Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-17

can't write and I can't 70 to Russia
80 Ill just have to go and do wha1
the others in my crowd all do. and
when I'm really perfectly miserable!'
Nancy controlled a smile. ".Bles!
you. we won't think you're anything
but just the apple Of III eyes. TIT
world needs butterflies to keep Il
beautiful and gay. Your adventure
Claire. ts, waiting for you. maybe
around the corner. That's wha'
Mother FinneEan is always saying
And after my Child is finished
promise-Ill come and play with your
Claire was only a little cheered.
But Barry may not be there, then
Mother says he's dreadfully restless
He may be gone now."
A knock at the door saved Nancy
from an answer.
It was old Noah. the porter. HI
held a letter in, his hand.
It's fer Mis- Anne Leavitt and Tn
blessed II I know which n Of ye1 SO
I SEE, T. jes' take it to the two Of We;
and let you toss up fer it," 2
1t was not unusual for the two girl!
to find their mail confused. They
generally distinguished by the hand
writing or the fpostmarks. But nov
they both stared at the letter they
took from Noah's hand.
It was addressed in a fine, old-fash,
toned handwriting.
II can't recognize it." exclaimed ont
Anne Leavitt- 49, ~
"I'm sure 1 v saw it beforer
cried the other. =.
isn't this exciting? Let me see,th.
postmark. -F-r-e-e-d-o-m!" spelled
Nancy. II never heard of it," she de.
clared.
HV
relatives-or did have-a great aun'
or something, who lived near a place
like that way up on North Hero Is,
land. I'd forgotten all about them
Open it, Claire, and let's see what i
"You never told us about any aun,
on any North Hero Island! 1t sound.
like a romance. Anne" accused
Nancy, who thought she knew every,
thing about her friend.
Anne laughed II don't wonder
father speaking Of her. Read it
Claire had seized the letter and
opened it. 1T is signed Your loving
aunt Isn't it the most ridiculoul
mystery! Why couldn't it have bee,
something else besides an aunt"
Well, I'm awfully afraid it Is FOL
me: We new could both have aunt.
on North Hero Island. Go, on. blessed
child-Im prepared for the worst!'
Claire rose dramatically. vyos .r,
my dear Niece" she read, adding
II want you to know, Anne that sh.
honors you by spelling that with &
capital" "Of later years it has beer
a matter OF deep regret to me tina
though the same, blood runs in oul
Veins we are like strangers, and tina
you, have been allowed to grow t.
womanhood without knowing thu
nome OF your f~orefathers on this his
toric island. It is for that reason tina
now, after considerable debate witt
my conscience, I am writing to 70,
at, your college address which I hav,
obtained through a chance, article II
an Albany newspaper ('that was tn,
Senior Play wrfte-up,' interrupted
Nancy, excitedly) to urge you to avail
yourself of the earliest opportunity tt
visit me in the old home.
II feel the burden and responsible,
OF my increasing years, and I know
that soon I will be called to that LAND
where u forefathers have gone be,
fore us. You are, I believe, my near
est OF kin-the family, as you mus
o is dying out and I would hav,
preferred that you had been a boy
viii tell you frankly that I am con,
slder1ng changing my will and tina
upon your visit depends whether o,
&c you will be my beneficiary.
would wish to leave the home and m,
worldly wealth-the. wealth Of thu
past Leavitts. to a Leavitt, but befor,
l can do so to the satisfaction Of m,
own conscience, / must know that vol
are a Leavitt and that you have beer
brought up with a true knowledge ant
respect Q what being a Leavitt de
II await your reply with anxiety
Your visit will give me pleasure an1
! assure you. that you will learn tt
o the spot on which, for so NAM
lived. a
Your Loving Aunt, -.
-'Sabrina Ieavitt."s !
wen, III be" In all her col
leg vocabulary Anne could not ofint
aunt n a fortune! And will 70,
please tell me why she had to debate
with her conscience?" cried Claire.
Nancy was gleeful over Anne.
wrath.
Tn glad she's yours, Annie dar.
llng! Dad always said the Who'll,
world was my only kin, but I nevel
q against anyone who wanted tt
0SAO1C SIG lCxl me a LOT,
tunnel! Who v e heard Of North Hero
Asiand n where in goodness is 1t 2
- remember, now. that her name
was awfully queer-Aunt Sassonne.
thing or other. and North Hero Is
land isn't utterly unknown, Nancy, t,
can't even remember! l wish /
had happened. to be Lake Champlain
l saw 1t once ON a road-map when
was touring last fall with Professor
and Mrs Sontf orH Dr~For.o- g.
SAID it was a locality p~icturesquel,
historic|I remember"
Claire turned the letter over ant
over.
II think it's awfully thrilling! A,
aunt you can't even remember! I wish
It had happened to me! It would Id
something SO different. It's just likl
q story. But what 2 lot she does thinl
Well. the Leayitts are a very ole
family and they r a New England
FAMILY, too, although I was born ii
California" interrupted Anne with !
dignity that would have gladdened thu
theagreat-aunt's heart.
Nancy was again provoked to mer.
Dad always said that the only 9th.
e A~savltt ne knew was q cQN-ppnch,
eT! He could lick anyone on tht
Anne ignored this. She was frown.
ing in deep thought.
THE tiresome part is that-if a
don't go-f I tell her about going Il
Russia-she may write to my guard.
iani" fA
All three were struck dumb at thu
thought Anne had not consulted hel
Guardian before she had impulsive.
" enlisted her services in Madame
Breshkovsky's cause. Because she
was three months past t~wenty-one. ie.
gally he could not interfere. but beine
20 newly Of age she had not HAD til:
had simply written that she was plan.