The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1929-12-05

ui"tioh' soohhc Sdiu perhaps II was tilelt
mothers will: she had probably left
more to Belle than she had to Jessie,
she being the youngest, and with her
music to keep up, and all. Others
said it was on account Of Will Nor
row. Will was the only eligible in
Allendale for women of the Tanton
sisters age, and recently had been
often seen with Belle, although for
some time he had been considered as
Jessie's STEADY" friend.
After Mrs. Tanton's death, the big
house on Green avenue was closed
Belle went to the city and it was ru-
mored that she had obtained fine po-
sition teaching music in the schools
Jessie, the elder by five years, re-
manned in Alendale, in small apart
ment over Lathrop's store, and con-
tinued the even tenor of her life; her
card club on Thursday; her literary
club composed of ladies of the church,
and her church work.
The quarrel had been on account of
the mothers seal coat. Mrs. Tanton
hadinherited the coat from an elderly
weHlshy relative and for years it had
beeHt the family treasure. The girls
hdnwun their hands lovingly over its
luxurious black surface and Mrs. Tan
tonralways kept it carefully covered
when it was not worn, and when it
was, it was only "for best" In the
spring it was wrapped in layer after
layer of newspapers; sometimes as
many as ten editions of the Allendale
Herald each layer tied with cord and
then packed into suit box, re-
wrapped in newspapers, tied securely
and placed in "a dark, dry corner of
the attic to await another winter. Mrs.
Tanton always said, "Moths will
never come near printers ink"
For seven years now the coat had
remained in its newspaper wrappings
in the attic. There had been no stip-
ulation in the will about it. The house
and all it's contents had been left
Jointly to the two sisters. Also the
bank stock and the few pieces Of jew
elry she had owned. When Jessie
calmly announced her intention the
next fall of having the coat refined
and repaired, Belle had announced the
treasured the idea that some day the
seal coat would be hers. Belle had
said Jessies brown coat with the beav-
err collar was as good as new, and,
besides, Jessie did not have to go out
every day as she did. Jessie had re-
manned obdurate, and for several years
they had been living separate lives.
Will Morrow had long since married
Lucy White.
AS the years passed Allendale
ceased to wonder about the Tanton
sisters. Bellies name was seldom
mentioned and Jessie grew gray and
stout, quietly living the life she had
lived for years; administering to the
wants of others; opening the big house
on Green avenue once year for a
at church suppers, working with the
Ladies' Aid, reading book reviews and
accommodating $500" and pedro" prizes
at the club.
And then, Allendale decided to have
hospital. A manufacturing plant
and its subsequent real estate activi-
ties increased the population consid-
erably and new houses were built. The
nearest hospital was in Midtown. six
teen miles away. Ell the Allendale
ladies entered into the project with
enthusiasm and within few months
way was seen by which the Allen
dale hospital could become a reality.
On morning in autumn Jessie was
baking salt-rising bread as she had
done every Saturday morning for
years, as had her mother before her,
and three callers came to her door /;
Mr.. Davis, president of the Allendale
bank; Rev. Mr.. Carson of the Meth
odist church; and DR.. Samuel Ames,
the towns oldest and best-known
physician. They wanted the old Tan
ton home for hospital!
"You don't need it. It's closed the
year around and the money would be
drawing interest for you-and for your
sister," explained Mr.. Davis. ut is
the ideal place, with the front and
back stairs; the big porch on the
front, and the large shady lawn for
convalescents."
"But Liam afraid my sister
might not want to SELL" said Jessie
Tanton. "You see, we own it jointly"
Mr.. Davis agreed to wire Belle i'm
mediately, which he did, and the re-
ply came back signifying her willing
ness to sell the house.
And then week later, Belle her
self appeared in Allendale. She reg
istered at the hotel and then went
to her sisters apartment. Jessie was
round-eyed when she opened the door
on her sister, looking younger and
handsomer than when she had left
seven years ago.
Thought I'd come up and help you
get rid of the things" the newcomer
announced briefly. "It's no more than
right that l should do my share.
When do we start?"
They started the next day. They
COMPROMISED on all the things that