Gunnison news-champion., 1921-02-04
Dead Mems Shoes
By OtIlli. r. Pfeiffsr


tC1=yrlEhr. Es-.. WsHs.rr S--sz.g-r UzlssI
O.t Zeb Bsarce would have been
glad = lie had not laid down II the
.rass- His inclination sas To % In
iu.="ni and lhLnA the beet possible Oi
''eEy body. Two young men we're con
'ers-I= not Ten I-ri away. TEry ~ere
MAJ bry.lu aud Todd ElrE.
oh. yes. tie former Vas remlrElng
lust - E.-rgr ~u-e gp. father says
hat old Uncle l.. .goas Ike ready
Eulry.-
~Ie- they say he has q lot of cash
Il the hauk.- -a.d Todd Burr. Then
here's the old place. Father hopes
p" Get that I -uppUs- he and your Ia
her "iU grab the cash and divide
We srr the dearest relatives. my
,oP say, buI ar aye getting ml.A;y
Ir"ri waiting for dead mru'- -hus--
How about Setile DanyyrsgT pro-
pounded Todd
"Oh size doesn't count Uncle Zeb
1Rs Of course adopted her. but that
i"esu't make her legal kin. Besides
hat. she.s Engaged TO marry Lewis
ThOrpe."
A deep shade OF sadness CROSSED
I.b Bearre's wrink'ed facc a. he crrpt
from his covert. He Uus hurt 10 the
soul The young men undoubtedly re-
elected the sentiments of their elders
and the cruel expression. dead mems
shoes" cut B"arce to the quick. lie
vas dying too slowly TO suit his ava-i-
rlous half brothers. It SEEMED. FOR dy-
Ing he was. The doctor had told him
that his span Of lie was narrow
one.
You look troubled. father" said
Settie. as he entered the huus.
Il shan't be- long In your company.
dear" he replied. and his heart
warmed towards the young girl whom
he had adopted ten years ago. and
who's. love and loyalty had made his
barren life a garden OF peace and
beauty He lay awake half the night
planning what he would do In the u sht
OF the development that his nephews
had revealed. As to NettI.. free from
guile. she reflected how Lewis Thorpe
would provide little home OF their
own. not half mile from the old
homestead. where her beloved father
by adoption could come daily. and
whence she could send this and that
little tidbIt for his table.
The next morning Dearce went
down to the bank. Then he proceed
ed 10 his lawyers Office. but the at
toruey was out OF town. Il can walt
until tomorrow. suppose" he de,
cidcd. Il must attend TO the sla-Eer
OF the will then. though | shRnt te,A
easy until NcttIe Is settled In he,
rights"
Every afternoon when Bearce go.
ready TO come into the house for the
evening. Nettie set his faVorite arm
chair near the west window and at
the end Of his CRATE a pair OF house
shoes that were soft and pIIable and
gave welcome rest to his tired feet
As usual he began unIacinG h!S>walk.
iuS shoes while Ncttie went TO pre-
pare the supper meal She was
startled at the echo of a faint cry and
heavy fall. She ran Into the sitting
room TO ind Bearce lying helpless OF
the carpet
Its come. dear" he spoke weakly.
Telephone the doctor" She managed
to get him to Il couch and chafed his
hands and administered a cordial but
when the doctor arrived Bearce was
barely conscious.
BEND nearer" he gasped TO NettIe
Dead mems shoes-that was what
Vl al
ful you have been all these years. hav-
ing my house shoes always ready Tor
me. And they must be yours. only
have left my Will unmnde You was
to hive the place here. Dead mems
shoes! and old Zeb Bearce drifted
into the dream that knows no awaken
Ing
The farm was claimed and taken
possession OF by the two half broth
ers. They found only few hundred
dollars In cash and some small secur-
tiles in the house, deciding that they
had overestimated the liquid wealth of
Bearce. They proceeded to sell the old
homestead, and when they practically
turned Nettie out OF 1t, all she asked
for and took away was the old house
shoes. Fortunately Lewis Thorpe
was ready TO wed he: at once, so she
simply transferred her personal be-
longings TO home Of Der own.
The old house shoes Nettle rever-
emily placed at the side of the sitting
room hearth. They reminded her ten
derly OF the old man who had so loved
her. and her husband shared her in
terest and sentiment. He had the
misfortune to lose his position. how