Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-10-12
UNCLE MARKS WILL
BY PEARL FARRow.


Arris listened intently. She heard the
drip Of rain on the roof of the porch,
and within the house the steady tick
Of the tall hall clock. a rapid tick from
the dining room, and even the staccato
tick from her own bedroom. Until to-
day there had been no silence like this,
for in the little room opposite the hall
Uncle Mark had always been nolsily
arguing on the latest political news or
swaying ponderously in the creaking
rocking chair.
Now Uncle Mark was gone and NIL
dred, the only living soul who had
cared. was all alone. She knew how
all the village folk pitied her, how
they were talking because Uncle Mark
had left no will, and so, as they
thought, she was unpaid for her long
services TO the eccentric old man. Be
cause now Marks sister, who had
never been near him during his long
invalidism, was coming for what was
naturally hers, as the nearest relative.
After long time Mildred sighed and
moved. A gray cat came down the
stairs, his eyes cleaning in the dull
afternoon light. He sprang TO her
shoulder and she strOked him gently;
his nearness recalled a duty. besides
there was no reason for standing there
now. She must gather together her
few pitiful belongings and go away
she could not stand meeting Uncle
Marks sister-and her offers Of char
ity. She did not know where TO go;
she knew only that she would go away
from Greenville forever.
She wondered what Keith Wells, to
whom she had been engaged for four
years, would say. She would never
marry him before because she couldn't
leave Uncle Mark, and now-oh, well.
she hadn't heard from him since her
uncle's death, and although it was
hard TO believe that he was like all
the rest, nothing seemed TO matter
now.
A deep sigh shook her whole body.
at isn't fart II isn't fairr she said
with clenche6 fists. She climbed the
stairs as if her feet were weighted and
had scarcely reached the top when she
heard the faint tingling of the door
bell. She had dismissed the servants
directly after the funeral so she hur-
ried down. giving a hasty look In the
mirror as she passed.
But 1t was not a soFrOwful friend Of
fering sympathy who greeted her, but
Keith-Kelth Wells I'm the flesh, who
grasped her In his arms and held her
tightly, for a long. long while.
81 couldn't get here any sooner. little
sweetheart" he said, "and l knew all
the time how hard everything must be
for you here. And you mustn't stay in
this lonesome place any longer. Get
your things and Wen get married to-
night. And while you're getting ready
III listen once more TO that record OF
dear Uncle Mark's-remember-we
three used to listen To II for hOursT'
And so, while Mildred packed her
suitcase. she could hear strains Of In
ole Virginny" fill the little room be-
low. 1T was dear Of Keith TO re
member" she thought, and the old
tune seemed 10 bring Uncle Mark very
near.
The bright tears came TO her eyes;
she had finished packing and was
standing beside Keith In the room
which was filled with memories Of the
past. How happy the three had been
and how quickly everything had been
changed-this would probably be the
last time they would ever see the old
house.
And then suddenly, to the intense
surprise OF them both, the record
changed abruptly. Instead Of the round
tones of the soprano the gruf voice OF
Uncle Mark took up the refrain, and
as the song came to an end he recited
the words of his last viii and tesla
ment.
"And to my beloved grandniece, Mil
dred n. Arris, ! bequeath my house
and furniture. To my friend, Keith
Wells, bequeath my grandniece,
Mildred Arris, and as a wedding
gift to them the money found
In the UOlAtll VI AAAt NAa
cabinet" So the dear voice went
on. not forgetting a single friend
or servant. And at the end his old
servant and his doctor pronounced
themselves witnesses to this peculiar,
yet Characteristic, will.
Mildred was crying softly. "And to
think" she said. "that an hour ago
was the unhapplest girl in the world.
Why, Keith" she confessed, Il even
doubted you. and I'm SO glad you came
before we discovered the Will"
Keith laughed. I'm wondering what
your aunt VIII say when she finds
that everything isn't Just what she
expected. I'll say one thing, though,
and that is that Uncle Mark sure
knew what l wanted"
"AIe. too" said Mildred shyly. "And
I am sure that he is happy now If he
knows how happy he has made us.
wonder II he knows?"
81 am sure that he does" said Keith.