Evening star., 1923-09-16
INHERITANCE

at a table by the side OF the bed. A
little pile of them lay ready for the
post.
'can write for you?" she asked.
coming back to him. "'You ought not
to tire yourself
But he said impatiently that he
must write himself.
Then I must go and fetch some
| more paper" she said. 81 have used
! 1t all"
He exclaimed, still more impatient
| ly: see If there isn't some In the
press" he said.
She unlocked it again. and brought
paper to him. and an envelope. They
bore heavy crest and motto
Il haven't used this paper for
years." he said, restored to his gen.
! tier humor. II didn't know there was
any of II left"
For a time nothing was heard in
the room but the weak scratching OF
his pen. while she sat In the shadow
and looked into the fire, or at the
dark polished surface Of the press.
upon which the freight gIinted.
He folded up the letter that he had
written. secured IL in its envelope and
gave 1t to her to stamp. Then she
helped him to settle himself again.
and he lay quiet, holding her hand
again. as before. He spoke no more
about his son, and did not tell her
what he had written to him.
Presently the nurse came in. fresh
| from her rest and her walk Lady
Provost made as If to rise, but he held
her hand. Stay with me a little
| longer" he said. Nurse viii not
| mind another half hour to herself"
| Lady Provost half rose. ST was GO
! ing out to post the letters" she said.
1T Is nearly 6 O'Clock. told the SER
wants that would go to the post my
self"
II want you to stay with me. my
dear" he said. Nurse viii take the
letters down."
| II viii post them,'' the nurse said.
ut is a lovely nigtats~sHd should
like to go out again.
Husband and wife were left alone
together again. They talked for a
little. quietly. Then Sir Everard said:
Il am very tired, but very happy. I
| think 1 could sleep a little now
| = x 4
iT ADY PROVOST and her three
IL daughters were sitting in the
| morning-roOm at Sproule Court. busy
with needlework. There was to be a
sale Of work, in aid of a fund for
an organ in the little old church. the
tower of which could be seen across
the flowers OF the garden among the
trees of the park. The church was
an object of pride and care 10 Lady
| Provost. A beautiful window had
lately been put in, in memory of Sir
| Everard. who had been dead nearly
four months. 1t had been the Offering
of herself and her three daughters.
Lady Provost was dressed in un-
relieved black, which suited her calm,
rather pale face. The three girls, the
eldest of whom was nineteen, the
youngest fifteen. in white summer
frocks, laughed and chatted as they
| worked. They had missed their
I father very much at first But the
sense of strangeness had passed, and
had even given place TO one OF in
creased freedom. Their mother was
more with them than before Lady
Provost had ministered to the desires
| OF a somewhat exacting husband for
| twenty years. Now her object seem
ed to be to watch over the happiness
OF her daughters and to share it
with them.
| It was beginning to dawn upon
/ these young girls that they were for
tunate above the ordinary. They had
| been old enough to wonder what
! would happen to them after. their
fathers death. They loved their
beautiful ancient home, and it would
be a great wrench to leave 1t.
But their mother had told them
| that they would still live at Sproule,
! and nothing would be changed there.
1t had been their first CLEAN of sun
light after the gloomy days of their
loss
And Sproule was a place that no
! one could live in without loving it.
Built in many succeeding centuries,
it stood in the midst of lovely gar
dens, up to the walls of which swept
the undulating spaces of the park.
The morning room was a large,
bright room. gay with chintzes and
| flowers. Tho good-looking, middle
| aged woman, and the pretty young
girls, busy with their light tasks,
made picture of home life that was
| attractive enough.
There had been a slight pause in
the conversation. Lady Provost broke
1t by saying: 'I have something that
must tell you-something rather
disagreeable. You have heard" she
said in her usual calm level voice,
| that your father had son by his
first marriage, who turned out badly,
and went abroad, where he was lost
sight Of. He was said to have died
In Australia, many years ago. This