The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-02

| was little more than a baby? Yet
can see him now as plainly as II 1t
were yesterday-a portly, sandy haired
old buck with three jolly chins."
He vas white toward the end and
very. very thin" said MIR. Hawkes.
softly.
WAS he?" from Alaric. Fancy that.
It lust shows. mater. doesn't itT" he
bent eagerly over the table as Hawkes.
traced some figures with a pencil on
one of the pages Of the will.
"How much did he leave?" And
Alaric's voice rose to a pitch of well
defined interest.
"His estate is valued. approximately.
at some f2OO. 600" replied the lawyer.
AIaric gave Il long. low whistle and
smiled a brond. comprehensive smile.
Ethel for the first time showed a
CLEAN Of genuine interest
Mrs. Chichester began to cry again.
perhaps it was my fault / didn't see
him oftener." she said.
Alaric, unable t. curb his curiosity
burst out with. How did the old boy
split it up?"
ITO his immediate relations be left
Mr.. Hawkes. looked up from the will
and found three pairs Of eyes fixed on
him. He stopped. 1t may be that
constant association with the law
courts destroys faith in human nature;
but, whatever the cause. it seemed to
Mr.. Hawkes. in each Of those eyes was
| reflected the one dominant feeling
greed. The expression in the family's
| combined eyes was astonishing IN Its
| directness. in its burefacedness. 1t
| struck the dignifed gentleman sudden
~ dumb.
well? Well?" cried Alaric. How
much? Don't stop right in the middle
of an important thing like that You
make me as nervous as a chicken"
Mr.. Hawkes. returned to the will and
| after looking at it q moment without
reading said:
ITO his immediate relations Mr..
Kingsnorth left, | regret to say-noth-
ing"
A momentary silence fell like a pail
over the stricken Chichester family.
Mrs. Chichester rose.. Indignation
flashing from the eyes that a moment
since showed a healthy hope.
"Nothing?" she cried incredulously.
mot u penny piece to any one" ven
tured Alaric.
The faintest suspicion of a smile
fitted across Ethel's face.
Hawkes. looked keenly at them and
answered:
IL deeply regret to say-nothing."
Mrs. Chichester turned to Ethel. who
had begun to stroke Pet again.
His own flesh and blood" cried the
poor lady.
What a shabby old beggar!" COM
mented Alaric Indignantly.
HE was always the most selfish. the
most began Mrs. Chichester. when
Mr.. Hawkes.. who had been turning
over the pages Of the document before
him, gave an ejaculation Of relief.
"Ah. Here we have 1t. This. Mrs.
Chichester. is how Mr.. Kingsnorth e.
pressed his attitude toward bis rela-
tons In his last will and testament:
81 am the only member OF the
Kingsnorth family who ever made any
money. All my precious relatives either
inherited it or married to get It,"
II assure you began Mrs. Chiches-
ter.
Alaric checked her. Half a moment,
mater. Let us hear it out to the bitter
end. He must have been an amusing
old gentleman"
Mr.. Hawkes. resumed: "'Consequent.
ly l am not going to leave one penny
to relations who are already well pro.
vided for"
Mrs. Chichester protested vehe-
mently:
But We are not provided for"
No" added Alaric. Our banks
busted"
We're ruinedw sobbed Mrs. Chiches.
ter.
Broke" said Alaric.
We've nothing!!" walled the old lady.
Dear. DEAR" said the lawyer. How
extremely painful"
Painful? That's not the word. Dis
gushing | call it." corrected Alaric.
Mr.. Hawkes. thought a moment.
Then he said. Under those circum-
stances perhaps u clause in the will
may have a certain interest and an ele-
ment Of relief"
As two drowning people clinging to
the proverbial straws the mother and
son waited breathlessly for Mr.. Hawkes.
to 60 on.
Ethel showed no interest whatever.
when Mr.. Kingsnorth realized that
be had not very much longer to live he
spoke constantly Of his other sister.
Angela" resumed Mr.. Hawkes..
Angela" cried Mrs. Chichester In
surprise. why. she's dead"
That was why he spoke OF her.
said Hawkes. gravely.
land lot a word Of me?" asked Mrs.
ClfoLok .