CHAPTER XVIII.
PATRICIA SPEAKS FRANKLY.
It was Lawyer Watson's suggestion that she was being unjust to Bethand Louise, in encouraging them to hope they might inherit Elmhurst,that finally decided Aunt Jane to end all misunderstandings and informher nieces of the fact that she had made a final disposition of herproperty.
So one morning she sent word asking them all into her room, and whenthe nieces appeared they found Uncle John and the lawyer alreadyin their aunt's presence. There was an air of impressive formalitypervading the room, although Miss Merrick's brother, at least, was asignorant as her nieces of the reason why they had been summoned.
Patsy came in last, hobbling actively on her crutches, although theleg was now nearly recovered, and seated herself somewhat in the rearof the apartment.
Aunt Jane looked into one expectant face after another with curiousinterest, and then broke the silence by saying, gravely, but in moregentle tones than she was accustomed to use:
"I believe, young ladies, that you have understood from the first mystrongest reason for inviting you to visit Elmhurst this summer. Iam old, and must soon pass away, and instead of leaving you andyour parents, who would be my legitimate heirs, to squabble over myproperty when I am gone, I decided to excute a will bequeathing myestate to some one who would take proper care of it and maintain it ina creditable manner. I had no personal acquaintance with any of you,but judged that one out of the three might serve my purpose, andtherefore invited you all here."
By this time the hearts of Louise and Beth were fluttering withexcitement, and even Patsy looked interested. Uncle John sat a littleapart, watching them with an amused smile upon his face, and thelawyer sat silent with his eyes fixed upon a pattern in the rug.
"In arriving at a decision, which I may say I have succeeded indoing," continued Aunt Jane, calmly, "I do not claim to have actedwith either wisdom or discernment. I have simply followed my own whim,as I have the right to do, and selected the niece I prefer to becomemy heiress. You cannot accuse of injustice, because none of you had aright to expect anything of me; but I will say this, that I am wellpleased with all three of you, and now wish that I had taken pains toform your acquaintance earlier in life. You might have cheered my oldage and rendered it less lonely and dull."
"Well said, Jane," remarked Uncle John, nodding his head approvingly.
She did not notice the interruption, but presently continued:
"Some days ago I asked my lawyer, Mr. Watson, to draw up my will. Itwas at once prepared and signed, and now stands as my last will andtestament. I have given to you, Louise, the sum of five thousanddollars."
Louise laughed nervously, and threw out her hands with an indifferentgesture.
"Many thanks, Aunt," she said, lightly.
"To you, Beth," continued Miss Merrick, "I have given the same sum."
Beth's heart sank, and tears forced themselves into her eyes in spiteof her efforts to restrain them. She said nothing.
Aunt Jane turned to her brother.
"I have also provided for you, John, in the sum of five thousanddollars."
"Me!" he exclaimed, astounded. "Why, suguration, Jane, I don't--"
"Silence!" she cried, sternly. "I expect neither thanks nor protests.If you take care of the money, John, it will last you as long as youlive."
Uncle John laughed. He doubled up in his chair and rocked back andforth, shaking his little round body as if he had met with the mostamusing thing that had ever happened in his life. Aunt Jane staredat him, while Louise and Beth looked their astonishment, but Patsy'sclear laughter rang above Uncle John's gasping chuckles.
"I hope, dear Uncle," said she, mischievously, "that when poor AuntJane is gone you'll be able to buy a new necktie."
He looked at her whimsically, and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Thank you, Jane," said the little man to his sister. "It's a lot ofmoney, and I'll be proud to own it."
"Why did you laugh." demanded Aunt Jane.
"I just happened to think that our old Dad once said I'd never beworth a dollar in all my life. What would he say now, Jane, if he knewI stood good to have five thousand--if I can manage to outlive you?"
She turned from him with an expression of scorn.
"In addition to these bequests," said she, "I have left five thousandto the boy and twenty thousand to Mr. Watson. The remainder of theproperty will go to Patricia."
For a moment the room was intensely still. Then Patricia said, withquiet determination:
"You may as well make another will, Aunt. I'll not touch a penny ofyour money."
"Why not?" asked the woman, almost fiercely.
"You have been kind to me, and you mean well," said Patricia. "I wouldrather not tell you my reasons."
"I demand to know them!"
"Ah, aunt; can't you understand, without my speaking?"
"No," said the other; but a flush crossed her pale cheek,nevertheless.
Patsy arose and stumped to a position directly in front of JaneMerrick, where she rested on her crutches. Her eyes were bright andfull of indignation, and her plain little face was so white that everyfreckle showed distinctly.
"There was a time, years ago," she began in a low voice, "when youwere very rich and your sister Violet, my mother, was very poor. Herhealth was bad, and she had me to care for, while my father was veryill with a fever. She was proud, too, and for herself she would neverhave begged a penny of anyone; but for my sake she asked her richsister to loan her a little money to tide her over her period of want.What did you do, Jane Merrick, you who lived in a beautiful mansion,and had more money than you could use? You insulted her, telling hershe belonged to a family of beggars, and that none of them couldwheedle your money away from you!"
"It was true," retorted the elder woman, stubbornly. "They were afterme like a drove of wolves--every Merrick of them all--and they wouldhave ruined me if I had let them bleed me as they wished."
"So far as my mother is concerned, that's a lie," said Patsy, quietly."She never appealed to you but that once, but worked as bravely as shecould to earn money in her own poor way. The result was that she died,and I was left to the care of strangers until my father was wellenough to support me."
She paused, and again the room seemed unnaturally still.
"I'm sorry, girl," said Aunt Jane, at last, in trembling tones. "I waswrong. I see it now, and I am sorry I refused Violet."
"Then I forgive you!" said Patsy, impulsively. "I forgive you all,Aunt Jane; for through your own selfishness you cut yourself off fromall your family--from all who might have loved you--and you have livedall these years a solitary and loveless life. There'll be no grudgeof mine to follow you to the grave, Aunt Jane. But," her voicehardening, "I'll never touch a penny of the money that was denied mypoor dead mother. Thank God the old Dad and I are independent, and canearn our own living."
Uncle John came to where Patsy stood and put both arms around her,pressing her--crutches and all--close to his breast. Then he releasedher, and without a word stalked from the room.
"Leave me, now," said Aunt Jane, in a husky voice. "I want time tothink."
Patricia hobbled forward, placed one hand caressingly upon the grayhead, and then bent and kissed Aunt Jane's withered cheek.
"That's right," she whispered. "Think it over, dear. It's all pastand done, now, and I'm sorry I had to hurt you. But--not a penny,aunt--remember, not a penny will I take!"
Then she left the room, followed by Louise and Beth, both of whom wereglad to be alone that they might conquer their bitter disappointment.
Louise, however, managed to accept the matter philosophically, as thefollowing extract from her letter to her mother will prove:
"After all, it isn't so bad as it might be, mater, dear," she wrote."I'll get five thousand, at the very worst, and that will help us onour way considerably. But I am quite sure that Patsy means just whatshe says, and that she will yet induce Aunt Jane to alter her will. Inthat case I believe the estate
will either be divided between Beth andme, or I will get it all. Anyway, I shall stay here and play my bestcards until the game is finished."
Aunt Jane's Nieces Page 18
