Then they went in. They found Cousin Winnie standing by a console in the
hall, with a strange look on her face.
“Really!” said she. “This is--Look at this!”
And she held out to them a check for five thousand dollars, drawn by
Cousin Ronald to her order.
“Listen!” she said, and began to read:
“MY DEAR WINNIE:
“An unexpected stroke of good fortune enables me to tender to you
this small token of my profound appreciation of your kindness
toward me in a dark hour. I beg that you will honor me by accepting
it.
“Furthermore, it occurs to me that this cottage, hallowed as it is
to me by its associations, is scarcely suitable in its present
condition for a winter residence for ladies accustomed to modern
conveniences. I shall endeavor to arrange for the installation of
electricity, and I am this afternoon going into the city to consult
with an expert upon the advisability of a small furnace.
“I shall be somewhat late in returning. Indeed, my dear Winnie, I
should prefer that you read this in my absence, and to consider--”
“That’s all that matters,” said Cousin Winnie, hastily, folding up the
letter.
“No! Read the rest!” her child firmly insisted.
“No,” Cousin Winnie asserted. “I--I prefer not.”
“But why?” Lucy began, and then stopped, staring at her mother.
“Mother!” the girl exclaimed.
“Don’t be silly!” said Cousin Winnie, severely.
“Merciful Powers!” Lucy remarked, with a shocking mimicry of Cousin
Ronald’s manner. “I fear this is another compromising letter!”
“It is not, at all!” Cousin Winnie declared indignantly. “Nothing could
be more honorable and--”
Then suddenly they all began to laugh. Cousin Ronald, coming up the
path, heard them. He thought it was an agreeable thing to hear,
suggestive of that fine, old-fashioned home life.
MUNSEY’S
MAGAZINE
AUGUST, 1926
Vol. LXXXVIII NUMBER 3