The Irish standard., 1915-03-13
courts destroys faith in human nature;

combined eyes was astonishing in its
directness. in it's barefacedness. It
struck the dignified gentleman sudden
ly 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 chicken"
Mr.. Hawkes. returned to the will and
after looking at 1t 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
flushing from the eyes that moment
since showed healthy hope.
"Nothing?" she cried incredulously.
mot penny piece to any one?" ven.
tured Alaric.
The faintest suspicion of smile
fitted across Ethel's face.
Hawkes. looked keenly ut them and
answered.:
II deeply regret to say-nothing."
Mrs. Chichester turned to Ethel. who
had begun to stroke Pet again.
Ellis own flesh and bloodw cried the
poor lady.
what 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 ex-
pressed his attitude toward his rela-
lions in his last will and testament:
81 am the only member of the
KtngsnOrth 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 moment,
mater. Let us hear it out to the bitter
end. He must have been an amusing
old gentleman
Mr.. Hawkes. resumed: Consequent
ly am not going to leave one penny
to relations who IRE already well pro.
vided for"
Mrs. Chichester protested yehe-
mently:
But we are not provided for"
NO." added Alaric. "Our banks
busted"
Were ruined" 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 l call it." corrected Alaric.
Mr.. Hawkes. thought moment.
Then he said. Under those circum-
stances perhaps 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
he had not very much longer to live he
spoke constantly of his other sister,
Angela" resumed Mr.. Hawkes..
"Angelav cried Mrs. Chichester in
surprise. why. she's dead"
"That was why he spoke Of her."
said Hawkes. gravely.
"And not word of meY' asked Mrs.
Chichester.
I'VE will come to that little later"
and Mr.. Hawkes. again referred to the
will. ut appears that this sister, An
gela. married at the age Of twenty a
certain 1rishman, by name O'Connell,
and was cut OF by her family
1.-THE man was an agitator-a Fenian
agitator. He hadn't a penny. 1t was
disgrace
Alaric checked his mother again.
Hawkes. resumed: WAS cut off by
her family, went to the United States
Of America with her husband, where a
daughter was born. After going
through many conditions of misery
with her husband, who never seemed
to prosper. she died shortly after CIV
Ing birth to the child" He looked up
"Mr. Kingsnorth elsewhere expresses
bis lasting regret that in one of his SIS
ter's acute stages of distress she wrote
to him asking him for the first time to
assist her. He replied: You have made
your bed. Lie in it."
"She had disgraced the family. He
was justified" broke in Mrs. Chiches.
ter.
with death approaching" resumed
Hawkes.. "Mr. Kingsnorth's conscience
began to trouble him, and the remem.
brance Of bis treatment Of his unfortu-
nate sister distressed him. II the child
were alive he wanted to see her.
made inquiries and found that the girl
was living with her father In very poor
circumstances in the city Of New York
We sent sufficient funds for the Jour-
ney. together with a request to the ia
Their to allow her to visit Mr.. Kings
north in England. The father con-
scented. However, before the young
girl sailed Mr.. Kingsnorth died."
"Oh" cried Alaric, who had been
listening intently. "Died. eh? That
was too bad. Died before seeing her.
Did you let her sail, Mr.. Hawkes.
Eyes. We thought it best to bring
her over here and acquaint her with
the sad news after her arrival Had
she known before sailing she might not
have taken the journey"
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