The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
AN ALIEN HEIR.
BY FRANCIS A. COREY.
HROwING a fresh stick on the
fire, Dick Vance gazed approx
ingly about him. The room which


contrast with his cherries lodgings in
Paris. At last he had one little spot
within four walls that he could call his
own.
AS he stretched his legs comfortably
to the blaze he was still tingling with
! the thrill of amazement he had felt
when informed by the village lawyer.
during their brief interview that after
noon, that he was Robert Chiffon s
heir
The estate consists OF this old house,
which has been in the Chiffon family
for hundred years. and $4,000 in
stocks and bonds" Mr. Blackstone had
said.
And it's mine. really mins, to do
what I pelase with?" Dick asked
eagerly.
Nobody can dispute your legal right
to 1t, was the stiff response. Chiffon
/ took care to make a will that would
hold. The justice Of the bequest is quite
another thing"
Although three hours had gone by
since then, Dick still almost doubted
his great fortune. How often he had
gone with empty pockets and nothing
i to eatl
One blissful thought made his heart
/
mad waited two years because Of their
poverty; there was now no occasion for
delay.
The wind whistled around the house.
driving great gusts of snow against the
windows. Dick laughed at it's futile rage
and stirred the fire afresh In fancy he
! saw Alice sitting on the other side of
the hearth, one pretty pink cheek in
her palm. How graciously she would
1 Ia hoS
to her the first thing on the morrow
with the wonderful news
The door bell rang. Mr.. Robbins, the
| gray-haired minister who had officiated
at Robert Chilton's funeral that day,
was ushered in. Shaking the snow from
ms great coat he sat down heavily be-
fore the fire, his face wearing a stern
! expression.
Mr.. Vance, how long had you known
the deceased?' he abruptly inquired.
About six months, sir
| You met abroad?'
| Yes. sir-in, Paris. Mr. Chiffon fell
| seriously i'll at one of the hotels He
was alone and / took care of him. He
! was pleased to think that my nursing
! saved his life."
| You travelled with him afterward?" p"
1 did. was poor medical student
1 had Just taken my degree. could act
/ as courier and also keep careful watch
/ over his bodily health
/ DICK smiled pleasantly, but the cIer-
I gyman's face grew harder than before
DID he ever speak to you of his fam
/ ily?"
/ Only once-just before he died. He
said they had betrayed forsaken him
that he was worse than alone in the
world. He made me promise to bury
him from his old home, never intimat-
/ Ing that / was to be his heir That
! n iafo 1fv-
Dick added, with kindling eyes, this
legacy means everything to me-suc-
cess, happiness, prosperous career"
J Looking at the young man over his
spectacles. Mr.. Robbins said gravely:
+ Then you are not aware that Mr..
chiffon left a daughter and grand
! daughter"
Dick turned pale and all at once there
was curious pounding in his ears
MOI 1t simply can't be, He would
\ have told me-
1 1T seems that he did not His daugh-
! ter married against his wishes and he
/ never forgave her. She is now a widow
q confirmed invalid and very poor Her
child, a girl of twenty, is working be-
| yond her strength for the bare neces-
sites of life. l sent word to them, but
4 1T appears they did not receive it in
/ time to come"
There was a silence which neither Of
/ the two seemed disposed to break
/ Dicks forehead glistened with per
spiration. He swept a shaking hand
[ across it.
'Of course l understand why you
tell me this" he cried huskily "You
think | have no right to the property,
and should give 1t up"
The old minister frowned and was
silent. Dick glanced lingeringly around
! the room.
do
/ angry vehemence. IF Mr. Chiffon had
wanted his daughter to have II he
would have left 1t to her It's mine
mine. / intend to keep It'll"
Mr. Robbins rose and picked up his
hat from the table.
Il regret exceedingly your decision" {"
he said coldly. Frankly. I'm disap-
pointed in YOU Good night, sir" And
he walked out of the room.
Dick sat for a long time gazing into
the fire. His cheeks were flushed The
discarded daughter was nothing to him.
He would be a fool to abdicate In her
| favor. No doubt she deserved all that
had befallen her, and even worse
Presently his thoughts turned TO
/ Alice. She had forbidden him to write
TO her. He should be free, she had
/ said. since they would be unable TO
marry for years, If ever Not a line
had passed between them for months.
/ But he felt no misgivings. She loved
him-she would remain true.
How / wish Ii were morning that ]
/ might go to her." he. said aloud
He smiled. and yet heaviness lay on
| his heart The sad face of the woman
whose birthright he had stolen seemed
! to stare at him reproachfully from the
corners of the room. 1t even framed
itself In the smoldering logs as they
blazed up f1tfully and fell apart.
The doorbell rang again. After a long
! delay the door opened to admit Mrs.
Burke, the old housekeeper. She was
| pale with suppressed emotion.
Another visitor?" he exclaimed with
| annoyance WHO Is 1t?
"Mr. Chilton's granddaughter. sir"
was the startling response.
Dick sprang to his feet.
'"The poor child did not learn of her
| grandfather's death until to-day, sir.
! The storm delayed the mails. She came
at once-and alone, because her mother
| is ILL.,
/ What does she want?" His voice had
| q strangely harsh, unnatural sound.
'She hoped to be in time for the
l = - Il