, 1922-04-06
A Disturbed
Decision
BY A. w. PEACH



@. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Sometimes 1t seems as If into our
moments of supreme happiness rate
dropped a regret or disaster That I'M
Inedlately pretty near to dis
solving that happiness. SO 1t seemed
to Richard Marsh as he read and re-
read the letter upon his desk. Beyond
his windows the white winter lay with
its ancient friendliness over the VII
lage square. His office was coy and
warm. but he shivered.
The preceding evening he had gone
to the little cottage ut the end of the
broad street where Avery Wells lived
with her pleasant-faced mother. IN
there. In the homelike quiet of the cot
tage living room. he had ooked into
Avery's dark eyes n asked the ques-
ton as bravely MS he could, which she
had answered In II whisper.
He had spent most of the night
dreaming In his rooms. building cas-
ties. He loved the village, and the
village people trusted him. His fu-
ture did not promise glory and gold,
but 1t did promise happiness with
Avery to share it with him. And now,
from beyond the grave, Brlnner had
reached with bitter ingenuity to wreck
u dream he could not share.
Marsh turned to the letter. 1t was
from a law firm In Philadelphia. 1t
said in precise phrases that Edgar
Brinner had died. thai In his VIII a
bequest of 100000 was made to Miss
Avery Wells. that the firm wished him
to take charge of the matter. to notify
Miss Wells himself as the will d.
rected.
Something of IN ideallst, yet prac-
teal in his acceptance of facts he
knew that as far as he was concerned
W things were plain; he could not
marry Avery If she accepted this
money bequeathed to her by his old
and bitter rival; yet hat sum OF
money meant for her and her mother
independence and comfort. the re-
moval Of worry. after long years of Sc
we're and frugal living. 1t meant for
them a bright future. which he could
not offer them.
"Brinner," Marsh said a bit sadly,
you knew finally that she loved me.
You were soured and embIttered by
her decision. You knew I could not
marry her If | were to see everywhere
the things your money made possible.
How you made that money l know.
and 1t smells, but l cam tell her that.
I wonder what you want In willing
that l was to notify her that l was to
take charge of the fund.-" He thought
a moment, then leaned back with n
low mutter. at would be ensy- forge
her name. and since | am to notify her
ana don't, could keep that money. i
wonder II you wanted to tempt me to
try itF'
N thing he was sure of: II Avery
knew how he felt. she would not ac-
cept the bequest, and her W sense
would make ner acceptance of 1t i'm
possible; but there was her duty to
her mother. whose years had beer
hard and iaborious ones, while Wells
was building up his little business.
That was a duty to consider. Then.
TOO. Marsh reasoned, Il cannot ask her
to give the fortune up; and Brinner
knew | would not. Funny, how a dead
man In his grave can tangle up the
living.
Under the stress OF his suffering
memories. his thinking became n bit
navy but he came to a decision. He
heard the jlngling s~leighbells. the
ne"'s 5lee.'"sS as men cu'ne '",o 'he
pos. nv per"" num- ,uint as uhey
"eie .ney were o'enr enough 10 make
mnn 'n'n" Vi ."e "nolesoune' Iriehuiy
ine o, us v.,"se' WIN 'ne 'noush,
en'he nus uec'sloni ne would ,eave' a
ii'enu III a uor,nern e.y nau written
10 MN repeatedly 10 JOIN MIN where
opportunity was VIDE ana money
reany. ne wou.u go, reruse 10 assume