The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-12-21
Castles in
Air

BY ELLA SAUNDERS

ssT 7 NDER the terms Of your uncIc's
will you are to receive the sum
of five thousand dollars. We shan
appreciate an early visit on your part
to our office."
Dora stood reading the letter. So
Uncle VIII had left her five thousand
dollars! Her heart leaped at the
thought. She was rich beyond the
dreams Of avarice.
What should she do with III She
must help all who had been SO kind
to her, Of course. Dora lived with
Aunt Matty, relative on her mothers
side; none Of them were related to
her Uncle VIII or knew anything
about him. But Aunt Matty had given
Dora board and room--the garrett
for ten dollars week. and Dora
helped with the housework when she
came home from the office where she
was employed as stenographer.
Had she not been shrinking and
timid she would have left them. she
knew that they exacted good deal
from her. She had almost begun to
dislike them. But now everybody
would be happy
Five thousand dollars! Well, there
must be thousand for Ruth. the
clever one, who wanted to go to col
lege and couldn't bear the idea Of
having to work her way through. Poor
Ruth was 50 sensitive. Then five hum
dred-just loan--to Charley. who
wanted to open garage. He would
pay her back, Of course, but still she
would count the money as gone. Five
hundred for her aunt. to buy some
new clothes and have the furniture
recovered. That made two thousand
And Uncle Jim, who was so pushed
for little more capital for his store
he must have thousand. That was
three thousand.
And of course she must give tithe,
a tenth-fve hundred to charitable
purposes. That left fifteen hundred
Perhaps she would spend fifty on
herself. for some new clothes. The
rest must go into the bank. to be
boarded against rainy day.
Dora dreamed of 1t all the way
home, and went In so happy that all
looked at her In surprise.
They were a glum family, she had
to admit that. as they sat grumbling
over their victuals. Uncle Jim was
complaining of impending bankruptcy.
"You'll have to cut down on the
living expenses" he told Aunt Mat
ty.
"Jim, I tell you again what I've
told you over and over. you don't know
how much II costs to keep a family"
Aunt Matty answered viciously. Il
can't do with penny less, so nowT
Charley was full of talk about the
projected garage. II only want five
hundred-gec whiz, ain't there
Christian in this burg willing to lend
that much?" he moaned.
AS for Ruth, she sat silent and sui
len through the meal. The poor child.
thought Dora She was eating her
heart out over the prospect Of having
to give up college or to work her way
throughi
The wonderful news trembled ON
the tip of Dora's tongue. but she re-
Trained. She did not intend to say
word until she could put the money
into their hands. She was so happy
ut the prospect that her aunt's Gus
tomary seedlings fell of her back an
light as water from ducks.
During the following days she felt
warmer attachment toward them
than ever before. They all noticed the
change In her. they thought she was
in love. and joked in nasty spirit.
Dora kept her secret.
Another letter from the iawyera-
She had written about an appoint
ment this no doubt was their answer !:
But she stood staring in dismay at
what she read:
1--WE beg to inform you that since
writing you II has been discovered
that your uncle secretly married sub
sequently to drawing up his viii. On
der the law Of the state. this makes
the will invalid. and accordingly We
regret to state that the beQuest 70
| you Is invalid. !"
Dora went slowly homeward. An
the light was gone out Of her future.
Her feet fell leaden on the hagx
"Tve got to cheer up" she told her-
self, Its mercy didn't tell them,
anyway"
And suddenly she realized that she
had received a greater gift even than
the legacy; the understanding Of and
sympathy with these cramped lives
that had come to her--and a strength
that had not been hers before.
Smiling, Dora went In.
| Government Fur Monopoly.
In the opinion of experts seaIshln