The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-03-04

Hldttei, lily CflHu.
She had gotten to her feet. reel
ing, ashen-faced. one hand gripping
the back of a chair.
"You said-you said" she whis
pered, that that your brother
Fred-Amy' father
There was a silence. The
Judge was standing now too, his
face as shocked as her own.
"Y0u said that Emma had told
you." "Yes, but not that! Not
that! She only said my mother
she didn't tell me anything-she
said -
''Cherryi" The mans arm was
about her shoulders. "Sit down." he
said, land talk with me moment.
My dear child, you mustn't take it
this wayl I'm sorry-Im terribly
sorry that I've shocked you'll"
She was breathing hard, but she
was quieter. Her eyes, very big in
her pale face. met his courageously.
TITS all right" she said, Il ought
to know. ought to have known be-
fore!"
Emma was my fathers nurse
and my mothers housekeeper, the
man presently said. "She was al
ways superior person, you can see
that. She had been Fred's nurse
and mine in the hospital when we
were boys, had been widowed and
came back as my fathers nurse.
Her sister Charlotte was much
younger, ten or twelve years young
er; she met my brother, naturally,
she used to be in the house a good
deal; Fred was always around. He
was married; his wife was expect
ing baby of her own when all this
happened. There was nothing to be
done except make her comfortable
and provide for the child Any's
fortune you understand? has
nothing to do with my brother That
came through her mothers father,
her grandfather Wellington. he left
that to her. But what Fred could
do, he did.
"The money have been admin
istering for you was left you by my
brother-your father-and in refer
ence to this college plan of yours"
Judson Marshbanks went on, in an
easier tone but still watching her
keenly and anxiously. II want to
remind you that we have balance
"a comfortable balance, and any
profession you would like to take
She was not listening. She seemed
like girl made of stone.
$50 you see that I am your uncle
really and truly" the judge said
lightly, affectionately, after pause.
II know" she whispered with
white lips. And then, with sud-
den vince of pain that contracted
her young face: HAS anyone told
Amy? Does Amy know?"
'No. Nobody knows. My moth
er, myself. Emma. Not another
SOUL"
"Your mother! She was talking of
me then, when she said she wouldn t
have me in the housed"
"Did she say that?" he asked with
little frown. We'll, you must for
give a proud, unreasonable old
woman. Your grandmother too,
Cherry"
my grandmother" Her eyes
were dark with bitter thought. 81
think-thank you so muchi-but ]
think I'll go upstairs. I'm tired, "
Cherry faltered, and was instantly
in his arms sobbing against his
shoulder. His hand patted her.
II know" he said. II know. It's
very hard!"
Almost Immediately she stopped
crying, gulped, fumbled for her
handkerchief. "Amy's calling you'll"
she said thickly, and in another mo.
ment she was gone.
She fed upstairs and to her room
and to restless agony of thinking
to walk the floor. to pause, to burst
into violent tears again and fling
herself on her bed. The injustice o1
it, humiliation of it. the cruelty ol
her being one of two sisters who
were strangers and whose destinies
touched almost the extremes of hu.
man contrast, choked and maddeneo
her and she stopped her weeping
only to pace the floor again, and
again to break into self-pityine
tears.
1t was eight o'clock, and she was
haggard and weary, when she rar
downstairs to the telephone upon q
sudden desperate impulse and called
a Sausalito number
But when Kelly's heartening
pleased voice answered her, hel
tears came again and she coulo
hardly make herself coherent.