Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-22
CHAPTER w.
a FTER ALL.

When Lady Temple answered her has
bands summons she found him pacing the
small room set apart for his business trans
actions, with perpleXed look on his kind
ly face, and with an excitement of manner
strangely at variance with his usual quiet
air Of happy self possession. She turned
from Sir John to his companion, but there
was nothing to alarm her; only cool
looking dried up lath OF man, who greet
ed her with little nod like bow, but did
not open his lips.
Perhaps there are few homes to which
bad news can scarcely come, but Temple
Court was one of these. There were no
daughters to elope or make bad matches,
no sons to bring disaster or dishonor, equal:
ly there were none for death to touch. So
although there might be tinge of anxiety,
there was no real alarm in Lady Temples
tone as she inquired of her husband what
had happened.
Sir John stopped in his walk and passed
his hand across his brow as If to clear away
some trouble there.
"Something very strange, my dear, SO
strange that 1 seem scarcely to know if ]
have really heard it or have only gone to
sleep and dreamed it,"
"YOu are Wide-aWake, Sir John Temple
There amt no dreaming about this. Per-
haps her ladyship would like to see the pa
pers, though they are only copies. The
originals can be seen at my place over in
Ottawa, any day you like to come over and
ask for 'em, Sir John, and that is what ne
had better do at once, ma'am."
"What does he mean? What is it all
about Tell me, Sir John"
"Sit down, my love-" and Sir John Tenn
pie drew up chair for his wife, and took
one close beside her 50 that he could put
one of his big brown hands on her small
white ones as he talked. "YOu see, my
dear, we have always looked upon Morton
as the one to come after me here when
am gone, and now from what this gentle
man tells me-and I see no reason to doubt
his statement-that can never be. 1t is 6
shock, my dear, for both of us, and for pOol
Morton. How shall tell him?"
"Tell him what, my dear p" Nay, Mr.
Hinckes will tell me-what is it that ha:
happened Mr.. Hinckes 20
dwell, you see, my lady, we have go
what YOU call "the rightful heir" over yOn
der, my own nephew and Sir Johns here
"It's Just this, my love-" put in Sir John
who had recovered his composure. "My
poor brother Robert, our apegrace, yOl
| know, whom we all belle I'd to have beer
lost on his way to America years ago, wa
not lost at all, it seems, but saved to live TO
many years. He has only died lately IL
"April the 18th, at twenty minutes afte
nine p. NJ" said Mr.. Hinckes.
"He had married Mr.. Hinckes' sister, VIII
"September the 4th, 1877" again inter
rupted Mr. Hinckes.
"And leaves behind a son, my nephew
and consequently my heir; Robert as yo1
know, coming before Morton's father"
Lady Temples tears were falling fast.
"Poor Morton it is hard-cruelly hard
He has 50 loved the place There is not
tree-nay, not blade of grass that was no
dear to him."
at is, it is; heaven knows / feel it. Well
well, we can only do our best for him unde
the changed circumstances, and try" sai
Sir John with gulp, ''to love my nephew
my heir"
"Waal now, Sir John, I'll leave you an
your lady to talk it over. There's the ba
with the documents, etc. You jest look 'er
over before / come agen tomorrow. pr
sorry for you, Sir John Temple. You, too
my lady; also for the young man. Tain
pleasant to think place like this is a-goi
to be yours, and then all of a sudden fin
it's a goin to be some one else's. 1t chaW
a man up naturally. Pm mortal sorry, br
rights right, as I know you feel yoursel
sir John;" and Mr.. Hinckes held out h
, hand in farewell.
"You will take some dinner, M
Hinckes 2"
"No 1 thank you, ma'am; the Temp
| Arms, where I am at present located,
more in my way than Temple Court, so e
5 yew'll excuse me I'll say adoo."
| Long after Mr.. Hinckes had taken h
departure, Sir John and Lady Temple s.
1 hand-in-hand in the little room silent an
) sorrowful.
The dressing and dinner gongs sounde
( but they did not stir.