The Dolores star., 1922-02-24
UNCLE MARKS WILL
BY PEARL FARRoW.
+.s~~~~~~~~~-c~~s> -
q. 1871. by Mcclure NewspapeI SYNDICATE

g. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Standing in the lower nall Mildred
Arris listened intently. She heard the
drip of rain on the roof of the porch,
and within the house the steady tick
If the tall hall clock, rapid tick from
The dining room. and even the staccato
lick from her own bedroom. Unt.s to-
lay there had been no silence like this,
for in the little room opposite the hall
Uncle Mark had always been noisily
arguing on the latest political news or
swaying ponderously in the creaking
cooking chair.
Now Uncle Mark was gone and Mil
ired 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
lnvalidism, 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 spraEg 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
lty. She did not know whore 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
uncles death, and although 1t was
hard to believe that he was like all
the rest, nothing seemed to matter
now.
deep sigh shook her whole body.
ut isn't fair! 1t isn't fair!" she said
with clenched fists. She climbed the
SluilS US IL ilCI lCSl "CiC "CiShlSu ahu
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 hnsty look in the
mirror as she passed.
But it was not sorrowful friend Of.
ferng sympathy who greeted her, but
r.1l, 81, ti..-I Ia.
grasped her in his arms and held her
tightly, for long. long while.
~ couldn't get here any sooner, little
sweetheart" he said, land l knew all
the time how hard everything must be
for you here. And you mustn't stay In
this lonesome place any longer. Ge,
your things and we'll get married to
night. And while you're getting read,
I'll listen once more to that record OF
dear Uncle Mark's-remember-
: three used to listen to it for hours2"
And so, while Mildred packed hel
suitcase, she could hear strains Of "Ir
Ole virginny" fill the little room be
low. "It was dear of Keith to re
member" she thought, and the ole
tune seemed to bril.s Uncle Mark yer.
near.
The bright tears came to her eyes
she had finished packing and wa
standing, beside Keith In the room
which was filled with memories of tn
PAST. How happy the three had beei
and how quickly everything had beel
changed--this would probably be tn
: last time they would ever see the oil
, house.
And then suddenly, to the intens
surprise of them both, the recor
changed abruptly. Instead Of the roun
tones of the soprano the gruff voice O
Uncle Mark took up the refrain, an
as the song came to an end he recite
, the words of his last will and tests
ment.
"And to my beloved grandniece, Mi
dred N. Arris, bequeath my hous
and furniture. To my friend. Keit
, Wells, l bequeath my grandniec'
Mildred Arris, and as a weddin
gift to them the money foun
In the bottom Of the old mus
cabinet" So the dear voice wer
on, not forgetting single frien
or servant And at the end his ol
servant and his doctor pronounce
themselves witnesses to this peculia
i. yet characteristic, will.
Mildred was crying softly. And
t think" she said, "that an hour ago
/. was the unhappiest girl In the worl
Why. Keith" she confessed, II eve
'' doubted you. and I'm so glad you can
before we discovered the will.'