The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-10

Jane lapse into ehtimen,aiity
AIbnit they nsarly quarrel ofeI
this hsndsoIne, tiled fortune hun
ter as er II, they ran Ia couple
beautiful, hunting each In her
own line. yet with due regard q
the others inclinahonS. Some dar.
ing spirit tried TO veer from mother
n daugh er, and vice versa. These
afforded sport 10 the pair Of charm
ers In their moments of confidence
Norma they minded no more thar
IA chair Of a dressing table, So the
girl who quiYered spiritually like
a hound In leash, wondered II ever
there would rise q day that would
SEQ her recognized as human.
Hope OF such q thing had gown
faint and dim. Nobody was over.
rude 10 her, but there was insult In
the easy ignoring OF her on every
hand. She was simply part OF the
background for her kfnEolk, spend
ing her hot youth in their service
for bread and a roof.
II there is patience fate may
shuttle tho Grads. Norma was &C
prove It. AS she stood facing the
toft-scented wind a voice behind
her said deferentially: "Will you
kindly make It possible for me tr
speak privately with Mrs. Burtoni
Il is-rather impoftamEand l am
pressed for time.
Turing Norma faced a tall mar
lean aud sunburned, with merry ex
perIenced eyes and a look OF polEe
that was compellig After a muir.
INJURED sentence she led him "a
the small snuggery off the library
where very shortly Mrs. Bur on
confronted him majestic In costly
simplicity, despite her wondertns
eyes.
The wonder changed to dismay
as che listened to the strangers
story. He was Edward Burton
grandsond and namesage OF her hus
band. who had died, knowing mot
OF his exis ence. Proof was incor'
testable-bIrth. marriage and death
certificates; alAa a copy OF the
will, which said: "In default oil
heirs OF my own blood l constitute
my wife, Jane, sole heir to all Of
which l die seized and possessed.
Also a legal opinion Of highest au'
.thorty that a will 50 manifestly
made In ignorance was void. Mid
way OF that Edward Burton looked
UP TO soy THAT seems TO me un'
fair. ! am not exactly pauner, my
coming Is more 10 claim mT pbdi-
gree than my Inheritance. There
arc things I should like to have
my father told me OF them out In
the bush. He went to Australia.
YOU know. after . quarrel with his
father. l was born there, but dad
never let me FORGE. Can't We agree
not to fight over-anything? There
must be quite a plenty for both OF
u.s."
Il am sure there Is" Amt Jane
said heartily, hnr mint leapng
ahead to Jean Here was the proper
ma G for her girl-it would fit 20
well all around. Nobody could twit
her longer with being an interloper
II her grandchildren were likewise
Of her old husbands blood.
So she was graciousness itself Il
the newcomer; made him the lion
Of the house party herself telling
his sorry to all the other. guests.
1t was fairy tale come true, she
said; abs knew how her husband
had longed for grandson. Il. keep
up the name. SO Edwards health
was drank in bumpers over and
over. Jean ogled him openly, 10
the soaring grief Of Tommy SeNtcu,
the newest Of her detlimentais. But
before she went upstairs Tommy
had five minutes alone with her.
She ran away from him almost
blushing. but Tommy, like a war,
rlor triumphant, went'awsy kissing
a withered rose.
Edward was inscru.able. Aunt
Jane herself said so Jean. 1t was
plan, fascinated, also puzzled him.
At least her mo her thought so
II Jean herself was wiser she kept
the wisdom close Unaccountahiy
she began to put Norma \ little
forward; made her take pains with
her hair, her dress; even sing-she
had a birds yoice-when there
were no critics within hearing
Norma, undeniably puzzled. was
yet blissfully happy. She felt really
alive for the first time since she
had come TO Lone Elm. What had
revived her did not matter; she
would joy in the light while the sun
shone.
Then came the explosion. Jean
L. 4