Show x THE HIDDE r Wi L LEy Ey GLEN HATHA Y Copyright by Joseph D. D Bo Bodice id The were wore moving that first of May It was their fourth move In three years a very unusual record for fora a family of any to respectability In the staid little town And the Danforth name Danforth-name name had been one of or the tho I most most ost aristocratic there for many years First we lived In our own dear old home lome where I 1 was born Frances had enumerated the evening before sitting sitting sitting sit sit- ting on the tho porch In the soft April with her lover on the steps below her Then when Cousin Zebedee Zebe Zebe- Zebedee Zebedeo dee deo and the mortgage took that In spite of all aB our pinching and planning all the tho years I was growing up we had that nice house on River street The Tho next year we had to give that up as too expensive and move to this place that I might say something against but wont won't because because well well because because because be be- I cause I wont won't Dick she lucidly explained explained explained ex ex- with a downward smile at the young man who knew very well that she forgave the house its many faults for the tho sake of having found her romance romance ro roo ro- ro mance within Its walls But theres there's nothing but the lowness of rent in favor of the house were we're going to she ended Its cramp cramped d and shabby and I Inconvenient In very every way When I think how bow low far tar below the old home weve we've got In only three years I I-I I I realy fear we shall hall find ourselves moving to the prior poor farm one of these springs She tried to laugh but she finished I with a sudden catch in her bright I voice She was more than discouraged discouraged I aged with the family prospects and tired out with all the preparatory I packing and tearing up she had done that day Only strong determination kept her from tears If you would only move to my house one of these springs or springs or sooner sooner soon soon- er began Dick Stedman reaching up to take one of his sweethearts sweetheart's small brown hands that were pretty In spite of all the work they had had to do But Frances pulled It Impatiently away You couldn't afford to marry my whole family Dick even If wed we'd let you and they cant can't possibly spare me meas meas meas as work all and general manager manager manager mana mana- ger as long as the money comes In so slowly and the the children grow out of their clothes so so fast There dont don't let letus letus letus us waste any more time to-night to talkIng talking talk talk- Ing of or of what cant can't be If your great aunt only hadn't made such a cruelly unjust will Dick began began began be be- gan l again and again Miss Danforth cut rim mm fm short sport J If If wishes were horses then beggar beggars beg beg- gar gars would ride she noted absurdly My grand aunt did make her own will to suit herself as I probably shall If It ever I am am a wealthy old spinster and able to afford dislikes and what is the use of or Ifs Us Once more I suggest that you start some pleasanter topic this last of our evenings on this pleasant pleas ant old porch Apparently he obeyed for their talk grew toned lower and her pretty dark head and his comely fair one drew quite unnecessarily close to each other ather as It went on When he left which was early In consideration of ot other her busy to tomorrow there was the brightest of ot smiles on Miss Danforth's face as she went Into the parlor But Dut the smile smite faded as she looked round the familiar room The trail trait of the mover was already upon It The tacks were out of ot the carpet and the bo bookcase was emptied and its contents contents con con- tents piled in a corner The handsome furniture much furniture much too handsome and aristocratic in Its stately stately stately state state- ly old old fashion fashion for the cramped little room with Its cheap glaring gilt paper paper paper pa pa- per and worn carpet carpet bore bore traces of rough usage The Tho furniture had been the sole legacy legacy legacy leg leg- acy left Mr Danforth Dantorth by the will of his Aunt Deborah an eccentric old lady who had practically adopted him himas himas himas as a boy brought him up in idleness to expect her money and turned him out without a penny when he declined to marry to please her and did marry to please himself t When at length Miss Deborah died it was found that she had loft all her valuable antique furniture to her nephew us the last of the coupled with the provision that he should forfeit it If he ho ever attempted to sell a single piece and had bad bequeathed be be- her very considerable fortune fortune for fora tune to a n distant and already well-to- well do cousin Zebedee Zebedeo Smith by name Mr Danforth had philosophically accepted tho situation and the tho furniture furniture furniture furni furni- ture selling off the commoner things he already had to settle some bills of stan standing long with the tho proceeds and crowding his small rooms with u the richest of or carved oak and nd mahogany any most of which was presently still further decorated by the tho