Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-09
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
TOHN CROSBY had parted from his sister
\ years before after a quarrel. She mad
~ thought him too young to marry and
had opposed him in every way she could.
They had been orphaned years before and
she. several years older, had brought him up.
His marrying, going to distant state, would
leave her all alone. Then, too, she cons1d-
cred him too young to wisely handle his little
fortune left by their parents, although it was
legally his.
In this she had been right. He had been
badly advised, had made poor investments,
had lived rather eXtravagantly because OF MS
lack of experience and of the same lack in
his young wife-a sweet dainty girl awhom
he wOrshiped.
When their child baby girl, was born
he had written Althea, telling her he had
named the baby for her, that he thought 1t
going to resemble her, and begging for
a reconciliation.
Althea had replied coldly, then shortly
afterward came the news of Johns death.
His young widow, resentful that the sister
had not replied more graciously to his adj
vances had simply informed her of his death,
giving details, saying nothing regarding
her financial condition.
Perhaps had they lived nearer the old
home Althea Crosby might have acted diff
ferently. Had she been able to attend the
funeral, see the wife and the child that had
been named for her life for all of them might
have flowed in different channels-perhaps
might have been lived in sympathy.
But Althea could not reach California In
time for her brothers burial, so after writ
ing short note in reply to the one her
sister-in-law sent, she dismissed both her and
the child from her thoughts. lonely spin
ster, grown bitter with years, she remained
in the old home alone, while on the coast
John Crosby's widow, left with only tiny
remnant of the fortune that once seemed so
great to her, brought up the other Althea,
kept her in school, loved and shielded her
until she, too, passed away when Althea was
almost seventeen-three years before the
older Altheas death.
This was all that was known of Miss
Crosby's niece, the girl to whom she had left
her fortune. But with money much can be
accomplished. The old lawyer found that
Althea had remained in California for a\year
Or two after her mother passed away, and
that She had taken a position in a store as
saIesgirl. He learned that she had come
East, saying she would try to get work In
New York
Several people who had known Althea
were interviewed but no one could give her
address; no one knew for certain that she
was in New York. Yet all thought it likely,
because she had talked freely of her desire
to ind work there.
To find a girl in New York would seem rs
difficult as to find the proverbial needle in
a haystack. But with the supposition to go
on that she would probably be working in
some store, would use her experience as
salesgirl in the West to secure a position
| there, a search of the shops was begun.
Newspaper advertisements asked Althea
Crosby to communicate with a certain firm OF
lawyers if she would learn something to her
advantage. Still another read: THE heirs
of Althea Crosby wanted" etc.
But no replies came from the advertise
ments and the search went on The old
lawyer up in the little Massachusetts town
had been told to spare no money to locate
| her
Whether Althea Crosby had regretted her
actions, if she felt she had wronged this girl,
her only relative, she never said so. Yet her
instructions were explicit. The girl, If liv-
ing, must be found.
''What becomes of Miss Crosby's fortune II
you don't find the grl?" the minister's wife
asked the lawyer.
"Unless we prove that she is dead we are
to keep looking until We find her. If she
has passed away, and we have proof of it,
the money all comes to the town: You see,
Miss Crosby had no other relatives" he care
fully explained.
"And the house?" The minister's wife
was something of a gossip, possessed OF a
good deal of curiosity
"That and the contents would be sold and
the money also go to the town. Miss Crosby
was very careful that everything should be
perfectly clear; that her wishes would be un-
derstoOd and carried out. 1t would be- well
if more people were like her.
"And she left nothing to anyone except
this niece she never has SEEM"
"Not a penny, except to the two servants.
You know, Miss Crosby was bit peculiar"
"Yes-so digniied and unapproachable."
This was almost sin in the eyes of the min
ster's wife, almost hard But she is gone
We must think of her as kindly as we can"
'She had her good traits" the lawyer re-
piled grimly, thinking he understood his
questiOners disappointment. She had thought
she the church would have been remem-
bered in Miss Crosby's will.
Continued Thursday. Renew your SUBJ