Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-12-02
CHARITY
BY ANNA coNNERs


g ls2l. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Helen knew what all Marysyille was
saying. She smiled sadly and bit
grimly as she thought of it. She Won
dered what they would say if they
could read her mind and her inten-
tons.
How in the world win Helen get
along without Andrew"
That was the sum and substance Of
the general comment She knew. She
also knew what no one else had ever
suspected-that Andrew Hanson had
been 10 her a benehcent tyrant.
Never in the long ten years of her
married life had she had her own
way, even though it was only the ques-
ton of new hat or gown. She mad
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 dollar
at time in her welded life to call
her own, and now all the money, all
the land, was hers to do with as she
pleased.
III make them open their eyes, she
| thought, as 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 l miss my
guess, that's ALL"
The village dressmaker was more
than an artist in her line.
| Not a speck of mourning" Helen
| began. For once in my life Pm going
to choose what l please and wear what
/ ! ike
Then innocently, and las far as Hell
en- ever knew without guile the dress
maker asked If Helen had heard the
news lately7"
Not word" was the reply; 'Pve
been in retirement, mourning for An
| drew, you know"
Then, / don't s'pose," replied the
dressmaker, that you know that old
Aunt Betsy is going to the poorhouse
/ Monday? They do say" she proceed
4 ed. that some one, no one seems to
know just who, that used to make her
an allowance, has stopped 1t, and she
4 has no other friend.
And you remember young Adam?
Well, he's a cripple, of course, but just
! as bright as they make them, and he's
been attending school In hopes of get
ting an education and helping his
| m0ther-she's a widow-maintaln his
big brood of younger brothers and sis
ters; and they do say, though how they
know | can't say that the same one
who helped old Aunt Betsy has been
aiding him, and can't any more, so he
has to quit. and his mother is broken
hearted over it.
There's lots Of more things that this
unknown benefactor has been doing,
and they do say it means lot of harm
to the village as well as to some par
ticular folks in 1t. But II can't be
helped, as l can see" she concluded,
with deprecating smile.
Helen walked home with an uneasy
mind. She began to wonder who 1t was
that had done so much mysterious good
in the town and to the townspeople.
Somehow her intended OUTLAWS seemed
suddenly puerile and paltry. She would
90 home and finish the job of setting
Andrews papers in order. Possibly
this occupation would make her I'M
easiness subside and her dreams Of
riotous living reappear in all their
original glitter and glow She hoped so.
at any rate.
Late that evening the little dress
maker received note that made her
eyes dance with delight. 1t was brief,
but right to the point.
do not get the goods I ordered.
think, after all, l will wear black for
while"
"She found out" thought the little
woman smllingly. "She's found out
that Andrew. like most of us had good
points as welt as bad ones. though
have to admit that he could be pretty
aggravating sometimes. | was pretty
sure IL Helen ever found out all the
good he did, and in secret, too, never
once letting his left hand know what
the other was handing out, she'd change
her mind and her opinion.
II rather think" she concluded, that
Aunt Betsy won't go to the poorhouse
yet, and that Adam will have his
chance"
In which conclusion time showed she
was correct.