knives jack and heels boot of his Irrepressible boys 1 The Tho next day was one of storm and anil i stress to Frances on whom the weight of the household burdens always always al al- al ways fell Mr Danforth of course had to goto gO gOto go goto to the office and Mrs Danforth retired to a friends friend's house with her usual headache before the tho moving had fairly fair fair- Jy ly begun Frances was left to deal with the affair devoutly desiring to tobe tobe tobo be bo spared the assistance of or tho the four younger children safely dispatched to school who reveled rn tn confusion like petrels in a n tempest but had small Idea letea of work She fairly hated the tho costly old fur fur- i t t ev eve t i whip while she watched c carefully care carefully m fully over over overia 1 ia packing by the truck truck- men who w we were Inclined to tobe be Impertinent Impertinent nent neat to her a aBout ut Its weight and her ner care Even It could help them so much If only t y y were allowed to sell seH It The Tho w were e In a hurry to be through being pal by the Job and not by the load pile the things on recklessly high Wh Whet When p Frances ventured ventured ven veu to remonstrate t they ey were Insolent In in- solent Y tJ m The load was packed at t last The crowning piece was the beautiful old Inlaid secretary that h had had been the pride of Miss Deborah's l I library As B the horses moved under whip and oath the wagon started making king a too- too sharp turn into the roa road from its up packed-up position opposite e a the front gate the secretary trembled trebled led on Its unsteady perch totter perch fell and crashed In pieces on t the e sidewalk lk To Frances overwrought as she was In mind and body the accident seemed seemed seem seem- ed the last stroke of fate She sat down among the ruins and arid cried with her er apron to her eyes careless who might see her Dick Stedman saw her afar afat as he h came up the quiet shaded elm-shaded street and arrived on a run run In in his ety J My My d dearest arest girl what are you doing doIng doIng do- do Ing he cried Are you hurt or what has happened I Her pink cambric sweeping-cap sweeping was I wildly askew on her roughened dark hair and her small flushed face was I wet with tears and smeared with marks from her dusty apron but she was absurdly pretty In spite of all with her great dark eyes moist and shining and her soft childish mouth trying to keep from quivering Dont be alarmed Dick she said Im not hurt In the least but my Grandaunt Grand Deborah's writing desk has had an accident and is a noble wreck in ruinous perfection Behold it m I to lii I i i w j r c 1 Your Letters Will Be Blowing Slowing AllOver All AH Over the Street rIf If You Dont Don't Take Care with ith a tragic g gesture sture down at the ruins Who could deny a a. tear to such literally fallen grandeur Glue might do It more good th than n tears suggested Dick critically examining examining ex ex- the wreck Weve been so busy at the store that I couldn't get getoff getoff off oft to help you tl till 1 now but I thought that even this late you might have something for me to do Ill I'll begin by seeing what can be done for tor this desk Very little could be done for It evi evl dently The heavy fall on the stones had bad fairly split It to pieces Its spindle spindle spin spin- dle die legs legs' had sustained several compound compound compound com com- pound fractures one side was in splinters the drawers vers had hac fallen out and bits of del delicate debate ate Inlaying Inlay ing lag lay all about the pavement DI Dick k went on piling the pieces methodically at one side then movIng movIng moving Ing the main part picked up some papers papers papers pa pa- pers and rose roso to give them to Frances rances Your letters will bo be blowing al all allover allover over the street if you dont don't take care he said She Sho accepted them rather curl turf Letters were There-were none in the Iho desk No one had used it since grandaunt grandaunt grand grand- aunt did These must be some o ot of hers crowded out cf a drawer and In behind the frame somehow It cant can't be any harm to s see e what they are though I suppose She unfolded them as she spoke There was an unimportant receipted bill or two a tax assessment of th the year Miss Deborah died then a I looking legal-looking sheet of parchment I Deborah Danforth do make am and andI I publish this my last will and testament testament testa testa- ment read Frances Dick It must be It be-It It cant can't be it be-it it is another will o of hers hors and In my fathers father's favor Antis Andis Ant And is it dated after the one that disinherited disinherited him The Tho moved once more before be fore tore that spring had deepened Into summer Zebedeo Zebedee Smith was an honest hon est eat man if Ifa ita a hard one and the newfound newfound new now found will was unimpeachable lie did not attempt to resist i it an and Mr Danforth was liberal to him 1 In taking back his own And the tho Dan DaD moved mo into Miss Deborah Deborah's stately old stone house in time lime t to have Frances married from there A |