Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-25
HER INHERITANCE.

landlord, some time cul'ate of Widston,
be still living. they may hear of some
thing to their advantage by applying to
Messls. Dodd e. Son, solicitors, King
street."
Barbara Reed put down the paper with
jerk. II wonder if that means me, !"
she. said thoughtfully MY grandfa-
theirs name was certainly James Hand
ford, and ! know he was curate, but I
did not know there was any money in
the family"
IF you think X worth while 20 to
Messrs. Dodd & Son and find out sug-
gested sharp featured. elderly lady,
who was stitching at the table opposite.
'"Of course will! Why, there may
be 900 waiting for me there"
"Or five pounds, more likely" supple
mented the stitcher.
Barbara laughed.
I'D rather think of the thousands,
Mrs. Stewart; they would be very much
more to my advantage"
II know of something that would be
more to your advantage than all the
money you are ever likely to get from
advertisements, if you had but the good
sense to see it," returned that lady sig
nifcantly.
Barbara flushed as she left the room
to get her cloak and bonnet and set out
Tor home. She was the music mistress
in Mrs. Stewards school, and had been
one OF the most promising pupils in it
before that; she was almost alone in the
world, except for distant aunt with
whom she lived, and after school days
ended it became necessary that she
should do something toward keeping up
the little household, she had been very
glad when Mrs. Stewards proposal to
retain her for the younger girls music
lessons saved her from applying to
strangers.
Still, notwithstanding her obligations,
there were times when Barbara felt
strongly disposed to protest against that
ladys authority, which was pretty much
as 1t had been in the days when she was
"quite child" as Barbara often phrased
it to herself "She never seems to re-
member that am grown up and able to
manage my own affairs. 1t does not
follow that because was her pupil once
she has any right to interfere in the mat
ter now"
She was marching down the road, her
head well up, while she argued the mat
ter out to her own satisfaction, when
some one quietly fell into step behind
her. The shadow vanished from her
brow like morning mist as she looked
up
what are you in such hurry for?
l could scarcely keep you in sight," in
Quired the newcomer.
1t was the subject of Mrs. Stewards
admonition, her drawing master-clever
enough at his profession, but of his
industry and general dependableness
she had not the highest opinion. Not SO
Miss Barbara, who was fast developing
very warm sentiment for the good
looking young artist
II am going home to deposit my
music; after that think of making q
journey into the city, to King street."
"King street! That is an expedition
'Isn't it! But l have some idea Of
coming into fortune, and that is the
place / am to apply to- "
Mr.. Lawrence's face showed such gen.
uine interest in the news that Barbara
speedily told him all she knew, perhaps
with little unconscious exaggeration
by way of justifying her first announce
ment.
"You will be sure and let me know
the result of your expedition he said
earnestly, with lingering clasp of her
hand, as he left her at the corner of her
own street. II shall be anxious to hear,
and no one deserves such fortune bet
ter than yourself"
In King street she ran full against a
plain, rather commonplace young man
coming out Of one of the warehouses.
"Why. Miss Barbara! it's not often you
find your way to this quarter" he said,
as he held out his hand. Itwas brown,
ungloved hand, and bore evident traces
Of hard service. Barbara gave the tips
OF her fingers rather coolly, contrasting
it with the we'll shaped, yellow gloved
one that had pressed her little before.
n came on some business, Mr.. Grant,"
she said. 81 believe there is legacy
waiting for me. It was advertised in
the papers, and am going to see the So
licitors about it now"
John Grant laughed.
."Well, hope you may get it, Miss
Barbara. For myself, I've never had
much faith in legacies since wasted
twenty-five shillings once in answering
advertisements about one."
THAT may have been very different
matter from this" returned Barbara
stifay. 81 had better not detain you any
longer, Mr.. Grant"
"And that is the man Mrs. Stewart
thinks is worth half dozen of Alfred \
Lawrence" said Barbara to herself, as
she walked into Messrs. Dodd & Sons
office. ut seems to be decided virtue
in some peoples eyes to have coarse
hands and shabby coats"
Her face was several shades longer
when she came out again. Messrs. Dodd
q Son had not received her with by any
means the respectful enthusiasm she had
expected. There had been awkward
questions about proofs and genealogies
that she had not been prepared to an
swer; indeed, she half fancied that they
took her for an impostor, they had been
SO reluctant to part with any informa-
ton. She should hear from them in
few days, and in the meantime she must
kindlyfill in the answers to certain ques-
tions ON paper they had given her.
Mr.. Lawrence sympathized with her
over the delay almost as deeply as she