The Ely miner., 1923-06-15
QUEER AUNT JANE
BY JANE GORDON


MARGOT and Janey were half-sis-
AsA ters, and old. Aunt Jane, who
was very rich, was undecided, appar-
emily, which one to make her heir.
Margot and Janey had been brought
up in modest circumstances, so Miss
Jane Bruce told her friends.
my good BROTHER" she would say,
was never a money-maker. Indeed,
1t could not be said that he possessed
an unusual amount of gray matter
What the women saw in him was to me
a puzzle. But both Margot's mother
and Janey's pretty, frivolous one
adored Donald Bruce. l haven't seen
much of my nieces since their father
died; less before that. Donald and I
could never agree. Margot's mother
was too decided in her opinions, and I
didn't care to become sponsor for my
brothers second wife Now I desire
to become acquainted with my only
kin. So I've invited the girls to Bruce
Place for one year. 1 don't care to
leave the family money ignorantly."
Margot, when the surprising letter
came, looked into Janey's laughing
dark eyes. eff she were not fathers
own sister I'd like to refuse this tardy
invitation" Margot said. 81 suppose
we must not let the money go to stran-
gers"
'Oh, forget her neglectful past"
Janey advised. "and let us for once
have a good time, Margot. I'd love to
know what it feels like to live in a big
house, with parks around it, and have
pretty dresses to wear to formal din
ners. P'-she smiled back at her sis
ter wickedly-"mean to win aunt's
hardened heart"
you will do it, Janey," her sister
said, admiringly. "You win hearts
naturally"
John Letchworth, her aunt's attor-
ney in the city, came often to consult
with Margot about the visit There
were many commissions which Aunt
Jane had asked him to require of her.
And here began the great event of Mar
COTS self-sacrificing life She loved
John Letchworth. And Margot's pain
lay in her own modest assurance that
John Letchworth, In his fine, success
full manhood, could not possibly care
for an ordinary small woman like her.
self. Was he not constantly in the
companionship of women altogether
charming, In his own sphere? And
then there was Janey. winsome Janey,
with her world confidently to conquer.
The younger sister and the pleasing
young attorney quickly became laugh
ing, bantering friends.
AS Aunt Jane weakened under the
incurable malady of old age the elder
niece would look up to discover the in
valid's eyes regarding her speculative
ly. Then Margot's troubles seemed all
to come at once. Such strange, mex
plicable troubles! Abruptly, John
Letchworth withdrew the solace of his
companionship, almost it seemed, the
solace of his friendship.
One day her aunt told Margot, with
queer, grim smile, that she had
made her will. "John Letchworth
drew it for me-" she said.
1t was Janey who offered rude ex-
planation. "Mr. John has discovered
that I am to be the heiress," she said,
$50, he transfers his affection"
Those were hard days for faithful
Margot. She was with Aunt Jane
when the old lady passed peacefully
away.
The will was read later by an un-
expectedly called young lawyer from
the village. "She wished to draw
later WILL" the new young man ex-
planned, "and recently sent for me-"
1t was a perplexing document. The
big Bruce place, and all it contained,
was left unreservedly to Janey. A
small cottage adjoining was Margot's
portion.
''In this cottage" the aunt had writ
ten, "were spent the happiest days
of my life-my young girlhood. 1 ask
that my niece, Margot, shall make 1t
her home. She will still find some
Of my treasures in an iron box in a
cabinet of the little room that was
my own. Lawyer Needers will give
her the key. / have no doubt that
Janey, with her charm, will soon be
married; providing against this fact,
however, I have left sufficient funds
that she may retain my housekeeper
and her husband as caretakers. hope
that Margot may also find happiness in
marriage, with some one who will love
her for herself alone-Jane Bruce"
"Of all the queer letter Wills" cried
Janey; "you shan't live in that old
cottage, Margot. It's a shame that
aunt was so unjust" She paused
before the radiant expression Of John
Letchworth's face He was looking
down at Margot with loving soul in
his honest eyes.
"Margot," he said, "thank goodness
it was made altogether in your favor;
after drawing it, what was there left
for me but to give you up in my heart?
Could 1 be a fortune hunter? But
now-if I may have but a chance to
make you care"
Margot's eyes were wet. "a chance
oh, John," she said; the touch Of her
hands gave him answer.
In the little house that evening the
three assembled, with the new young
lawyer from the village, found Aunt
James treasure box in its walnut cab
met. The treasures were bonds, care
fully labeled-many Of them. Margot
was q rich woman. And in the bot
tom Of the box was scrap Of paper;
written on 1t in Jane Bruce's old
fashioned script were the words:
my dear, had to make sure that
John Letchworth would love you for
yourself alone; knew that you loved
him."