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

Ethel Turned and Seated Herself.
Always delighted to see you-delighted
Is the angel wife all well?"
Brent bowed. Thank you"
And the darling child%
Brent frowned. He crossed to the
door and turned In the frame and ad'
monished Alaric:
please give my remembrsnces to
your mother" Then be passed out
As he disappeared the irrepressible
Alaric called after him:
Certainly. She'll be so disappointed
not to have seer you. Run in s!ny time
any time at all" Alaric closed the
door and saw his mother and Ethel
coming down the stairs.
All traces Of emotion had disappeared
from Ethel's face and manner. She
was once again in perfect command Of
herself. She carried a beautiful little
French poodle in her arms and was
feeding her with sugar.
Alaric fussily brought his mother
forward.
Mater. dear" he said. II found this
gentleman In a rose bed inqulrtng the
way to our lodge. Hes come all the
way from dear old London just to see
you. Mr.. Hawkes.. my mother"
Mrs. Chichester looked at Hawkes.
a%nxiously.
you have come to see meT'
"On a very important and a very pri-
vate family matter" replied Hawkes.
gravely.
important? Private" asked Mrs.
Chichester In surprise.
We're the family, Mr.. Hawkes."
ventured Alaric helpfully.
Mrs. C~hichester's forebodirgs came
uppermost. After the news Of the
banks failure nothing would surprise
her now In the way Of calamity. What
could this grave. dignifed looking man
want with them? Her eyes dlled.
us It bad news?" she faltered.
"Oh. dear. no." answered Mr.. Hawkes.
genially.
well. is it good news?" queried
Alaric.
I'm a measure" said the lawyer.
Then. for heavens sake. get at It
You've got me all clammy. We could
do with a little good news. Wait a
minute! Is it by any chance about the
bankT"
no" replied Mr.. Hawkes.. He clear
ed his throat and said solelnnly and
impresslvely to Mrs. Chichester:
1T Is about your late brother, Ma.
thaniel K~ingsnorth."
.Late!" cried Mrs. Chichester. SIS
Nathaniel dead"
'Yes. madam" said Hawkes. gravely.
HE died ten days ago."
Mrs. Chichester sat down and silent
ly wept. Nathaniel to have died with
out her being with him to comfort him
and arrange things with him! 1t was
most unfortunate.
Poor old Nat" Alaric said. "Eh.
Ethel?"
Never saw him." answered Ethel.
her face and voice totally without
emotion.
You say he died ten days ago" ask.
ed Mrs. Chichester.
Mr.. Hawkes. bowed.
why was | not Informed? The fu-
neral'--
There was no funeral" replied Mr..
Hawkes..
mo funeral?" said Alaric in aston
ishment
mo" replied the lawyer. IN obedi-
ence to his written wishes he was Gre
mated. and no N was present except
the chief executor and myself"
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Will.
IN VOW, in Mr.. Kingsnorth's WILL"
III went on the lawyer, preduc-
ing a leather pocketbook filed
with important looking pa
pers-"in his will'- he repeated.
Mrs. Chichester stopped crying.
"Eh? A will"
"What?" said Alaric, beaming. did
the dear old gentleman leave a wlll?"
Even Ethel stopped playing with Pet
and listened languidly to the CONVEX
sation.
Mr.. Hawkes., realizing he had their
complete interest, went On Importantly:
"As Mr.. Kingsnorth's legal adviser
up to the time Of his untimely death
I have come here to make you ac-
ouainted with some Of It's contents"
He spread a formidable looking doc
ument wide open on the table, ADJUST
ed his pince e and prepared to read
Dear old Nat" said Alaric reflec-