The Irish standard., 1915-03-13

| Ethel Turned and Seated HerseIf.
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, Il found this
gentleman in rose bed inquiring the
way to our lodge. He's come all the
way from dear old London just to see
you. Mr.. Hawkes.. my mother"
Mrs. Chichester looked at Hawkes.
anxiously.
you have come to see me?"
ION very important and q very pri
vate family matter" replied Hawkes.
gravely.
Important? Private?" asked Mrs.
Chichester in surprise.
Were the family, Mr.. Hawkes."
ventured Alaric helpfully.
Mrs. Chichester's forebodings 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 filled.
"Is it bad news?" she faltered.
"Oh, dear, no." answered Mr.. Hawkes.
genially.
"Well. is it good newsY" queried
Alaric.
I'm measure" said the lawyer.
'"Then. for heavens sake, get at it.
You've got me all clammy. We could
do with little good news. Wait a
minute! Is it by any chance about the
bank?"
"No," replied Mr.. Hawkes.. He clear
ed his throat and said solemnly and
impressively to Mrs. Chichester:
1T is about your late brother, Ma
thaniel Kingsnorth.'
| Late" cried Mrs Chichester. sis
Nathaniel dead?" as
Eyes, madam" saidiHawkes gravely.
He died ten days ago."
Mrs. Chichester sat down and silent
~ wept. Nathaniel to have died with
out her being with him to comfort him
and arrange things with him! It 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 l not informed? The fu.
neral'-
There was no funeral" replied Mr..
Hawkes..
mo funeraly' said Alaric in aston.
ishment.
NO." replied the lawyer. I'm obedi.
ence to his written wishes he was ere.
mated, and no one was present except
the chief executor and myself"
CHAPTER XIV.
The Will.
VOW, in Mr.. Kingsnorth's WILL"
IN went on the lawyer, preduc-
4 ing a leather pocketbook filed
with important looking pa
pers-"in his will''- he repeated.
Mrs. Chichester stopped crying.
"Eh7 A will?"
"What7" said Alaric. beanning. did
the dear old gentleman leave a will7'
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 &C.
Quainted with some Of its contents"
He spread formidable looking doc
ument wide open on the table, adjust
ed his pince nez and prepared to read
"Dear old Nat!" said Alaric reflec.
lively. do you remember, mater. we
met him at Victoria station once when
I was little more than a baby? Yet
can see him now as plainly as II it
were yesterdays portly, sandy haired
old buck with three jolly chins."
HE was white toward the end and
'eAys VSEy Luus ooA0 00S. 1AWAeo
softly.
WAS her, from Alaric. "Fancy that.
It just shows, mater, doesn't IT." He
bent eagerly over the table as Hawkes.
traced some figures With q pencil on
one Of the pages Of the will.
"How much did he leaveY And
Alaric's voice rose to . pitch Of well
defined interest.
"His estate Is valued. approximately,
at some 10000 replied the lawyer.
Alaric gave a long. low whistle and
smiled broad, comprehensive smile.
Ethel for the first time showed q
gleam Of genuine interest
Mrs.. Chichester began to cry again.
Perhaps 1t was my fault didn't zee
him oftener," she said.
Alaric. unable to curb his curiosity,
burst out with. "How. did the old boy
split It up7'
ITO his immediate relations he left
Nj. Hawkes. looked up from the will
and found three pairs Of eyes fixed on
him. He stopped Il may bs that
constant association with the law