Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-12-31
CHARITY
BY ANNA coNNERs.


@. 1924. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Helen knew what all Marysyilie was
saying. She smiled sadly and a bit
grimly as she thought of 1t. She Won
9ered what they would say If they
rould read her mind and her inten-
tioLS.
How in the world will Helen get
along without Andrew
That was the sum and substance OF
the general comment. She knew. Sha
Also knew what no one else had e
suspected-that Andrew Hanson had
been to her a b%eneficent tyrant.
Never In the long ten years of her
married life had she had her own
way, even though 1t was only the ques-
ton of a new hat or gown. She had
been too proud to confide in anyone,
SO her little world had always summed
the situation up as that OF a better
judgment taking the guidance.
Now Andrew was gone.
He had, to everybody's surprise, left
In a 12-line will all his property to
his wife and had made her executrix,
With more or less bitterness, Helen
had wondered at this tardy act of con-
fidence. She had never had a dollar
at a time In her welded life to call
her own, and now I'LL the money, all
the land, was hers to do with as she
pleased.
"In make them open their eyes," she
thought, ms she started for the village
dressmaker. 1.-THE will has given them
ten days gossip, and If | don't give
them ten times ten. then | miss my
guess, that's all ~
The village dressmaker was more
than an artist In her line.
mot q speck of mourning" Helen
began. For once in my life I'm going
to choose what | please and wear what
l like"
Then i%nnocently, and tas far as Hell
en- ever knew without guile, the dress
maker asked If Helen had 'heard thu
news lately?"
mot d word" was the reply; "Iyt
been in retirement, mourning for An
drew, YOU know"
"Then, / don't s'pose," replied thc
dressmaker, that you know that oil
Aunt Betsy Is going to the %poorhouse
Monday? They do say" she proceed
ed, that some one, no n seems t.
know just who, that used to make he
an allowance, has stopped 1t, and sh.
has no other friend.
"And you remember young Adam
Well, he's a cripple, of course, but jus
as bright as they make them, and he
been attending school In hopes of get
ting an education and helping hi
mother-she's q widow-maintain hi
big brood Of younger brothers and sis
tiers and they do say, though how the
know l can't say, that the same on
who helped old Aunt Betsy has bee
aiding him, and can't any more, so h
has to quit, and his mother is broken
hearted over 1t.
There's lots of more things that thi
unknown benefactor has been doinf
and they do say 1t means a lot of harr
to the village as we'll as to some PAL
ticular folks in 1t. But 1t can't b
helped, as I can see" she concluded
with a deprecating smile.
Helen walked home with an uneas
mind. She began to wonder who it wa
that had done so much mysterious goo
in the town and to the townspeoplt
Somehow her intended OUTLAWS SCENE
suddenly puerile and paltry. She wouI
go home and finish the job of settin
Andrews papers in order. Possibl
this occupation would make her ur
easiness subside and her dreams o
riotous living reappear In all thei
original glitter and glow. She hoped Sc
at any rate.
Late that evening the little dress
maker received a note that made he
eyes dance with delight. It was brief
but right to the point.
"Do not get the goods I ordered. J
after all, I will wear black 70,
q while"
"She found out" thought the littl,
smilingly. "She's found on
that Andrew, like most Of us had goo,
as well as bad ones, though
have to admit that he could be prett,
.aggravating sometimes. | was prett,
If Helen ever found out all thu
good he did, and In secret. too. neve-
once letting his left hand know what
other was handing out, she'd change
her mind and her opinion.
Il rather think" she concluded. shat
Betsy won't go to the ~poorhouse
get, and that Adam will have his
chance"
In which conclusion time showed she
was correct.