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!"