The record-union., 1896-08-02

What kind of a man is this Patrick
Darcy?" l asked.
"A hard man. Very close about
money. He is a good deal younger
than my uncle
rs he married?"
mo, he never married: his one idea
is to save money. l don't know what
will become of it when he dies, for he
has no one of his own
This was satisfactory, and I took my
leave as soon as / could, feeling a lit
tie ashamed of my apparently motive
less curiosity which, l could see, sur
prised my old friend somewhat
The first thing I did on reaching
home was to take Master Humphrey
from the bookshelves and make sure
that the will was quite safe. Next
morning l took it to my own solicitor,
who assured me that it was valid
will, properly executed. He also prom
ised to make inquiries about Patrick
Darcy. And these inquiries proved
satisfactory, for in a few days he in
formed me that Patrick Darcy was a
well-to-do man and mark for a far
larger sum than the one due to Anas-
tasia Ffrench
day or two later, therefore, I pre-
sented myself again at Mrs. Powers.
Il have brought you a wedding pres
ent, my dear" I said to Sister Anna,
handing her the three volumes of
Master Humphrey"
"Of course" 1 added, seeing the look
of surprise that Mrs Power could not
entirely conceal; you shall have the
orthodox bracelet or claret-jug later on;
this is only preliminary
Indeed, DR.. Moran" said Sister Anna.
I don't think anything could give me
greater pleasure than this; it is just like
the copy of Master Humphrey we had
at ome.Why,I do believe it is the actual
book. Here is the very pencil-mark
that poor uncle was so angry with me
for making. Where did you get this,
DR.. Moran? Was it from Patrick
Darcy?'
Il bought it, my dear, at a second
hand book shop a year or two ago. 1t
was only the other day discovered that
you had an interest in it. Turn to the
picture of Barnaby and his raven l
think you will find something there
that concerns you''
She turned the pages with a practised
hand until she reached the one she
sought.
Obi" she exclaimed here is my
uncle's writing. How strange it seems
to find it here
Read it, 1 said.
She glanced quickly over it, the color
fading out of her cheek as she did
So ut is the WILL" she gasped-"my
uncle's will"
Mrs. Power was by her side in a mo-
ment.
Nonsense, Annie; how could your
uncle's will have found it's way into Dr.
Moran's book? Here, let me see it."
And She took the paper from the girls
passive hand
questioningly.
Yes, my dear" I said, sit is all right;
have shown the will to my solicitor,
and he says that you will have no diff
Guilty in making good your claim to the
money your uncle intended for YOU
But l do not understand" said Mrs
Power. How did the will come into
your possession, DR.. MOran?"
when I bought these books, with
some others, I found the will lying as
you see, between the leaves. 1 thought
that it was probably discarded will,
invalidated by the existence of a later
one. I meant, however, to make some
inquiries about it; but, before l had time
to do so, / received the news of Philips
accident, which put all minor matters
out of my head for long time. 1 for
got all about the will until it was re-
called to my mind a few days ago by
the sound of the name Anastasia
French You must forgive me for my
my dear; it is owing to
me that you did not come into posses
sion of your money year ago.
Il am more grateful to you if possi-
BILE, for having forgotten the will last
year than for having remembered it
now. Had you made its existence
known year ago, 1 would not, in all
be here to-day
Il did not think of that aspect of the
case. Then you would have given up
had you known that you need
not do SO as a means of livelihood?"
Certainly not; but 1 should in that
case have done volunteer work, and SO
never have known Mrs. Power"
Nor Laurence" supplemented that
lady. II think he has the strongest
motive of all for being grateful to DR.
Moran. But what has become of this
now? Annie's uncle has been
dead three years.
1.-THE money is perfectly safe, and
probably well invested. Patrick Darcy
is, by all accounts, not at all the man
to let money lie idle"
And can Annie get it back?'
Certainly; there will be little or no
difficulty about that So you may begin
to see about your trousseau at once,
Miss Annie. I suppose that marriage
need not be delayed now,'' / said, turn
ing to Mrs. Power.
Certainly not Three thousand
pounds will make all the difference be-
tween a foolish marriage and a prudent
one. Don't you think you could be
ready in six weeks, Annie?''
II do not know about that" said An
nie; ''but I am certain Laurence could
not. Had we not better say six months,
Mrs. Power?"
AS a matter of fact, however, the
took place the following
spring. Laurence was manager of
branch of the bank by that
time. so that the young people had to
make their home in a small seaport
town some thirty miles from Marshport
My wedding present to Sister Anna
did not, after all consist of either bracelet
or cIaret jug, but of a small collection
Of books, some of them her old favor
ties, others specimens of more modern
literature. I have not yet seen her
home: but she writes me word that
Master Humphreys Clock" stands in
the middle of the book-shelves, more
IL, q, to