New-York tribune., 1902-07-20
A DEED OF GIFT.
BY ELLEN ADA SMITH.
"a lady 10 see you, sir; Miss Barry"
NM RarrX2 Ask her in at once

IlWgeI q
new arrival. She came in handsomely dressed
IN deep mourning, slim and graceful that she
looked taller than she really was. She had a
nale well featured face and blue Irish eyes,
which fatty contradicted the set coldness OF
'S7etiIras in these professional interviews il
&c the lady who is emotional while her adviser
remains chilly; on this occasion the visitor
howed formally, and, save for the grace Of her
action. il might have been doll saluting
other doll so blank was her face, and change
less He, the contrary, dropped officiality
and advanced with outstretched hand.
Il think, as We are relatives, We should shake
h.~,ds.. ,..,s.r..,., ,,.u - ..,,... ...,..,
but he thought he had rarely touched so passive
a hand; but she was quick in TepUdiating his
We can hardly be reiated-except merely by
precisely. but that means good deal am
glad 90 see you The title deeds Of your little
estate are ready and waiting"
He spoke smihngly, for her quaint speech had
amused him, but her next words took him
aback Like other sensible men, he had i hor-
Tor Of women without common sense.
Il came 10 say that l want neither title deeds
nor the estate; L have no use for them"
sheer amazement kept him dumb, but he
looked kecnly to see if she was hystericaI or
cut Of her mind. Scrutnize as he might how
ever. he could only see steady purpose under
Meath her white earnestness
But this is sheer nonsense. Narn is left you
unc0ndtionally by your grandfather with the
sole exception that you are TO take his name
No difficulty about that is there?"
hateful to me-
Her breathing quickened, but she spoke calm
The name is also mine," he answered curtly.
and because of her gentle instincts touch Of
sensitive color came and went.
i beg your pardon; should have remembered
better"
He considered her again attentively. trying
20 reckon up this unknown quantity.
she had a qpck Irish temper-a warm Irish
heart What does she mean 10y sitting there
like a little icicle, trying to lead me astray2
he h.l,
ity and l must get at it," Having decided this.
he dropped the relative and assumed the man
Of Law.
Being in temporary charge Of Narn. I must
ask your reasons for this unprecedented con-
He was judicial enough for q bag wig. but.
having nothing to hide, she was not dismayed.
Il can tell you in a few sentences a few
months ago my mother was living-she is dead
now; for years had both been battling
against the poverty which killed her by inches
not Il doubt about II, lor she died of want Of
proper fOOd-Of necessary warmth and the lack
Of all comfort She had to work almost the
last, and when wrote TO her father telling him
Of our Distress he left the letter unanswered.
because my mother had married a poor Irish
gentleman. If Narn had been ours eight months
ago she would have been living now. If the
owner Of il had only held out a helping hand I
should not be broken hearted for the loss Of her
/ to-day.
He knew now the sort of apathy that had
50 dulled her; il was heart break, as she had
said, and it only the intensity OF her emo
ton which kept her low voice from faltering.
est in expressing this
How did you and your mother live?"
she did art needle work-and starved on il.
! painted. and often went hungry TO bed. l
did not mind, being young and strong; but She
my God! 10 watch the slow drowning Of the
one you love best on earth-to her sinking
day by day for want of the sheer necessares OF
life, yet with sweet patience and smiling lips.
I would have died to save her, but neither my
death nor my life could do that. You must par
oon me that l cannot speak of these things
Hithout-they choke me-"
The window was open, and, going to il she
stood for a few moments looking out; then she
returned quietly to her seat. He was not with
out regret that her story had come TO his
knowledge too late; he would like to have saved
this girls mother from going under and it
would have been easy, for his own father had
been saving man, and the was able to
keep good hunters without Gripping his estate.
But there was still the girl, and he looked
critically at her handsome dress; II looked new
chased with view to this particular interview
People do not come threadbare to repudiate
property
4 extremely sorry 10 hear this: l wish
! had known il earlier As regards your refusal
Of Narn, 1 am more in the dark than ever"
This not true il sounded, but she
Was urged TO full confession.
Now II is too late, the tide has turned. I
haI- pupils TO teach and orders TO execute: il
means hard work, and for that I am thankful"
But you might work hard Narn; I could
not imagine any place better suited 10 an artist.
i is only q few miles away may not take you
iU-'
Never. II is enough 10 be there in dreams. as
I 50 often .l- In those dreams she is not dead
but Lvmg-coming back 10 health and strength
ia the Old house that shall never see. To go
there without her. and 10 remember in il the