Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-09-26
lot as though :" and stopped.


The other agreed neutrality-suspicious.
little too quickly. I'D not be wor-
rying about it any more if I were
your Nurse O'Brien said comforting
ly.
Nurse Hopkins said: "I'm not wor-
rying {"
Young and severe in her black
dress, Elnor sat in front of Mrs. We'll
mans massive writing-table in the
library. Various papers were spread
out in front of her. She had finished
interviewing the servants and Mrs.
Bishop. Now it was Mary Gerard
who entered the room and hesitated
a minute by the doorway. "You want
ed to see me, Miss Elinor," she said.
Elinor looked up. ooh, yes, Mary.
Come here and sit down, will you?"
Mary came and sat in the chair
Elinor indicated. 1t was turned lit
tie towards the window, and the light
from it fell on her face, showing the
dazzling purity of the skin and bring
ing out the pale gold of the girls
hair.
Elinor held one hand shielding her
face little. Between the fingers she
could watch the other girls face.
She thought: "Is it possible to hate
anybody so much and not show it?"
Aloud she said in a pleasant, bust
nesslike voice: II think you know,
Mary, that my aunt always took a
great interest in you and was con-
cerned about your future"
Mary murmured in her soft voice:
"Mrs. Welman was very good to me
always"
Elinor went on, her voice cold and
detached: "My aunt, if she had had
time to make will, would have wish
ed, know, to leave several legacies.
Since she died without making a will,
the responsibility of carrying out her
wishes rests on me. I have consulted
with Mr.. Seldom, and by his advice
we have drawn up a schedule of sums
for the servants according to their
length ofsservice, etc." She paused.
"You, of course, don't come quite into
that class"
She half-hoped, perhaps, that those
words might hold sting, but the face
she was looking at showed no change.
Mary accepted the words at their face
value and listened to what more was
to come.
Elinor said: Though it was diff
cult for my aunt to speak coherently,
she was able to make her meaning I'M
derstood that last evening. She def
nitely wanted to make some provi-
sion for your future"
Mary said quietly: "That was very
good of her."
Elinor said brusquely: GAS soon
as probate is granted, I am arranging
that two thousand pounds should be
made over to you-that sum to be
yours to do with absolutely as you
please"
Mary's color rose. 1.-TWO thousand
pounds? Oh, Miss Elinor, that is
good of you! don't know what to
say"
Elinor said sharply: at isn't par
ticularly good of me, and please don't
say anything"
Mary flushed. you don't know
what a difference it will make to me-"
she murmured.
Elinor said: "I'm glad" Then hes
tated. Looking away from Mary to
The other side of the room, she finally
asked with slight effort: 81 wonder
have you any plans?"
Mary said quickly: "Oh, yes. I shall
train for something. Massage, per-
maps. That's what Nurse Hopkins ad-
vises."
Elinor said; THAT sounds a very
good idea. l will try and arrange
with Mr.. Seldom that some money
shall be advanced to you as soon as
once, if that is feasible"
you're very, very good, Miss Eli
nor" said Mary gratefully.
Elinor said CURLY: at was Aunt
Laura's wish" She paused, then said,
well, that's all, think"
This time the definite dismissal in
the words pierced Mary's sensitive
skin. She got up, said quietly, "Thank
you very much, Miss Elinor," and left
the room.
Elinor sat quite still, staring ahead
of her. Her face was quite impassive.
There was no clue in it as to what
was going on in her mind. But she
sat there motionless, for long time.
Elinor went at last in search of