The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-03-18
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Better Part
o0
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB


''It's really true" Intercepted Wal
ter Morse Of Lawyer Barnett. with .
catch in his breath, as though half
stunned.
Absolutely"
Ny uncle. John Lee. has left me .
share of his fOrtuna?"
According to his viii twenty thou
sand dollars in securities and Ave
thousand dollars in cash"
''Then l am worth twenty-five thou
sand dollars"
1T looks that way. OF course the
real value Of the securities IL to be
determined. but the money 10 In bank
and We will honor checks up to the
full amount at your pleasure"
Walter Morse's eyes sparkled. An
humble court clerk for ave years. he
had plodded on with fair salary and
no chance Of advancement Now he
was dazzled. Then 4 superlatively sat
isaed look came into his eyes and hs
said:
"Tve wanted my fling since I was q
boy. I'll have 1t now. you may
wagerw
"No wasteful dissipation, I hopeT
intimated the attorney.
mo, sir. I'm not built that way,
but have always cherished one fond
dream. The Martin branch Of our
family in the city have always held
their hesds high above Us. Just want
to drop In on them and show them
that all their accidental wealth hasn't
placed them one notch above me. The
last time / visited them they practical
ly shelved me a. poor relation. I'll
spring some surprise on them the nsIt
call trust meT
So within q week Walter. trans
formed as to gnrb, dignity and the AZ
surance Of riches, appeared at the
Martin home, a gaudy butterfly, In
deed. He made no boasts, but his &C
tions and his appearance enforced At
tention, If not real esteem. He went
out with the Martin boys and flung his
ready cash around pOdigally. BE
made his aunt and her daughter pres
ents that almost bewildered them with
their .eXpensiveness. He took rooms
at the leading hotel, hired an automo-
bile for regular use and cut quite .
swath in the social circle into which
his relatives inducted him.
There was young fellow to whom
Walter was introdu, ed, who greatly
caught his fancy. Somehow Neal
Darrow was different to others. He
did not sponge on the spendthrft n
the Martin boys did he even censured
Walter for his reckless sxtravagance,
although his own family were report
ed well-to-do. Then, one day, he In
troduced Walter to his charming sis
ter. Elvie.
It was there that Walter opened his
eyes to a new kinl Of world. The
Darrows were sensible, real home peo-
pie. From the start Elvie attracted
Walter. She was 4 sympathetic, char
liable little body and was deeply inter
ested in missionary work among the
poor. One day Walter met her near
q tenement house.
"You have taught me something,
Miss Darrow," said Walter As he &C
companied her homeward.
Walter Morse removed to less sx-
pensive living quarters. He got Neal
Darrow to "show him about town." not
to the hashy places of amusement and
billiard halls, but among the slums.
Elvie greeted him with q shining face
after she had learned that he was COM
pletely absorbed in the condition Of
the poor and helpless.
"Neal says you are recklessly gen
erous with your benefactions. Mr..
Morse" she observed. "That Is neither
wise nor necessary, and you may be
imposed upon. There Is q sane and
circumspect way to encompass the
real needs of these unfortunates."
Teach 1t to me, will you?" uttered
the enthusiastic Walter eagerly, and
Elvie did, and, unconsciously, some
thing else-the way to love her. This
in time she appreciated, and blushed
when they met, and was not sorry for
1t. The pleasing friendship developed
into mutual devotion and then an en-
Ragement. At the height Of bliss Wal
ter extended his generosity more and
more.
"Hellow he soliloquized one morn
ing as he. looked over his bank book.
"Bless me! II I haven't got rid Of all
that five thousand dollars except q
few hundreds. Well, my fling has
turned out a little different to what l
anticipated, but I'm not sorry for 1t"
but Walter was for something that
transpired later in the day. He re-
ceived q letter from Lawyer Barnett
that created CONSERVATION. His mind
was detected, his face sorrowful ~ he
entered the presence Of his haHese
that evening. He at once made Elvie