Catoctin clarion., 1907-11-07

left-nothing at all-when this liability
was discharged"
"Oh! Who are the people who are
going to get the f20,000?"
II don't know. That is Jem's bust.
ness, not mine. I have washed my
hands of the whole thing, and he has
undertaken to carry 1t through and get
his costs out of the estate. So that.
after all, the nephew who is to benefit
by my uncle's will is the one he wished
to keep out. AS for the heirs, when
100000 is waiting for them, they will
not be slow to turn up"
Katharine sighed. SIS that all,
Tom?'
"That is all. my dear. 1t couldn't be
much more, because the part cannot be
greater than the whole"
Katharine laughed this time, not
merry noisy laugh but low cheerful
laugh peculiar to woman the conso!er,
kept for occasions when heavy moods
and disappointment and bitter words
in man have to be exercised.
"Tom, it is like the splendid dream
of the man with the basketful Of eggs
Our castle is shattered
"My dear'-Tom looked into the gray
eyes so full Of courage and of faith
which met his gaZe-"my dear" (here
he kissed herr, sit is for your sake that
lament 1t most. You were going to
be so happy, with nothing to do and
nothing to worry you. The life of com.
fort was to be yours Doesn't every
woman desire the life of comfort above
all things? Now we must go on with
our work again, no better off than our
neighbors, just as poor and just as
struggling"
"Why should we grumble at that,
TOM"
"And we must put off our marriage,
Katharine"
:'Yes. Tom: but then we never hoped
to be married so soon, did we?"
"And you will have to continue your
horrible lessons"
"Oh, Tom don't trouble about that!
So long as have you am happy; and
remember, we have had a whole week
of pure happiness, thinking we were
lifted high above the common lot. And
now it is all over, and we are not bit
worse off than we were before"
"When Christopher Sly, Katharine,
was taken back to the roadside, he was
never SO happy again for thinking
of the wonderful dream he had had.
To be sure, Christopher was an un.
educated kind of person. Fortunately
none of the fellows at the club know
about it, so that while, on the one hand.
as they used to say, there have been
no congratulations and no envy, so, OH
the other, there will be no condolences
and no secret joy
"Then. Tom, forget the whole thing
Put it out of your mind"
II will, Katharine, as soon as can.
But still, without any more crying, tell
me, Katharine, did you ever hear Of
more awful sell?"
"Tom, l certainly never did. am
quite sure there never was such sell
before. But at sells, you know, one
is expected to laugh, just to show that
they enter into the spirit of the thing,
and are not bit offended" She sprung
to her feet, shaking out the fold of her
dress. 1t was only q plain stuff dress,
nothing at all compared with the mag.
nilicent frock she might have worn
had the intention of Uncle Joseph been
carried out. "Come, Tom, it is done
with. But l have fancy to go all
over the house, just to see what might
have been ours. and then we will bid
farewell to the Inheritance" She stood
over him, tall, graceful girl, light
hearted, bright-eyed her face full of
sunshine which lies on the cheeks of
every woman who is true of heart and
thinks no evil, and is young and is
loved. "Come, Tom," she repeated.
He sat hanging his head dolefully.
"You are always right, Katharine.
But that isn't ALL" he added, under his
BREATH as he took her hand and went
up the stairs with her.
1t was not unlike the scene where
Virginia takes leave of her island home
and her gardens; but in this case 1t
was Paul, as you shall see, who was
about to embark for foreign shores.
They went upstairs to the very top
of the house, where be the servants
bedrooms. They opened the door.
looked round each room and shut the
door again softly.
"With each floor" said Tom, 1--WE
take leave of two hundred pounds a
year. There are five floors. Farewell,
first two hundred"
Below were the guests rooms, fur
nished with due regard to comfort as
it was understood in the fortics; that
is to say, in the four-post and feather
bed style, with vasts chests of mahog-
any drawers. Second two hundred"
said Tom.
Below the visitors rooms were the
nurseries-day and night nursery; but
these rooms looked forlorn and neglect
ed, because it was seventy years since
they had echoed to the patter Of chill
dren's feet and the music of children's
voices. AS Tom looked into them a
sadness fell upon his SOUL as If he
were robbed-with the inheritance-of
his children. He did not communicate
this thought to Katharine: but he said
nothing, and descended to the lower
floor In silence.
On the first floor there was a large