The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-06-04
HER INHERITANCE.

If any relatives of the late James
landlord, some time curato Of Widston,
be still living, they may hear Of some
thing to their advantage by applying to
Messrs. Dodd &c Son solicitors, King
street.
Barbara Reed put down the paper with
a jerk. Il wonder if that means me.
she said thoughtfully. "My GRANDPA
theirs name was certainly James Hand
ford, and ] know he was a curate. but
did not know there was any money in
the family"
"f you think it worth while go TO
Messrs. Dodd 81 Son and find out" =" sue-
gested sharp featured, elderly lady
who was stitching at the table opposite
"Of course ! Wilt Why, there may
be $4,000 waiting for ME there"
"Or five pounds, more likely" supple
mented the stitcher
Barbara laughed
"Td rather think OF the thousands,
Mrs. Stewart; they would be very much
more TO my advantage" 81"
81 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 SEQ it" returned thatlady sig
nificantly
Barbara flushed as she left the room
to get her cloak and bonnet and set out
for home Sho was the music mistress
in Mrs, Stewards school, and had been
one of the most promising pupils in il
before that she was almost alone in the
world, except for a distant aunt with
whom she lived, and after school DAYS
ended it became necessary that she
should do something toward keeping IN
the little household, sho 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 it had been in the days when she was
quite a 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?
| 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
journey into the city, to King street.
"King street, That is an expedition"
Isn't it! But | have some idea Of
coming into fortune, and that is the
place l am to apply to"
Mr.. Lawrence's face showed such gem
uine interest in the news that Barbara
| speedily told him all she knew, perhaps
\ with a little unconscious exsggeration
/ by way Of justifying her first announce
ment.
"You viii be sure and let me know
the result of your expedition?" he said
earnestly, with lingering clasp of her
hand, as he loft her at the corner of her
own street. d shall be anxious to hear,
and no one deserves such a 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 Barbaral it's not often you
find your way to this quarter" he said,
as he held out his hand. 1t was a brown,
ungloved hand, and bore evident traces
Of hard service Barbara gave the tips
of her fingers rather coolly, contrasting
it with the well shaped, yellow gloyed
one that had pressed her a little before.
Il came on some business, Mr.. Grant, "
she said. 81 believe there is a legacy
waiting for me. 1t 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 a very different
matter from this" returned Barbara
stifly 81 had better not detain you any
longer, Mr.. Grant"
"And that is the man Mrs. Stewart
thinks is worth half a dozen of Alfred
Lawrence, said Barbara to herself az
she walked into Messrs. Dodd S5 Sons
office. "Itsoems to be a decided virtue
in some peoples eyes to have coarse
hands and shabby coats
Her face was several shades Longer
when she came ont again. MessIs. Dodd
g. Son had not received her with by any
means the respectful enthusiasm she had
expected. There had been awkward
questions about proofs and genealogie'
that she had not been prepared to an
' swer; indeed, she half faucied that they
took her for am imposior, they had beer
so reluctant TO part with any informa
ton. She should hC from them in q
few days, and in the I4..uume she mus
kindly ill in the answers 10 ooertaiu ques
tions on a paper they had given her,
Mr Lawrence sympathized with hel
! over the delay almost as deeply as sh,
! did with herself when she told him thl
result of her visit the next day. Barbari
b was quite struck with the way he seem
2 ed TO enter into an her feelings
John Grant was the next person {,
whom she had 20 explain her nonsuo
cess.
"Just what ! expected, Miss Bar
5 bara, said be cheerfully "One
never sTre Of "a chance Of that kind Ill
one actually has it. wouldn't bull,
upon it if / were in your place"
"You don't seem to have had a fortu
nate experience in that way, retortel
Barbara uugratofully at is only de
ferred in this case, and am in no hurr!
for a few days
"Daysl echoed John "A man in ou
, Office has waited years, and is likely d
wait, so far as / can see.
Ten days later came the much locke,
for communication from Dodd & Son.
D 1--WE are in receipt Of Miss Reed
paps<, and would assure her the matte
shall have our best attention" etc
Barbara flung it into her desk with
disappointed face. It was tedious to b
obliged to wait in suspense like this. Sh
would scarcely know how to get througl
tho time but for Mr.. Lawrence's atten
ton and warm interest in the upshot,
John Grants indifference, not to sa
! .--.n-lcl-l. ON Lna .nEl..L LLra-- nm N