The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-01-01

she said -
and told both girls to come down
stairs.
ssMe, too?" Cherry asked.
"Yes, think so. Everyone in the
house." Emma said briefly, and
vanished. Cherry and Amy followed
Immediately to the library, where
chairs had been set in solemn
semicircle to face the wide, fiat ma
hogany desk at which the lawyer
sat. Judge Marshbanks was near
him; he smiled at the girls as they
came in. Almost at once the will
was opened.
Their late employer had remem-
bered them all, leaving to every
servant a sum approximating a
thousand dollars for each year in
her service, and for Emma's eleven
years Of faithfulness a round twen-
ty-five thousand. Cherry was stupe-
fed to hear her own name read out
as beneficiary for legacy of fifteen
hundred.
The old house was to be given to
the city as a museum. Everything
in the way Of personal belongings,
upstairs furnishings and the bulk OF
the estate were left to the grand
daughter of her beloved old friend
Amelia Wellington, Amy Marsh
banks.
''What are your plans, Cherry?"
Judge Marshbanks inquired.
ST haven't had time to make
plans" said Cherry, 'but I think I
feel as if I didn't know anything"
"Well," the Judge said, that's not
a bad idea. It will get you among
people your own age, shake you
up, put you on your own-yes, that's
good plan. Berkeley"
stanford, thought"
sWhy not?" he agreed. "Wait a
minute-wait a minute" he added,
II know a nice place down there
where you might like to stay. Lots
of youngsters in the family; you
wouldn't feel so strange. What does
Emma think of this? Have you
talked to herr"
"Aunt Emma and I talked the
night Mrs. Porter was so i'll, the
last night but one" Cherry was be-
ginning when Amy put in an ami
mated interruption:
"D'you call her Aunt Emma?'
ssWell, yes, ] do-sometimes."
Cherry's face turned toward the fire,
famed until the tips Of her ears
were red.
1--WE were sitting upstairs waiting
for the doctors to come out of Mrs.
Porter's room," she resumed her
story, land I said / hoped she would
get well, and Emma said she was
sure she wouldn't. So then we talked
Of what we would do, and Emma's
going up into Mendocino, where she
has a little place, and retire.
"Well, ! should think Emma'd be
fixed well enough to do that" the
judge said again with an approving
nod. And then with glance at the
doorway through which Amy had
disappeared in quest of her coat and
hat, he added, $50 she, told you
about your mother. eh?"
"A month ago."
''Shock to your"
"Oh, no, l Think" Cherry con-
fessed honestly, 81 had been dream
ing-imagining that might have
well, different relations. ! always
thought Emma was my mothers
nurse. But we've like each other"
you're a nice GIRL" the man
commented, as if thinking aloud,
his half-closed eyes upon her. Cher
ry flushed with pleasure; her little
laugh was proud and embarrassed.
Ibid you-did you ever see my
mother? Didn't you say you
hadn't?" she asked, SOLDERING again.
"No." He fell thoughtful: his
linked hands dropped between his
knees, his eyes on the fire. "No, i
was away was in Washington for
several years after married." he
said. "But ] knew she was very
young and very trusting.
"And you mustn't" he went on
after a moment, ''you mustn't
blame your father too much. He
was goodhearted; he was decent
fellow in so many ways. But al
ways ungoverned-unable to think
out consequences! I've always
thought" the kind, quiet voice went
on, ssthat what happened between
him and your mother was the re-
suit of a single moment of wild emo
tion-two young things completely
deprived for the moment of reason
what is it, Cherry? What's the
matter, my child?"
She had gotten to her feet. reel