The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-10-16
A HIDDEN LEGACY.


ested this June day in the funeral of old |
Carmel Battcrsby, whose picturesque hob |
bic and long gray locks would never again |
enliven the street
He had kept the curiosity shop for about |
so years The Old spinning wheels, spar |
TOW legged chairs, carved oak bureaus, |
china of all sorts, war medals, Watches, |
coins, etc, would, no doubt, now go 10
the hammer Moxford would miss the |
attractive window Of 80 almost as much us
the Quaint form of It's late owner.
Peter Battersby and Mrs. Peter were
carly ON the scene in decent black.
They had extremely comfortable cxpccta-
t.ons. To be sure, for the last ten years
they had not interchangcd many words |
with the late Carmel, who was Peters only
brother; but, as Mrs. Peter remarked when
the news of her brother-in-law' death az
rived ''Ho couldn't for shame leave his
money to any one else. "
Young Walter Battcrsby, MIR. and Mrs.
Peters only son, did not conceal his JOY in
his uncles demise. He told his boon com
Isanions at the Hen and Chickens that he
was in for Il good thing.
'Blood, you know, as the saying Is, is
thicker than water" he said as he drained
his fourth pint on the evening of his avun-
Gular bereavement
Nor were the three daughters of Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter without discreet maidenly Ella
ton Their uncle, while he lived, was
such Il figure that they never cared TO look
at him. Besides he hadn't very civil
tongge-liked to be caustic about their
high heeled shoes and extensive bonnets
and hats and to bo very rude with his in
auiries why three Mr.. Rights did not press
for tie honor of their small glovcd hands.
1t seemed unlikely, indeed, that Il single
tear would be shed for the Old curiosity
man.
Of course there was his little servant
girl, Joan Smith. But she was only "a
work house hussy," to borrow Mrs. Peters
elega ut expression.
With his usual cccentricity, old Carmel
had taken a girl from the Moxford union
after the death of his elderly housekecpcr
Mrs Roberts. loan was th.t servant. and
she had served him truly for the last six
years, being now but %. A quiet shrink
ing, dark eyed little creature, who had
reverad her dead master quite unucount-
ably and devoted herself to him heart and
hand and soul Save for Seth Perry, who
worked for tho MoXford Tin Plate COM
pany she had had 10 Gre else to care for.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter found No 50 nicely
prepared fer the funeral. There was also
and buttcrcur5 on the coffin.
"The idea Of such thing as that" OK
claimed Mrs. Peter, touching the wreath
with tho tip OF her parasol-
Joan was near at tho time. She burst
inc tears ut these words.
please, nl:l am, " she said. 81 should 50
like it to go with Kim picked them all
myself"
Ill shall dc nothing of the kind, then,
and your place is in the kitchen, not in the
parker" rctorscd Mrs Peter.
JOSH retired crying bitterly, and Mrs.
Pete flung tho wreath into Il corner.
80 nc wcnuil ought not to be allowed to
leave this house, Peter she said severely,
without being searched. The idea of Lcr
being with all these vallybles-;sll alone
tool
But Peter was not as cruel as his wife.
.'Clmcron says she is entirely to bo
trusted" lie replied, and its Tor Kim to
act as lie plcJscs, he says.
Mr. Cameron was the MoXford lawyer
who lad charge OF the old curiosity mans
affairs
Two or three others now arrived, iEcluil-
ing the lawyer, Mr. Hurst, TIE Methodist
New Connection minister, AID old Craven,
the siivcrsmitiI
Then the High street enjoyed It's little
solcnluly E::sscI along it to the cemetery
on the hill.
Joan viewed the start from the back en-
try with tcartul eyes. She WAS periodically
convulscd with 6ohs. She watched the
procession as long; rs ever She could. The
void il her lie was immense.
So much so, indeed that even the sooth-
ing voice OF seth Perry, who had come
upon her Un2warss, had 10 effect on her ut
first.
''Nevcr you mind, lass" said Seth,
"thin-s'll all come out right.
She answered him only with tears.
Hes holn' to ha' lett you suinmat,
Joan, my lass, to remember him by, and,
whether CT no, you've oaly to speak the
word and tAecr's ono ASH be proud to
have YOU
seth, can't talk with you row." she
said, showing him her damp face and
bright eyes.
Nor come horne ard take your dinner
with my mother, john"
$50, no. L mustn't go yet. They'll
turn Inc out soon, L know, but must stay
till then"
''Eell, lass, y said Seth, ''you know BEST
but I'm fair aching for you, and this light
us is III fetch you to home. -
He took her III his arms in the passage,
up hich so many antique articles had
Travelled during the last half century, and
kissed her wet checks.
"A nd now must get back to work, -
he sad.
1t vas hot day even for June, and
when Tie funeral party re-entcred the
house Mrs. Peters face was extremely red
Hers they were met by Walter Battcrs-
by AID the three girls.
Tbs was Mrs. Peters arrangement.
1.-THE more witnesses there arc the safer
it'll Lc," she had said, alluding, Of course
TO til" reading of her brothcr-in-law's will
''Bcs dcs," she added, they may hear
something nice for themselves. F"
As far as he was concerned, however,
young Walter had fully intended to be
present, even if his father and mother OBJ
jectcd.
Jo.n had procured cake and sherry, at
the instigation of MIR. Cameron. But she
had not helped herself to glass of the
wine, even in spite of the kindly lawyers
suggestion, nor vet 20 i crumb of the cake
ORC continued alone In the kitchen. The
tramp of strange foet in the room over her
did but make fresh tears well UP from the
bountiful source inside her
And 80 the funeral party and the others
sat round old C,.rmels table and waited
for DIR. Cameron to begin. The lawyer
did net keep them waiting. He smiled
rather dryly, took a glass of sherry and
drew forth the paper from its official bl.le
envelope.
Never was there in Mrs Peter Batters
by's opinion, n more horrid and disgrace
full last will and testament.
Certainly her husband was to receive a
fourth part of the proceeds of the sale of
the daccased's goods, but what was mere
fourth?
The other three fourths were left, of all
things, to the Moxford union, "to help
them TO train up more girls like Joan
Smith, Those were the very words.
To the three girls of Mr.. and Mrs. Peter
the three largest mirrors in tho establish
Iient of 50 were bequeathed, without COM
ment. Mr.. Walter Battcrsby was not even
mentioned, nor was Mrs. Peter.
Mr. Cameron received 4IO0, SHd so did
the dcccased's old friend, Mr.. Craven.
LASTLY Joan was mentioned. She was
TO have n years wages all the furniture of
her own bedroom and the large scrapbook
for which she had 50 often piled scissors
and paste and which contained curious
items of newspaper intelligence during the
last 20 years.
There, gentlemen and ladies, that is
all" said MIR. Cameron, land now you
must excuse INC. L leave you with my CO.
trustee, Mr.. Craven"
Zone moment, sir" intcrposed Mr..
Peter, to whom his wife had whispered