The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-07-19


naryl's wealth was concerned, / should
be left penniless-with the exception of
this conditionally granted income, in
consideration Of which my right of
dover was set aside, all of Mr.. May
nard's large fortune was willed to his
relatives. Think of it, Mr.. North, such
sweeping disregard of my rights"
The undercurrent Of indignation rip
pied the calm surface now Just for an
instant as these words were warmly ut
tered.
"Preposterous!" declared North, as he
made few brief dashes in his note
book while in his mind very trivial
question kept repeating itself: "Why
does she sometimes call him Mr.. May
nard and sometimes the major?'"
sand this, you see," continued Mrs
Maynard, delicate satire in her tones,
was the sympathy that Mrs. Dunlsirk
offered me: Mr.. Maynard used his own
discretion In the matter, and his right
to do so no one can dispute II was not
entirely his own discretion, az very
well know"
"Ahl then there was undue influence
exerted to induce him TO make this will?"
inquired North, quickly; thinking, with
the unconscious professional instinct
that no legal point, however slight or
extraneous, ever eluded: "If that were
proven, his will can easily be set aside,
when the time comes. wonder II this
has never occurred to her?"
Remember, have no proof Of this,
Mr.. North" Mrs. Maynard said, slowly,
as If answering his very thoughts.
Nevertheless, am convinced that he
was influenced to my disadvantage.
However, this Is depression. My un-
happy differences with Mr.. Maynard
are not at present under discussion,
believe"
North experienced a peculiar sensa-
ton as he listened to this direct allusioD
to the tragedy Of Mrs. Maynard's do
mestic life; but he smiled as composedly
rs II her last remark had been the
merest commonplace, and proceeded
with his inquiries.
MRS. Dunkirk's letter, then, 30 far
rs have cited it, refers TO this will, OF
which you had written her, and TO your
comments on it?"
eyes; that Is ALL"
"And now," continued North, tive
come to this terrible arraignment, on a
charge to which many Of us, fear,
would have to plead guilty: You were
always over fond of money Can It be
possible, Mrs. Maynard, that anything
ever occurred in the course Of your long
acquaintance with Mrs. Dunkirk that
would justify her In suspecting you OF
being the least particle mercenary In
your disposition"
Mrs. Maynard glancing up in surprise
and encountering an extremely quiz
zical expression in the keen gray eyes
that were regarding her so intently
hesitated for an instant, evidently un-
able to perceive the drift Of North's In
quiry. Then she said, speaking slowly
as II still specializing on his motives:
81 cannot say, Mr.. North, that ever
consciously did anything to warrant
Mrs. Dunkirk In forming such conclu-
sion. She was rather given TO hasty
Judgments, and she clung 10 her opin-
ions with great tenacity. She knew, of
course, that looked upon wealth as
one of the good things Of this life,
which should be glad TO possess. In
not that natural and proper wish7'
"oh, entirely sol l myself sympa-
thize with 1t very profoundly. as you
are doubtless aware. But did you ever
give Mrs. Dunkirk any reason TO sup
pose that you wished, hoped or ex.
pected TO be made her heir2"
would not such wish, hope or ex.
pectation be perfectly natural In view
Of the fact that she had actually made
her will in my favor?-ahl" she added
quickly as North's eyebrows were again
raised, 81 forgot the prerogatives, just
for the moment. Well, then, yes, Mr..
North; she knew that had some such
expectation. She herself intimated TO
me several times that she might make
me her heir"
"How far back does your personal
acquaintance with Mrs. DunlSirlS ex-
tend, Mrs. Maynard?" inquired North
abruptly.
The answer came slowly after an In
stant's silence.
"To the day Of poor, dear mammals
funeral, when Mrs. Dunlsirk came, in
answer TO mammals last request, TO
take me to her home"
Previous TO that day you had never
met Mrs. Dunltirls?"
"Never."
"But she was an intimate friend of
your mother's2"
80 far as i have ever been able to
learn, their acquaintance, though of
many years standing, had never been
intimate at ALL"
There was n perplexed expression on
North's face as he pondered this an
swer in silence for few moments with
his eyes bent upon his notebook. Then
he said slowly, raising his glance to
Mrs. Maynard's face:
"And yet, during her last illness,
your mother wrote TO Mrs. Dunlxirk-a
comparative stranger, as we must infer
that she was-requesting her TO take
you into her home and extend TO you,
so long as you should need II, a guar
dams care and protection; a request
which was made so urgently that Mrs.
Dunkirk was loathe TO disregard II.
Has this never seemed strange TO you,
Mrs. Maynard2"
II was evident that the strangeness
Of the fact had now occurred TO North