| Show it A disturbed X ift ift decision A is by A W PEACH I 1 SOMETIMES s it seems as it if into our moments of supreme happiness fate dropped a regret or disaster that immediately comes pretty near to dds hohing that happiness so S 0 it seemed to richard marsh ma arsh as he read and reread the letter upon his desk the preceding evening he had gom to the little cottage at the end of th broad street where avery anery wells lived with her pleasant faced mother and there in the homelike home lilLe quiet ot of the cottage living room he had looked in to aeres dark ees and asked the question as bracely brav ely as he could which she had answered in a whisper ile bad had spent mo mot mort rt of the night dreaming in his room building caa cas ties he lie loved the village and the village people trusted him his tu fu ture did not promise glory and gold but it did promise with aery to share it with him and now from beyond the grave 13 rinner had reached with bitter ingenuity to wreck a dream he could not share marsh turned to the letter it was from a law firm in philadelphia it r said mid in precise phrases that F edgar jd gar brinner had died that in his will a bequest of was made to miss avory avery NN ells he ile knew that as an far as he was con ceded two things were plain he could not marry avery it if she accept cd ed this money bequeathed to her by his old and bitter rival yet that sum of 0 money meant for her and her moth er independence and comfort the re moral of worry after long years of severe and frugal living one thing he was sure of it if aver knew how he felt she would not ac capt the bequest beque qt marsh reasoned 11 1 cannot ask her to give the fortune up and brinner knew I 1 would not funny how a dead man in his grave can tangle up the living under the stress of his suffering memories his thinking became a bit harv but he came to a decision he heard the jingling sleigh bells the hearty greetings as men came into tho the post office below him taint faint as they were they were clear enough to make him think of the wholesome friendly life of his village with the thought came his decision A friend in a northern city bad had written to him hiru repeatedly to join him where was wide and money ready he ile would go refuse to assume charge of the fund and shut the door quietly but firmly in his little house of dreams A week passed he ile did not see avery and pleaded as an excuse that he was very busy he was in the grievous business of 0 slowly sunder ing all ties that bound him to the home of his boyhood and his man mail hood sometimes he was doubtful of the tile wisdom of his purpose at times when I 1 his great longing for avery arole through the barriers his judgment had bet set at times when the dream castle loomed so brightly on the hills that they seemed almost real but ever and anon he returned once more 0 o his decision then came the incident that clinched the matter A friend bad had come in his voice with the news dick what do you think brinner has left A aery avery very 1 what makes you start the news I 1 I 1 should think it would and say As aery ery Is going to accept it I 1 1 I stopped in to get her to sing ai al the church fair and she told me about it said she would she was happy it his friends friend s face as its a lark over 1 this will make grew sober I 1 suppose a little difference with you but not serious serious I 1 marsh laughed bitterly his mind whirling at the thought of her acceptance he ile had hoped in a dim way wity she would refuse the money Ser serious fous no except im rm going to leave the village for or good I 1 the realization dawning up upon on him himself away under unde r that be had given his friend to sl the strain he swore sore lence and ha he heard him pounding muttering as 89 he down the stairs went ue ile turned to his desk dusk came down over the village lie did not hear avery until she stood beside him and the office then she spoke seemed filled with pleasant music dear ted isaore sw ore to keep his word to me eald he lie to you but he came tool foot promise as would keep no euca such he made yon I 1 think I 1 know all th it of the wrote me rhey la is wrong as banner told them to that money have charge of it yon were to you want me to have bave it for what you think Is mother a happiness and und MIMI if I 1 do to me won t come and you why I 1 I 1 know take it you see it 1 I be happy coulden couldn rit t take tale with it I 1 love you the village and the ones I 1 have known fr from om girlhood I 1 touch a penny of it lt because w it you 5 see ee 1 I knew how be he got but tie lie rose to his feet trembling accepted itt it I 1 you bit in a gleamed a her white feet teeth h for others I 1 im 90 going ing to aralle cent of it over to that hos turn every crippled kiddle kidd les S you know pital for that visit nearly the one we if visited lilt ed im ism seeing them heart broke my make his money y forget its going to I 1 black past 0 oh h my dear I 1 simply must hate you I 1 I 1 simply mull t I 1 take roe we tale and door say open opened ed sti a atly and ted stuck bis his ile head ad in gasped at what he and with the utmost skill ak II 11 I 1 softly aw paw it it lingeringly gently closed |
