Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-31

for each Othor. ENCu WHCn oHO ""'
lite child Hattie had always preferred
to play with the older OF her two big
cousins.
Mr.. Walter Warringham was, there;
fore. n little astonished when he 1ound
in his mail q letter from Miss Beckford'
stating that she would arrive IN the city
On the noon train to morrow Shc was
coming on business, tho letter eXpr sSly
intimatod.
What business colld the girl have?
Probably she wanted money. What
bore, Walter thought of the long ST
of creditors he was pcstered with, and
on the scarcity Of cash. Then he rung
for the waiter, and ordered small bottle
of champagne.
With a yawn he took up the lettcr once
moro. At what hour was she to arrive?
Twelve o'clock What bore He wOnld
have to get up early in the morning to
meet Eor at the station. COnfound tn Sc
women folkl They are always bother
ing a fellow
Then Mr. Walter Warringham drank
his champagne and went over into the
carG-roOm, where, in the course of the
evening, he lost several hundred dollars
He was still in the same mislnthrOpit
mood as the day before, when he wenl
to the station the following morning ir
order to meet his cousin.
He took her to the hotel, and, aftel
both had had luncheon, expressed some
curios tv as to the nature Of her DuSi
ness, VIII ch was so important that II
made her personal attention necessary
She was very willing to enlighten hin
on that point.
"My conscience is troubling me-" Hat
tic said 81 think l am really very
wicked. wicked girl. But then it was sc
soon after poor auntie'S death, and J
could hardly think of anything. SO
lust said yes to everything"
The thought of her dead aunt 1lleJ
the girls eyes with tears. She brushed
them away with her pocket handker-
chief.
Walter looked bored. What in the
world was the girl driving at? What
had she to be troubled in conscience Tor!
He suggested that she might pro. erl!
come to the point.
"But since | have become calmer,
Hattie resumed, 81 have been thinking
it over. | am really just like a th'ef anC
robber. What right have to all tha'
money!"
Walter in blank astonishment siareC
at the Young lady who asked such al
unheard-of question Was she era y
Did she really mean to resign her for
tune in hi, favor? Anything might b.
expected from a silly girl with her heat
stuffed full of romantic notions.
al do not understand you, Hattie" n
said.
Miss Beckford eagerly replied: "Why
am not robbing poor Ralph2 Does i
not all of right belong to him? thlnl
it is my duty to give 1t all to the rlgh'
full owners.
Walter still stared at her, but his star
was now expressive of Indignation.
"Nonsense!" he exclaimed harShly, al
most rudely. "Who put that FOOLS
notion into your head?"
"Nobody put it into my head, and
don't think it is foolish notion.
mean to do right" the girl said, a lttl
testify, for she resented the tone l
which Walter had spoken.
"Let me tel you that Ralph has
more right to your money than the ma
in the noon"
"Why, Walter, is he not your brothC
Should he not share equally with you!
"Ho has been disinherited, and prol
criy so, by our mother, because he ha
d;sgrace1 himself and the family"
"Walter, you should not speak thus
Ralph; he is your brother, whatever h
may have done"
"Brother or not, it served him ri9h
Besides" " Mr. Warringham added, snee
inglv. "he always said he wanted to ear
his living. Now he has a chance
do So"
"For shame, Waltcr!" The girls eye
flashed. "Bat am resolved to restol
to him what is his due, and therefore
came TO you.
@Nonsepse!" Walter, in his exaspcr
lion. now forgot all show of politeneS
"You don't know what you are sayln
Throw away fifteen thousand year
if it was nothing"
at is mine. can do with it whatev
/ please" IA,
"Can you?" Walter replied with
sreer 81 think not. Not for son
time. Have you forgotten that you a
still minor, Hattie? Not accent OF
can you dispose of without my consent
Hattie was silent for few moment
She knew too we'll that Walter spoke Il
truth.
aBut YOU will surely not withhold yo
consent in this case? only mean TO
my plain duty. ,.a
; consent"
. at can be Indifferent to you wheth
am rich or poor"
at would be against my duty, as 20
guardian, to allow you to commit such
nreposterous folly. You are acting Ii
a child, on the spur Of the momel
After a short time you would blame
for having permitted your quixotic
bayior. and you would have right
, hold me responsible.
While Walter spoke he assumed
tremendous, fatherly dignity that look
, most Iudicrous, considering the sm
difference in age between the two.
81 am not acting on the spur OF
moment. | have thought it over deli6'
ate'y and come to the conclusion INA
have no moral right to the possession
. Ralph's fortunes.
"Vell. you will have to carry this 10
on your conscience as long as l nave a
authority over you" ~
The girl knitted her brows. ina
Cod that will not be forever"
, Wa ter laughed. "After you are t"'
tv-one wears old you may give yo
, money to whomsOever you like, " he sa
, hut oddod in his thoughts "YOu v
have changed your mind by that time;
. if not, | will find means to change IT,
0 Hattie Beckford stayed in the city ol
0 few days. She called on few frlen
! and once met Jack Spofford on the sure