Chapter 44

The fund set up by uncle Edward in the middle twenties was for Jeanette Marguerite Stewart only (See chapter 15). It was a kind of insurance in case something happened to Campbell who had returned from the war BLIND. I remember that checks came about twice a year and they were endorsed by mother and hers alone. All I remember of them is the impressive BANK of ENGLAND logo on the envelopes. She never divulged the amounts of money. But I knew that they were hers as long as she was Mrs. Stewart and would expire in 1945. Campbell had already received his share of the family fortune from Uncle Edward who was executor and I have described that in earlier chapters. So, she had no intention of changing her name to Hopf - not until 1945. This was 1935 when we moved to Des Plaines! So now Eric was living with us in this house out on the north edge of Des Plaines! He was sharing a sleeping porch with Campbell's teen age son, had no job, and became once again - mother's chauffeur - this time with his own old car! He did not have to contribute any money as mother was taken care of. He had been living in Hopf's two flat occasionally fixing watches for his father and helping him in the maintenance of the building. They had furnished the upstairs flat with the furniture from the Tudor house we just left and so got more money in rent from it. The Hopf's - old Gerta whom I loved! - were thrilled to see their grandson when mother and Eric came to the two flat for one of their frequent visits. Once Gerta took me aside and whispered to me, "How is your papa - is he all right?" She cared about Campbell. I told her about his comfortable place in the Shufelt home and she smiled and was relieved to hear it. I loved seeing Gerta. She was a wonderful German cook and had a kind and generous heart. Old Adolf, Eric's father - not so much. I could see where Eric acquired many of his prejudices as Adolf disliked Jews and Blacks, and let everybody know it! Appalling!