The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-09
Wintergreen Berries

Katherine Brent received the doc tors verdict in silence. What else could she do after he had said with such finality that unless she changed her mode of life he could give her but bare six months to live at the longest?
 "I am sorry, Miss Brent, but you have neglected that cough too long" Dr. Britten said gravely. "If you ex- pect to live at all you must give up your work at once and go where you can live out of doors. You have breath ed too long the bad air of an office. You must have long hours out of doors and plenty of good country living. l mean by that, butter, eggs and home cooking and long hours of either sitting or lying ill the sunshine. Freedom from worry also is absolutely essential, and above all you must cultivate an interest in life. Write me often about your condition and I will send you medicine from time to time" Feeling helself dismissed, Katherine left the old doctors office with the package of medicine in her hand and utter hope lessness in her heart.
 How could she work? How was she going to live? And how was she going to die? The six years since her mothers death had been filled with the dreary druggery in trying to live on her meager salary, to pay the expenses of her mothers last sickness and still lay something by to meet the inevitable rainy day which life had taught her was al- most sure to be just ahead. Kath- erine walked toward her boarding place deep in thought. The problem seemingly had no solution. She sud denly felt very old and weary al- though she was but twenty-six. She dragged herself up the steps of the shabby looking house which had represented home to her for six years, opened the door and entered the small front hall. She was pass ing on to the stairway when the door bell rang and a small bundle of mail was thrust through the hole in the door. With no thought that there would be any mail for her she went back, gathering it up and was plac- ing it upon the table when her eye caught her name on a legal looking envelope She took the letter and mounted the stairs to her room. Lay ing aside her coat and hat she sat down and with her mind still going over what the doctor had said list lessly opened the envelope.
 My dear Miss Brent" the letter read, q am about to close out my real estate business, and as I am ac- cepting an offer from a western firm, I am disposing of all matters of business as quickly as possible. l find in looking over my files that you left your Grandmother Brent's little place in my hands. I have been unable to find a buyer at any price. The house is so run down and small and out of the way no one will consider it. am sorry but I will have to turn it over to you. I trust you will be more fortunate than have been. l am enclosing the key which unlocks the back door to the house.
 'Very sincerely yours.
 ARTHUR FOREST"
 Grandmother Brent's little place She would have been glad to get any price for it. At times she almost forgot it and was only unpleasantly reminded of it twice a year when the bin for taxes was sent to her. Oh, dear. Everything was going wrong
 After a restless night Katherine arose tired and listiess, but with the determination to go to Millville. Anything was better than to con- tinue to pay taxes for nothing. So packing a small bag and taking a lunch and the key to the house she set out on the forty-mile journey to her grandmother's old home. It was noon when Katherine reached Mill vile. She hunted up hackman who said he would drive her the two miles out to the old place for $1.
 Its not much you'll be finding there," the man said. 50 far as I know there ain't any one set foot inside that place for five years. I see it occasionally when pass with a passenger, but it looks pretty des- olate."
 Presently a turn in the road re- vealed the old house. Indeed it looked desolate, with the yard over run with brush and the small porch nearly hidden by vines which ran riot over the front of the house.
 Telling the man to wait, Katherine found the way to the back door. In-