The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-04-18

S-p fNA
had inquired after the trust; and
fourthly, that Captain Willoughby's adj
dress was unknown. 1T was strange
that if the man was dead his heirs did
not come forward. The mystery of
this trust began to worry him. Where
were Captain Willoughby's heirs? Was
he really dead? If so, why had no
news been sent to the office?
"The trust money" he said, present
ing the case to himself, was given to
my uncle. Here is Miss Willoushby's
letter in the safe. Give my nephew
three hundred a year. And here is the
deed which my uncle drew up to Sc
cure the carrying out of the trust.
The nephew did marry, there's my
uncle's note at the back of the letter.
He married an actress and she died.
Had he any children? I don't know.
If he had, let them come and take
their money. They must know where
their father came for his. If there
are no children, the money reverts to
Miss Wiiioughby's heirs. Well, let
them come and claim it. There is
nothing to prove the trust but this n
letter and the deed. They may have
a copy, but it isn't likely, or T should
have heard of it by this time. Besides,
Mrs. Willoughby died seven years ago;
her will has long since been proved
and her money paid over by my uncle,
her executor, to her heirs, and not a
word said about the trust in her
will"
You now begin to understand what
it was that James Rolfe did. First.
he constituted himself sole heir. If
anything, he said, should be left after
the trust was paid, it could be divid-
ed among all the cousiIHs if they came
to claim it. Until they should claim
their share he would continue to take
and enjoy the whole.
Next, he said nothing to his wife
about the trust; he did not endeavor
to find out if Captain Willoughby left
any children, o did he acquaint the
heirs of Miss Willoughby with the
facts.
AS for his promise as regards Kath-
arine, he put that away in a corner
Of his brain where it was not likely
to disturb him. And he told his wife
nothing of that promise, any more
than Of the trust money.
Conscience sometimes makes dread
full ghosts to appear in the dead Of
night and whisper terrifying things in
the ears of some solicitors who do
these things. In James Rolfe's case
there were no ghosts at all. Conscience
acquiesced. He slept the sleep Of the
just and righteous.
No one knew about the trust; there
was, to be sure. the letter in the safe
with the deed, but the key of
this safe was in his pocket. No n
knew about the trust, or about his
promise rs regards NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Gus, to think that he vas going to
give that girl his uncle's estate! No
one knew except Tom Addison and
himself, and Tom was dead.
If he had told Harriet the exact
truth she might perhaps have insisted
on the restitution of the trust money
to Miss Willoughby's heirs and she
might have proposed a compromise as
regards Katharine. On the other
hand, she might have acquiesced in
her husbands proceedings, and even
given him assistance and a moral sup
port. Who knows? But he did not
tell her, and she continued happy in
her great house, for the first time in
her life free from worry; now her
husband was rich there would be no
more trouble. Of course, he was hon
est. Honest? The doubt could not
arise. A gentleman is always honest;
who ever heard of a gentleman being
a rogue and a robber Of orphans?