Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-04-13
The Luck of
the Lanes
By ELLA S. LARoUcHE
la 1871. by MCCLURE NEWSPAPER synalcats.,

| lO 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
.Marthy, Marthy!" beloved the
masculine summons.
Then in cyclonic fashion open flew
the kitchen door and five feet six inch
es of masculine whirlwind burst into
the room. Flourishng aloft the local
weekly newspaper the excited little
man jerlSily exploded:
"Rich-rich, my girl! Now we'll
have everything we want an'-an'-
Ill be Square Lane. Oh. Marthy!"
and, making sudden leap, he pulled
the astonlshed middle-aged matron
away from her bread dough and pre-
sented her with two celebration
smacks.
"Nate Lane! Be you crazy?"
Gee, Marthy Guess 1 be-almost.
Look !" And again he waved the pa
per-this time before her face. "WSre
rich." he shouted. "Recollect that
knickknack peddler we gave free
board to for few days last winter7
He said he'd pay US some time. Well,
he's dead. He was really miser,
Marthy, and he's willed us"-he paus-
ed for emphasis and then slowly add
ed-"fifteen thousand dollars"
Gone was Mrs. Mates composure.
Tremblingly she retreated into the
depths of the nearest rocker.
'Set down, Nathan, set down. You'd
make a dead COW nervous hopping
about like hungry grasshopper. We'd
best decide on what to do right off and
we must use-er-efficiency."
Industrious tongues worked over
time. Their fortune expanded with
each .retelling, until the couple them
selves had vague belief in the eXag-
gerations, and multi-millionaire Spir-
it pervaded their systems.
The church committee paid an early
visit and incidentally called their at
tention to the condition of the shingles
on the meeting house.
"Wal, Square," drawled Deacon
Saunders, you'll be one of our lead.
ing citizens now, and we know you'll
show the right spirit. A leetle con-
tribution just at the beginning, so to
speak, would naturally give the peo-
pie feeling of confidence in you. No
reason why you shouldn't be church
treasurer now, Deacon Grimes is so
poorly now, and you'll be Sc
fectman and on the school board next
year, of course. --saas'sgfsagr
Square Lane beamed.
"Hm, er"-he hesitated and glanced
surreptitiously at Martha, who appear
ed unimpressed by the Square" "Er
wal, I'll give you somethin', OF
course. Marthy and I'll talk it over
and let you know, soon."
The next morning the couple decided
to 60 to Fitzwell and draw out their
entire savings for immediate use pend
ing the arrival of the fifteen thousand.
"We'll go shopping" breezily an
nounced the jubilant Martha. I'm
going to the Ladies' Aid Wednesday
afternoon in the best silk dress this
town ever saw. You've got to quit
chewing tobacco, Nathan, and buy
some cigars, and I'm going to get my
fngernails shampooed."
That night Il weary, heavily laden
couple returned to cold house and
were almost Immediately forced to ad-
NIT interested and envious neighbOrs.
AT eleven o'clock they were again
alone. Martha Glanced to glance to-
ward Nathan just as he was in the
act of biting off generous mouthful
of his favorite tobacco. That bite was
never c6nsummated.
"NIr. Lane, tobacco chewing is
filthy habit. I'll have no spittoons
when / get my new carpets"
'le don't say?" sneered the new
made Croesus. "If spile carpet
can buy new one. Maybe when ye
git them new gewgaws on you'll be
casting about for another man."
Mrs. Croesus retaliated with force
and venom, and no peace treaty on
earth would have had any influence
on that domestic battle.
In the early morning hours, exhaust
ton triumphed and they retired-to
separate. bedrooms.
Mr.. Lane in the cold discomfort OF
the spare bedroom started to- remove
his clothes. The latest edition of the
city daily newspaper fefl from one of
his pockets.
His mind reverted to his Inheritance.
and with the idea of obtaining more
information concerning his, eccentric
benefactor he glazed over the head
ings. Sure enough, there TT was!
He sat down on the edge Of tine
bed, and, regardless of the cold, vi
stoned the glorious future. Martha
was always beside him, of course. He
felt vaguely troubled. Why had they
ouarreled? Really, it was his duty to
give her chance to apologize.
His wife stood before HMM tears.
'NIarthy-Nfarthy! he suffered in