The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-03

! OR TORY

Signed and Witnessed
80 MARTHA mecULLocH VII
LIAMS.
sxA Tot that It matters" Marcia
said wistfully. Nothing
= ~ can ever really matter
/ now.
500 fine way to talk-after all
that's been done for you" her step
mother answered harshly gu
seem to think nobody ever lost a
father before. He was good man
5s-Tm not denying that-but | do
think, after slayin' and savin for
4 him matter OF ten years, he might
a seen to it I shou1dn'. be- left
with no dower-uothin' but my
years provision, horse COW, sow
and pigs and passed. OF house
q plunder. He knew dtdn THE
land went, to you wnen he died,
Please don't. You didn't love
him Marcia said YEARLY. You
knew what / promised-that you
I should have home here as long
Z as you needed or wanted It. He felt
4 that was the last of his debts. j
\ am glad it was the only one-be-
cause it Is one can pay.
'TIumph! That isn't worth a
thanky,' Mrs. Lane said sourly.
sggtttY QUILL up and marry first thing /
Y know-and want the place all to
n yourself. I can't blame ye-farmin'
4 with no man person about is hard
u work and a 1osin' business. Lone
some besides. Buff you mean
what you said I'll make this bar
gain: Give me the money ] could
raise on a dower-claim and maybe
\ speck more-I'll set up boarding
Y house in town, take you along to
SEhelp-and both Of Us can see some
thing besides chickens and cows
" and sech like-and be everlasting
III y: done with hired men.
You know ] haye not the mon:
g9eY.,,,sMarcia answered duly.
Mrs Lane shifted audlbly.
you've got land, clean and clear
5 YOU can raise money If you wilt
even though you're a year under
age. Squire Bemis says so. l talk
X ed &to him about it. walkin' from
the graveyard Fact is, he offered
s6to lend me S3,O00-fi you'll agree
+ to- stand for it-said he know'd your
fathers s. child would keep her passed
word
Marcia, visibly dropping, sat sud
#Iden1y erect, saying energetically:
sSt..I am sorry you spoke to him
would not touch cent of his mon
ey,Snot if he made a free gift, and
was starting to the other side OF
the world
s.Hoity toity! So this is how you
live up to what you promised. Mrs.
Lane exploded. Marcia faced her
svaliantly 80 something within had
q burned away the plant softness of
IL; Of al 10 nor p
and you know it, she said. II
promised home-but not to beg
gar myself making it to your Xix
Al ing. You know that would be the
Tend . Father knew; he would new
Ser touch Bemis' money, because he
knew that greedy, old spider want
ed the land"
.sAnd now his crazy wife's dead I
reckon he wants you, too" Mrs.
Lane retorted He'll get you, too,
is you don't mind your eye"
"a mistake all round" Marcia
said icily, but with a deep flush.
on. shall stay here at home,
head of all things. You can stay.
Stoo-as5 my guest-so long as you
sSchooSe-'
att Me. take orders from a
$chit like you?" Mrs. Lane shrieked.
Marcia smiled grimly. ''If I give
4 them, - she said. "I hope never to
give one! My hope and wish is that
we may live pleasantly together.
Even If you We're not my fathers
widow. g know what is due a
) guest
Speechless with wrath. Mrs. Lane
Hounced away, disappearing in the
sbIoss only intricacies of the orch
- RI I'll waS thick dark when she