Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-17
THE AMERICAN COUNTESS
Bv ETA w. PIERCE.


decided to acknowledge him-to make
him your legal heir?"
Exactly. You guessed as much
when you received my message, did you
not? Deepmoor is by entail, and all
my other possessions shall go with it
so help me God, Come, l cannot afford
to lose a moment-how do know when
may die?-this very night, perhaps,
Mark you, l haven't forgotten Rob's
folly-I haven't forgiven him for the
disgrace he brought on an old and
honored name; but 90 you think I want
to cheat the boy out of his birthright
Do you think 1 will have my money
divided among a brood Of spinsters
who haven't three drops of Arbuckle
blood in their veins-I mean these
Scotch cousins of mine who are wait
ing and longing for my death? No.
| Whatever Rob's faults were, his child,
and no other, shall come in when / go
out. Draw up the will Immediately,
and let me sign it before l sleep.
Sleep? I'll never sleep again, Finch,
| till this matter is settled"
He is shaking with excitement now
and he looks so deadly i'll that Mr..
Finch is frightened. The family solic-
itor of the Arbuckles knows we'll their
tragic history. He Is familiar with the
story of the prodigal Robert as with
his own name. Plainly Sir Godfrey's
end is drawing nigh, and whatever is
to be done for that prodigars son must
be done quickly.
Il am glad of this" he says; 1T does
you credit, Sir Godfrey. Mr.. Robert
was little wild in his time, it is true,
but he was your fathers son, and a
good fellow at heart. l rejoice that
| 70 inc rl
who certainly never did any harm to
you or yours. We will not lose a mo-
ment."
He draws up table near the baro-
net and opens his handbag. He has
come prepared for this emergency, for
since the death of Sir Godfrey's sons
one by fever and two by drowning, a
few weeks before-Mr. Finch's pro-
phetic heart has daily told him that
he might expect to be summoned to
Deepmoor at any moment upon this
very matter.
Carefully he writes the will which
gives to the child Of Robert Arbuckle
and to the heirs of his body forever a
goodly manor in Essex, a town house
in London-Deepmoor will be his by
entail-rich deposits in the public
funds, and all the wealth which Sir
Godfrey, a parsimonious man, had
boarded through long years for his lost
sons.
Before the document is ready the
physician from Deepmoor village is
shown up. He and Sir Godfrey's house
keeper witness the signing of the will.
Thank God, 1t is over" gasps the
baronet, throwing down the pen with
which he had affixed his name to the
paper. Now put me to bed
They do So for he is ready to fall
from his chair. The village physician
gives him a cordial and he goes away.
Mr.. Finch, who is to remain at Deep
moor till the morrow, is again alone
with the sick man.
Haggard and exhausted he lies upon
| his high Norman bed, and the dogs,
whining uneasily, reach up to the
counterpane and lick his nerveless
hands He pats their heads and NUT
ters: I'VE are all that's left-all-the
poor brutes and T." Then he signs for
Mr. Finch to approach.
There's but one thing more for you
| to do. Finch" he says, with determina-
ton.
What is that?" asks the lawyer.
You have a clue to the boys where
abouts, eh?"
Yes"
Then go and find him, Finch, and
bring him to me, Do you want me t.
die without kith or kin beside me
with none of my own race to close my
eyes?"
God forbid! but Sir Godfrey
mo buts-I will not listen to them.
I'm an arbitrary man; l like to be
obeyed without objections. You shall
go in search of my heir and bring him
to Deepmoor at once. You are man
of courage and judgment and perse
verance, Mr.. Finch, 80 the task does
not frighten you, ! hope. l want him
IL want to see what sort of a man ii
is who is to be the next baronet-who
is to rule next at Deepmoor; l want to
look once on the face of my successor
and Robs son. Come, l will trust no
one but you in this matter-for you
will make no mistakes-you will tor
ment me with no unnecessary delays.
You must start on your quest tomor
row."
| Tomorrow"
| Not a word. Death will not wait
your pleasure nor mine. It's a matter
| of necessity-not choice. The road to
| America Is long one. and even with
| the best of luck you cannot return to
England before five or six weeks, To-
morrow. Finch; l cannot give you a
day longer. Will YOU go or not?"
Mr.. Finch deliberates. The fire
snaps on the brass andirons, the rain
breaks on the windows and rattlCs in
gusts against the gables. He rises up,
at last. and pushes back his chair res
olutely.
Il will go, Sir Godfrey! 1 will start
tomorrow, as you wish. God willing,
you shall see your nephew before you
die | will bring the heir of Deepmoor
to his inheritance If he Is to be found
anywhere on the face of the civilized
EARTH"