New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-01-03

And Mollie Elwell showed also
that she was glad of their good for
tune, although. like her husband.
she realized instantly what it was
| going to mean to them when only
she and he were left in the little
home.
But the mother OF Jim Elwell,
even with her unselfishness and her
! goodness of heart, was human. and
she could not stop the thoughts that
crept into her mind as she listened,
half subconsciously. to the attorneys
description of the splendid home.
the wealth and the social advantages
that awaited the girls when they
| entered their new lives in Indian
! apolis.
And. as she listened, Mollie Elwell
| heard the voice of Jim, her son, say
| ing:
And our little secret shall never
be known, mother, until ! come
! hack-if I ever do. For my little
sweetheart promised me!'
But what did 1t matter now, Mol
| lie Elwell asked herself, what his
/! little pal and sweetheart had prom
| ised? Jim was dead and new life
already was beginning to spread its
alluring glamor before the eyes OF
the little sweetheart.
"And now" she heard the lawyer
saving, II must tell you Of the final
| instructions I received from Mp.
! CLAYTON Just before left 1ndianapo-
! lis to come here. ell asked me to
exert every effort to induce you all
to accompany me when came back.
He knows, as I've already told you.
Mr.. Elwell that he never can repay
Mrs. ~Elwell and you for all your
! kindness and devotion to his dead
sisters children from the night they
were born. But he feels at the same
time that he must try to express his
gratitude in some manner. And
that he can do only in person.
80 now l am asking that both
of you accompany the girls upon
their entry into their new home. !
am aware of your recent bereave-
ment and can understand why none
of you would care to take part IN
any social functions. But at the
same time ! am sure you will find
that to get away for while from
the poignant memories Of your
home surroundings here would be
altogether for the best. Besides,
your presence will be a bulwark for
the girls to lean against in their
rev environment. Don't you think
l am righto'
"Oh, no." Molie cried. 1--WE can't
leave here Prof and I. We
couldn't" Tears had been gather
ing in her eyes as the attorney was
speaking, and now the storm broke
and she flung herself into a chair
and buried her head in her arms.
Prof went over to her and patted
her shoulder. Dear" he said,
whatever you say we'll do. The
twins have found their real home
at last-and l guess blood is lot
stronger than-than just calling
them by our name. Eth. Mollie?"
His speech struck sudden fire IN
Betty. Look here right now she !
declared. and stamped her foot to |
give her words added emphasis. |
what YOU said about blood is all |
wrong, Prof Elwell. To me and TO |
my sister you two have been moth
err and father, and things haven't |
changed bit since this-since this |
happened" She waved a hand to-
ward the lawyer.
Walking over toward Mollie Ell
we'll. she leaned over and took the |
tired woman's face in her two hands !
and kissed her. "Mollie, dear she
breathed. mother
Then. standing erect, her head
flung proudly back, she delivered
herself of an ultimatum to the effect
that unless Molie and Prof accom-
PANIED them to Indianapolis they
would not go at all. And the whole
fortune could go by the boards.
Rusty said, That goes for me,
too" and Mr.. Markham, in the face
OF such proud independence, began
10 look a bit worried.
"Mollie," Prof ventured. putting
his arms around her, Il think that
Mr.. Clayton is a. wise man and a
good man. And I think he's trying
to do a very sensible thing. Don't
you think we could accompany the
twins to indianapolis? We don't
want to see them throw four
million dollars overheard, you
know" He smiled quantity and
Mollie. recovering from the first
real surrender to grief since Jim
had gono away, smiled in answer
and agreed. They would so. she
said. They must forgive her for
being such foolish old woman, but
It was bit hard. losing her boy
and then losing the girls l....
John H. Clayton. bachelor and
scholar and now nearing sixty, had
been born and bred in an atmos-
phere of wealth and culture. Not
only that but he prided himself
that he was a student OF men and
women, and, when he saw Mollie
and Edwin Elwell, he told himself
that he had found two personalities
by the hurry-up. step-on-
the-gas order OF the day. and con-
graduated himself that he had not
himself and them by the
offer of money.
In the Two girls, daughters Of his
sister. he saw the reflection OF those
two loving personalities, and he al