid she
might also leave me, so intense was
her grief, SO pathetic did she become.
I had not realized at all what the
loss of the money would mean to us.
yet after a day or two there filtered
thru my brain the thought that had
better talk with Mr.. Hardness; better
have him explain just what father
wanted done.
I called him up. He said he would
down to the office. 1 went down to
him. 1 was fearful that we might
disturb mother.
please tell me just what father
wanted done about everything" I said
to him. Then patiently. answering all
my questions. he told me that father
had left absolutely nothing. 'If. we
sell the house" he said. "he will owe
no one. I said at the reading of the
will that he owed nothing. We have
=, Sc haI1
still due on one or two deals. If we
sell the house you will owe nothing,
but you will have nothing"
Suddenly. as realized that we were
poor. that 1 must look after mother
and myself, felt old-old and tired.
I was so grieved to lose dad. so
your mother is i'll fitted for this
blow. You will have to show her that
you are brave girl. Anything l can
help you 1 will do. Come to me when
ever you want any advice / can give.
Sell the house, please, Father had
a horror of debt. No one must say he
owed them. That must be done. The
rest what we would do, how live, must
come later"
Il think you are right. The ex-
pense of keeping it up would be great.
But what shall you do? Have you
relatives you can Ngo to, if only for
time"
mo, mother and I are all alone.
But 1 will find some way to take care
of her. 1 have had a good education,
you know"
wondered idly why Mr. Hardness
looked at<Hae so pityingly when 1 said
1 had good education. But I asked
no questions. I felt as if I could en-
dure no more. So I hurried home to
mother my heart heavy with dread.
How could ] make her understand?
(Tomorrow-New arrangements)