The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-08
EOening Story
Uncle Abner's Will.
BY ROSE MEREDITH.

! S1n1unS Wnen SDe enIeISQ the cool
living-room and bHpked her pansy
brown eyes at Uncle Abner. The ell
derby gentleman looked over his spec
tacles and frowned.
who was that young man, Betty?''
George Farnum, Uncle Abner."
yawned Betty, pulling off her bright
hat and tossing it On the table. I'VE
had a perfectly gorgeous ride out to
| the Falls"
Hmm Uncle Abner always
cleared his throat when he was about
to say something disagreeable- Betty
sat down prinlly on the comfortable
old sofa. 'H-hm,' repeated Mr.. Cory.
Am 1 to understand that you have
broken your engagement to Jack?''
Betty twisted the diamond on her
left hand and blushed warmly as she
raised her eyes to meet the fierce blue
ones of her nearest relative.
Broken my engagement tp Jack?
No indeed, uncle dear; but Jack is
away off in Kansas now, and it is dull
George has been so good to take me
around"
George is a fine fellow"
isn't he? cried Betty with spark
ling eyes. so clever, too, and he's the
kindest old thing in the world
Jack is a fine fellow, too" pursued
Mr.. Cory, dryly.
1--WE know that" murmured Betty,
blushing furiopsly She picked up her
hat and tsrned toward the hall
Elizabeth" called Uncle Abner
coldly, docs Jack know that you have
been receiving attentions from George
Farnum ?"
81 have told him about the rides"
said Betty as she marched upstairs
her eyes full of tears. 1t had been
the West to install some special ma
chinery in a large manufacturing plant
there, and upon the success of his
first commission for his firm depended
To- oA&onoopaaa& Al
great house of Iatimer & Latimer.
Mr. Abner Cory was a large stock
holder in the Latimer works. and he
had looked with approval upon Jacks
engagement to his little niece. He
rather distrusted George Farnum's
id1eness and riches, altho he liked the
young mans personality ana consid-
cred that he had the making of a man
in him if he would only get to work.
But he wanted Jack for Betty, 50
he said.
A few days 1ater Betty sat on the
front porch knitting a gay sweater.
Inside the library Uncle Abner was
talking to his lawyer, Daniel Smith.
Their voices rose and fell in endless
discussion of stocks and bonds and
mort cages. Their tones dropped to a
low rumble, and then Betty'S wander
ing thoughts were halted by the sound
of Mr.. Corys thin voice. speaking with
the slow distinctness that always
marked his dictation:
All the rest ICSluue VI my eS-
tate give and bequeath to
my beloved niece, Elizabeth Lasher
4. provided she becomes the wife
of George Humphrey Farnum -
rumble, rumble. Betty heard no more.
She had overheard that much because
Uncle AbneR had spoken louder, as if
to impress his lawyer with the words.
Pale and trembling, afraid of she
knew not what, Betty crept away from
the porch and ran out to the shady
sorchard, where she sat down on the
grass to think things out, as she had
done when she was small girl.
What chaotic thing life wasi
She had always believed that Uncle
Abner favored Jack Monroe-and yet
he had made his will. leaving the
bulk of MS estate to Betty, pr ,vidcd
richest young man in Blessington!
What about Jack Monroe?
well, what about him? ?" thought
Betty. as she pictured herself pro-
ceeding up the aisle of st. Matthew's
church on Uncle Abner's arm, if he
were still alive, to meet George~Hun1-
phrey Farnum-G Gorge, smiling ana
blond, the pink of perfection in hus- |
'kindest old thing in the world.'
There would be town and country |
'homes, camps and bungalows, travel |
and the allurements for society spelled |
with a capital IS" In fancy Betty !
Lasher married George Farnum and |
was proceeding down the church aisle |
to the familiar strains of the wedding |
march when something interrupted. |
A wood thrush high in an old tree |
sang his evening hymn.
Tears came into the girls eyes. The |
thrush--she liked to believe it was the /
same bird-had witnessed her be-
ways made her homesick with long |
ing for her lover. Now she listened |
with tears running down her checks. |
She would go to Jack now-tonight-
hp ma f-r-i cd al ND G11 ~
would work so hard for him. Uncle
Abner could leave all his money to |
George Farnum and welcome.
A very fearful looking Betty walked
into the house and ran plump into
Uncle Abner in the front hall
He looked at her over the top of his
spectacles. ''Well. my dear" he said
mildly, where have YOU been?"
sitting in the orckard--$t is so cool
there said Betty, lif4ng weary brown
eyes to his.
George Farnum te1ephoned to you
. he asked to have you ring him
up something about a barn
dance at Colonel Phipps' place"
"Bother!" muttered this strange
Betty, whip loved to dance and who
could dance the he's sOies from her pretty
you will call him up?" inquired
Betty flashed around on him. DO
you want me to go with him?" she
my dear child, please yourself"
said the old man, smiling benignly on
her. ''It is a beautiful night and
Il will not 60" interrupted Betty
feverishly. It must confess, Uncle
Abner. that was sitting on the porch
this afternoon and overheard a few
words you said TO Mr.. Smfth-that
about your willard leaving me some
money provided-pro-vi-d-e 1 mar
ried G-george Farnum!"
''H-h-mmt''
Eyes, I did, and then 1 went down
to the orchard L have made up my
mind to go to Jack at once
tomorrow and get married
and we will live in a hut on c-c-canned