Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-02

Sn1-Al lZC--IZA EkNsl
| d business talk. Peter nad been named
as one executor; :. but Peter was far
away, and It was a pleasant family
friend, a kindly old surgeon of Dr.
Strickland's own age, or near 1t, and
the lawyer George Sewall, the other
executor, who told them about their
affairs. Anne, as co-heiress, was pres
ent Mt this talk, with Justin sitting
close beside her. Martin, too, VINO
had come down for the funeral, was
there.
The house went to the daughters;
there were books and portraits for
Anne, q box or two in storage Tor
Anne, and Anne was mentioned in the
only will as equally iuheritilig with
Alexandra and Charity. For some
legal reason that the lawyer and DR..
Younger made clear, Anne could not
fully inherit, but her share would be
only a trihe less than her cousins.
Things had reached this point when
Justin Little calmly and confidently
claimed that Anne's share was to be
based upon an old loan of Anne's IA
ther to his brother, loan of three
thousand dollars to float Lee Strick-
lands invention, with the understand
ing that Vincent Strickland be subse-
ouently entitled to one-third of the re-
turns. AS the patent had been sold
for nearly one hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars, one-third of it, with ac-
cumulative interest for ten years, OF
which no payment had ever been made
Anne, was n large proportion of the
entire estate, and the development OF
this claim, in Justin Little's assured,
woodeny voice, caused every one to
look grave.
The estate was not worth one hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars now,
by any means; it had been reduced to
little more than twO-thirds Of that
sum, and Anne's bright concern that
every one should be satisfied with
what was right; and her ingenious
pleasure In Justin's cleverness In
thinking of this possibility, were met
with noticeable coldness.
If Anne was wrong, and the paper
she held in her hand worthless, each
girl would inherit a comfortable little
fortune, but if Anne was right, Cherry
and Alix would have only few thou
sand dollars apiece, and the old home.
The business talk was over before
any of them realized the enOrRity Of
Anne's contention, and Anne and JUS
tin had departed. But both the old
doctor and the lawyer agreed with
Martin that it looked as II Anne was
right, and when the family was alone
again. and had had the time to digest
the matter they felt as if q thunder
bolt had fallen across their lives.
"That Anne could do t." AllX said,
over and over Cherry seemed dazed,
spoke not at all, and Martin had said
little.
people will do anything for mon
ey!" he observed once driy. He had
met Justin stcrnly. I'm not thinking
of my wife's Share-I didn't marry her
for Der money; never knew she had
any. But I'm thinking Of AliX."
"Yes-we must think Of darling
Aliyw Anne had said, nervously eager
that there should be no quarrel. IF
Uncle Lee intended me TO have all this
money, then l suppose l must take 1t,
but | shan't I've happy unless things are
arranged SO that AliX shall te com.
fortai,isr
"B-but the worst OF it is, Alix -
Cherry stammered, suddenly, on the
day before she and Martin were to
return to Red Creek, IL counted on
having enOugh-enOugh to live my own
life. AliX, | can't can't go back !!
"Why, my darling" AliN exclaimed
as Cherry began to cry in her arms
my darling, it is us bad as all that!
"Oh. AliX," whispered the little Sis
ter, trembling, Il can't bear it. You
! cont know how | feel. You and Dad
were always here; now that's all gone
/ YOU'RE going to rent the house anu
try to teach Singing--and Eve nothing
, to look forward tO-Ive nobody
Listen, dear AliX SoOthed her. III
they advise it, and especially if Peter
advises it when he gets back, we'll fight
/ Anne. And then if we win our hght
/ I'll always keep the valley house open
And if we don't, why I'm going to visit
/ YOU and Martin every year, ana per-
/ hapS I'll have II little apartment some
/ duy-I don't intend 10 board always
! But she was crying, too. Everything
seemed changed, cold and strange; she
had suspected that Cherry's was not
successful MARRIAGE she knew it now,
/ and to resign the adored little SISTER
TO the unSympathetic atmosphere OF
/ Red Creek, and to miss all the Ole
/ life and the old associations, made hel
heart ache.
"Thcrc'S-there's nothing, Spcclai
/ Il, ,,.l-,l nftar "A while