If persons not directly concerned in the ten thousand dollar legacy

were surprised what word can adequately describe the emotion of Martin

Landis when Amanda's verbal report of it was duly confirmed by a legal

notice from the lawyer!

"Good guns, Mom!" the man said in astonishment. "I can't make it out! I

can't get head nor tail out the thing. What ailed Becky, anyhow? To do

a thing like that! I feel kinda mean takin' so much money. It ought to

go to Amos and Mary. They got five thousand apiece and somebody said

the farms will bring more than Becky thought and by the time they are

sold and everything divided Amos and Mary will get about eleven

thousand each. It's right for them to get it, but it don't seem right

for me to have it."

But Millie soon paid a visit to the Landis home and repeated many of

the things Aunt Rebecca had told her those last evenings by the light

of the little oil lamp. "She said, Mr. Landis, that one day she was

lookin' at the big Bible and come across an old valentine you sent her

when you and she was young. It said on it, 'If I had the world I'd give

you half of it.' And that set her thinkin' what a nice surprise she

could fix up if she'd will you some of her money. And she said, too,

that Jonas was a good man but it worried her that she broke off with a

poor man to marry a rich one when she liked the poor one best. I guess

all that made her so queer and crabbit. She never let on when she was

well that she wished she'd married you but when she come to die she

didn't care much if it was found out. You just take that there money

and enjoy it; that's what Rebecca wanted you should do."

"Yes, I guess she wanted me to have it," the man said thoughtfully.

"But it beats me why she did it. Why, I'd almost forgot that I ever

kept company with her and was promised to marry her. It's so long ago."

"Men do forget," said Millie. "I guess it's the women that remember.

But the money's for you, that's her will, and she said I should be sure

to see that the will is carried out and that the money goes where she

said."

"Yes--we can use it. We'll be glad for it. I wish I could say thanks to

Becky for it. It don't seem right by Amos and Mary, though."

"Ach, they don't need it. They got lots a'ready. The only ones that

begrudge it are the relations of Jonas. None of them come to shake up a

pillow for poor Rebecca or bring her an orange or get her a drink of

water, but they come when the will was read. I just like to see such

people get fooled! They wanted a lot and got a little and you didn't

expect nothin' and look what you got! There's some nice surprises in

the world, for all, ain't!"




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