The herald., 1896-11-06


fourth part Of the proceeds of the sale of
the deceased's goods, but what was mere
fourthp
The other three-fourths were left of all |
things to the Moxford union, ''to help
them to train up moro girls like Joan
Smith. Those were tho very words
To the three girls Of Mr.. ard Mrs Peter
tho three largest mirrors in the establish
ment of 80 were boqueathed, without COM
ment. Mr. Walter Dattcrsby was not even
mentioned, nor was Mrs. Peter.
Mr.. Cameron received e10O, and so did
tho deceased's old friend Mr.. Craven
Lastly Joan was mentioned. Sho was
to have years wages, all the furniture of
her own bedroom and the large scrapbook
for which she had so often piled scissors
and paste and which contained curious
items of newspaper intelligence during the
last 80 years.
"There, gentlemen and ladies' that ia
ALL said Mr.. Cameron, "and now you
must excuse me. leave you with my CO.
trustee, Mr.. Craven"
Zone moment, SIR" interposed Mr.
Peter, to whom his wife had whispered
much. "What's become of all his money
in the bank? He must have had thou
sands. -
answered Mr.. Cameron, referring to a
note, was just 95 ss. 1od. After the
funeral expenses are paid'-
"What's he dono with it?" cried Mrs
Potter, reddcr of face than ever.
81 cannot tell YOU, madam. Good morn
ing!' said the lawyer, who then wisely left
them to fight the matter out among them
selves But before he went he, with his
own hands, carried to Joan in her kitchen
the unwieldy old scrapbook and told her
that it was her property as well as tho
furniture of her room.
Come, cheer up, my girl'' he said at
parting. "Iour master was fond of you,
and he would rather sec you bright than
downcast And remember that am your
friend, if you should happen to want one."
Joan thanked Mr.. Cameron and then,
having reyerently kissed the old book put
it on one side.
Mrs. Peter, before she parted, thought
well to trespass in the kitchen and say
some cruel things to Joan. But somehow
the girl did not mind them very much
now.
Then Seth looked in again and said she
was to come up to his mothers that even
ing. If she didn't, he should fetch her.
And to make sure of having her ho carried
OH tne Dig ScrapDOOh.
Mrs. Peter Battersby did something else
before she left SO.
Together with her disappointed son and
darling Walter, she climbed the stairs to
Joan's little attic and took hammer with
her
"It's the very kind of spiteful thing he'd
be likely to do she said, "but I'll not
l..
| for workhouse brat"
Mr.. Peter left her to her own devices.
He, Mr.. Craven and the three vexed-in-
deed insulted-girls went away together
Then Mrs. Peter studously searched
Joan's attic from wall to wall She turn
ed out tho girls one tin box, looked in the
drawer of the washstand, ripped up the
paillasse outrageously and threw the straw
all about and treated the bolster with equal
brutality
| There was also handsome old oak ward
robe that would have graced even a royal
bedchamber This was for Joans three
or four poor frocks.
twas quite laughablo to see how moth
or and son tapped and probed this antique
piece of furniture They even knocked Off
the head of n lion in relief at tho top of it
to see if there was a secret cavity behind
the head
But the wardrobe taught them no more
than the paillasse and the bolster
"Well, IN off to the Hen and Chickens,
said Walter Battersby at length. 1--WE had
enough Of this.
So, too, had Mrs. Peter, for there was
not an article in the room that she had not
thoroughly tested.
The sun was still above the cemetery hill
Goth Jl>I ,% s,, +; to- Il
Crime and his workaday grease
cart ready, my lassp" he inquired of
Joan.
The girl began to make excuses
"It's not right, Seth, to leave the house
with no one in it, He wouldn't have liked
It," she said.
cts not right, Joan, to make promise
and not keep it, retorted Seth "Come,
now, I'm not going to leave you to NOPE
your eyes out. Do you mean to make me
carry your"
She was persuaded with difficulty.
Then it was revelation of character to
see how she locked one door after another
and pocketed the different keys
Anybody 'ud think the things were all
yours, JOAN" said Seth admiringly.
| 'It's the same to me as If they were, ="
she answered, with the tone of fresh tears
But Seth hurried her off before she could
break down again and soon had her in
the little red brick cottage he shared with
his mother.
Old Mrs. Peter had in her younger days
been servant herself. She had true
woman's sympathy for Joan and discern
ment enough to know that her son might
do far worse than marry such girl
1t was as comfortable meal as any in
Moxford with the cat purring on the
hearth all the time.
Afterward the talk turned solidly upon
old Carmel and his singular bequests te
Joan.
"The money and the furniture'll be USE
full enough to you, child" said old Mrs
Perry, "but the idea of leaving you thing
like thatr' pointing to the scrapbook
81 used to be so fond of it, stammered
Joan. "Ihe times we've sat together, him
pasting and mo cutting what he had
marked"
She rose and lifted the big book on the
table, united it's strings and opened it.
"Why, what's this?' exclaimed Seth as
bank note for Gl00 appeared.
Joan turned pale as she took it up. 1t
was indorsed ON the back, PAY to Joan
Smith, and no one else"
Ere they had finished looking through
the book they found 21 other notes of ex-
actly the same kind.
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