The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-10-28
HEREDITY.
BY LEONORA B. HALSTED.

What is the news, my little polite
ian? said Mr.. Walt, coming out on the
deep porch that faced the sea, and
finding his daughter deep in the
many pages of a morning paper.
She looked up with a troubled
face. Oh, there is another strike, on
the railroad this time; and l am so
sorry for-everybody! Really, it
makes me teel wicked in being so
happily placed, SO surrounded with
comforts, when others are in trouble
who need them far more than | do.
What have | ever done that l should
have such gifts?
You mustn't take morbid view
of things, my dear, said her father
appropriating part Of the paper. 1t
wouldn't help the strikers for you to
have less, and you certainly have
better right to it than they.
Why have l?
Because l give it to you and |
do0't give it to them, most emphat-
icaily, he answered with a short
laugh, his face clouding as he glanced
down the columns that told of the
efforts to wreck trains and burn
bridges. Ethel was silent for a
while, reading the news in a per-
functory way with her mind on the
unsolved problem that perplexed
her.
Presently young Fordyce came
across the carefully tended lawn
from a neighboring cottage, and
found Miss Walt gazing cut on the
deep blue sea with eyes that did not
note the exquisite gradations of color.
She started when he said good
morning, and her father laughed at
her.
She is in brown study over the
rights Of property, he explained to
the young man. She wants me take
a half dozen ragamuffi rs in her
place because she has been comfort
able so long that she thinks she
ought to be uncomfortable a while.
| decline to make the exchange.
Could you support a half dozen
ragamuftins for what | cost you?
asked Ethel, rather wisttuliy, dis
regarding the rest OF her fathers
speech, and glancing at Mr.. Fordyce
as if to enlist his sympathies.
I'm sure | don't know; but l am
very we'll aware thS don't mean to
try, replied Mr.. Walt, with certain
sternness coming into his face.
What is the matter? asked For
dyce, settling himself as if he meant
to be umpire | don't clearly under
stand the point at issue. Mr., Walt
had returned 20 his paper and Ethel
had to explain.
The trouble is in me. she said
gravely enough, but with a winsome
expression that the yong man found
very charming. What right have
to all the comforts and luxuries that
surround me when l have done
nothing to earn them and many
work hard and suffer much without
gaining them7 | can't help feeling
that | am making use Of stolen
goods.
A compliment to your father, in,
terpolated Mr.. Walt grimly.
see Miss Ethel's trouble, said
Fordyce. She can understand that
you earn the money and therefore
have a right to it bat why should she
be your daughter and come in for a
share of your Property instead 0
sharing the poverty OF some unhappy
creature in the slums?
Yes that is one part said Ethel
BY what justice am | my father
daughterP
Can figs grow on thistles2 remarked
Mr.. Walt.
| think your father has hit tn,
solution, said Fordyce, turning t.
the girl, whose dark blue eyes me
his earnestly.
Each person is only part of ;
whole, as the twig is OF the branch
and the branch OF the tree, and The
tree of the species. A rose can
blossom out of an oak, nor an acorl
fall from a cypress. No mure Cal
you be the child of some ignorant
drunken ceature who has throw
away all his chances instead OF i'm
proving them as your father has
You have not only an inheritanc
but an heredity from your ancestors
and the chaacter is the cause c
the wealth, for it means energy ant
intelligence. You ate the heir c