The Lamar register., 1923-03-28
One Thousand
Dollars
%. 1873. Western s.~.p.p.r Uaion)
BY JUSTIN WENTWoOD

III luc ucpok a. jaw Vos
ing around the parlor now, with the
thrilling knowledge Of her secret.
Her Uncle Eben WAS there, and her
Aunt Tflly, and Miss Wentworth, from
the confectionery shop, and her beau
Tom Sullivan, the middle-aged farmer
who had lost his wife in the spring.
He wanted her to marry him, keep
house and scrub and cook for him. ana
bear him children, maybe. Just as he
bought his Holstelns.
Lily was twenty-seven. She was
plain girl. Even in the hamlet, where
good looks were regarded with sus-
picion. Lily passed as plain. She had
never had any serious wooers.
But then, Of course, she was pen
niless girl whom Uncle Eben had TAX
ell to his house after her fathers
death, to do the work of a maid, with
out II maids wages.
Only Frank Hyatt was her friend In
the little place. In him she had con
tided the secret that she had inherited
ii thousand dollars from ne'er-do-well
Uncle Samuel. who had died in Cali
fornla. Even Uncle Eben didn't know.
She had planned to leave the place
forever. She was going TO the city to
ut herself for course In business
training. She had given Frank the
momentous check and he was going to
have 1t cashed when they arrived. AZ
terward they were to be married-af-
ter their arrival.
Frank had never spoken Of love TO
her until she told him she had a thou
sand dollars and planned TO run away.
She was to meet him at seven.
Tom Sullivan never spoke of love
TO her either. He just sat and stared
at her. But It was an understood
thing that they we're to be married
In the spring.
LILY sat looking at them. thinking
how In two hours time she would be
on her way to the city. She laughed
Inwardly as she sat In the parior.
Say. can't you md nothing to dor
demanded Aunt Tilly. "Sakes alive,
when was young found something
to keep me busy all the time"
The girl got up wearfly. What did
It matterf They could have their own
hired girl next week when she was
gone. She would never write 10 them;
they should never see her again.
Tom Sullivan came out to her. Say,
LILY. when are you and me going to fix
It up7" he asked.
How d'you know 1 want to tx It
up with your" she retorted.
He stared at her. "why-say. Lily,
| thought 1t was understood" he an
swered. "You know I'm crazy about
you"
No. Lily hadn't known anything OF
the kind. She had thought she was to
lie II commercial asset to Tom Sullivan.
His face flushed at her unmistakable
manner. Say. honest. Lily. gel. II
you'n have me I'll give you a whole
lot better time than here. You shall
have your hired gel-honest. | got
more money than folks knows. Hon
est, II makes me sick to hear the way
your aunt speaks OF you. How about
1t. gelf"
"I'u let you know at eight" an
swered Lily
And she smiled at the exquisite Jest
as she made her way quietly down the
hill toward the depot.
IL WIS ten 10 seven Nhru
rived. Frank was to be there with the
tickets. As the minutes went by and
he failed to put in an appearance she
began to grow agitated. At last the
train thundered In. II stopped; she
scanned the platform; Frank Rad not
arrived And In slow, drugged con
sternation she watched II go.
Coin in on the trainY asked the
agent. "That1l be two OF you today.
You know Frank Hyatt's left his jobs"
mo? Why
yep, that's Il fact. Went in on
the Ave O'Clock and said we wouldn't
see his face In this burg again for
quite while"
Lily felt suddenly as II her heart
had turned into stone.
And then a great thankfulness came
over her as she realized that she had
told no one about her legacy. And
everything was as II had always been.
Quietly she took the road up to the
farm again.
Mercy. child, where you been"
Aunt Tilly demanded.
"Oh, Just for STROLL" said Lily.
my sakes, can't you find nothing
better to do than thatr'
Outside the room Tom accosted her.
"say. Lily. gel. ben waiting for your
answer"