Cynthia Wakeham's Money

e first place it was continually interrupted by greetings to the young physician whose unexpected return to his na

mbarrassment between them, an embarrassment all the more marked that there seemed to be some undefined rea

ace have completed the charm of her beauty, and not till I know something of their history and of her, will

that your time might be much better employed in r

started, shook hi

ng now over he got up and began pacing the floor. "D

been away a year, and many persons m

," Frank explained, "a lady

gar. "Are you sure there is such a woman in t

and I learn the names and whereabouts of any heirs she may have left behind her, I shall

protested, "

trouble in tracing her. Not that I care," he avowed with brightening countenance. "On the contrar

denly changed in that regar

not at all surprised, though considerably put out, when one evening, just as I was about to start for the theatre, a telegram was handed me by the janitor, enjoining me to come without delay to Flatbush prepared to draw up the will of one, Cynthia Wakeham, lying, as the sender of the telegram declared, at the point of death. Though I knew neither this name, nor that of the man who signed it, which was Hiram Huckins, and had no particular desire to change the place of my destination at that hour, I had really no good reason for declining the business thus offered me. So making a virtue of necessity, I gave up the theatre and started instead for Flatbush, which, from the house where I lodge in upper New York, is a good hour and a half's ride even by the way of the bridge and the elev

opposite, and I was on the sidewalk and in front of the two posts before I remembered that a man on the rear p

and the long dank stalks of the weeds that lay as if undisturbed by mortal feet upon the walk, I could gather that whatever fortune Mrs. Wakeham might have to leave she had not expended much in the keeping of her home. But it was upon reaching the house I experienced the greatest surprise. There were walls before me, no doubt, and a huge portico, but the latter was hanging as it were by faith to supports so dilapidated that even the darkness of

ir. Wait, and I will o

my hand over it I discovered that the mouldings had been stripped from its face, and that the knocker, hanging as it did by one nail, was ready to fall at the first provocation. If Cynthia Wakeham lived here, it would be interesting to know the extent of her wealth. As there seemed to be some delay in the opening of the door, I had time to note that the grounds (all of these houses have grounds about them) were of some extent, but, as I have said, in a manifest condition of overgrowth and neglect. As I mused upon the contrast they must afford in th

coming close to the foot of

by the mingled surprise a

l a minute, the

minister?'

laughed

They won't have any one. Would you mind telling me,' she went on, in a hungry whisper almost thrilling to hear, coming

ce before she reached the gate. Scarcely had she disappeared into the street when a window went up in a neighboring house. At the same moment, some

ks that door; visi

mitted soon I should have th

he broken piece of iron and gave a thundering knock on the rotten panels before me. Instantly the door opened, creaking ominously as it did so, an

a man of education, notwithstanding his forlorn and wretched appearance, '

e so vilely guarded. For the man was not only uncouth to the last degree in

past talking, but she can make signs; perhaps an h

woman who wishes to m

my sister.' And he gently pushed the door in a wa

Not a chair greeted my eyes, though a toppling stool here and there showed that people sat in this place. Nor did I see a table, though somewhere in some remote region beyond the staircase I heard the clatter of plates, as if eating were also k

look of perplexity. 'It is my sister who has the money.

akably feminine, I remembered my errand and went up, followed so closely by the man, that his breath, mingled with the smell of t

I saw an open door and went in. A woman was lying in one corner on a hard and unco

, hunted look, like that of some wild animal driven to bay and turning upon her conqueror for some signs of relenting or pity. It made the haggard face eloquent; it

dly, asking if she were Cynthia Wakeham, a

mistakably, and, lifting her hand, p

speak', explained the man,

in my disgust, I sa

you ca

ded before her head could a

ave propert

se', answe

about me from which the doors had been wrenched and,

ound is worth somet

e satisfied me at least upon one

asked, turning s

am Hu

me attached to

the brother

s, y

ered my look with a steadfast gaze, but there was n

married w

sband died lo

chil

in her face that

others or sisters? You ar

did have a sister, but she is gone; fled from home years ago; lost

face said nothing. The eyes burn

leave your property?' I i

hich she lifted her hand and pointed with one finger in his direction while she looked straight at me, convinced me that whatever was wrong, her mi

ger and bent over me so closely that the smell of th

d. 'Get a table-something-do

my disgust and get used as best I could to his presence and to his great shadow looming on the w

but Cynthia?' I in

ully shook

at her husband's name was,'

Wakeham,' was

Then I said, looking int

our hand when you wish to say no, and move it up an

her hand with a tremulous movement, pointed anxiously towards a la

ake it short, make it short. The doctor I called

to be only too possible, I hastily w

rty all that yo

ough I knew it would be

cried. 'Put it strong; this

ards, and a strange fancy seized me. Going str

ess to this brother? Real property and persona

ven by a sign, but poi

'And indeed you must,' he pursued, eagerly. 'She won

th of this, and

I asked. 'She must have two

o for one?'

benefited by a will is disqu

ent. Then he stepped to the doo

h this woman had evidently been under to his avarice, she gave a start, dying as she was, an

e a light in Mr.

gruff voice from th

pay you the money I promised you. Say that Mrs. Wakeham is dying, and that the lawyer is drawing up her will. Get James Sotherby to come to

ntentness that made my nerves creep, though I am usually anything but susceptible to such influences. When the document was ready I rose and stood at her side in some doubt of the whole transaction. Was it her will I had expressed in the paper I

but I prefer her to read the paper for herself. Get her glasses, then, if she needs them, and bring

s,' he protested; 'they

et yours,-she shall not sig

red, which she, seeing, feverishly clutched my sleeve, and, with a force of which I should not have thought

ts, really engaged in the same direction as his, I desisted from my efforts to sep

a Wakeham, widow of John Lapham Wakeha

y just debts and funer

rty, real and personal, which I own, or to which I may be entitled, at the time o

ay of June, in the year eight

in our presence who, at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each

n of your wishes?' I as

reached out her

,' said I, 'for

ch dark and the stairs dangerous. As he turned his back upon us, I thought Mrs. Wakeham moved and opened her lips, but I ma

ant?' I asked her, rising

all my movements, if he ha

And pointing to a broken glass standing on the floo

sued, with one eye on us and the ot

seeing her face brighten at t

the gruff voice of Briggs from the foot of the step

the doorway, blushed and cast a shy look over he

ersonage, with a cheerful smile; 'every one knows we are keepin

room, her intelligent face and kindly expression diffusing a cheer

g couple had been waiting for the times