f course is my maid--and then I used
to know him very well indeed. But I can't believe it, I can't believe
that such a thing could have happened."

Impatient at such incoherence and nervous garrulousness, Miss
Witherspoon yet understood that something of vital importance was in the
letter which Miss Patty waved back and forth, and unable longer to
maintain her indifference she touched the old lady on the arm.

"Shall I read what your lawyer writes?" she asked, "or will you read it
to me?"

"Oh, he isn't my lawyer," Miss Patty exclaimed, "I never had a lawyer in
my life, I have never believed in getting into lawsuits. He's only an
old friend. But his letter is of such importance that I will ask you to
read it aloud to me. I want to be sure that I understand it."

Nothing could better have pleased Miss Witherspoon. She took up the
typewritten sheet and in a clear, distinct voice began:

"'BOSTWICK UNTHANK,
Attorney and Counsellor-at-law,
Jonesville, Florida.

"'My dear Miss Merryvale----'"

"How strange it seems," Miss Patty interpolated, "to have him address me
in that formal way."

"It's a business letter," the reader explained.

"I know that," Miss Patty said tartly, "otherwise I should not have
given it to you to read."

"'My dear Miss Merryvale,'" Miss Witherspoon began again, "'I
am inclosing a letter to your maid, Hertha Williams, retailing
to her an extraordinary piece of news. George Ogilvie, whom you
will remember, I am sure, has died and in his will he leaves a
small legacy to a granddaughter, Hertha Williams, the
illegitimate child of his daughter Lillias who died two days
after its birth. The birth was successfully concealed by
placing the infant with a colored family. Evidently Ogilvie, at
the last, felt unable to keep the secret for he leaves an
account of the extraordinary proceeding, recognizes his
granddaughter, and asks that she take the family name. It is
likely to be a great shock to the young woman and I am
inclosing the firm's letter to your care, knowing that you will
understand in your great kindness how best to break the news.

"'Believe me, Madam, with esteem,

"'Your obedient servant,

"'BOSTWICK UNTHANK.'"

As Miss Witherspoon put down the letter and looked at her hostess's
shaking head she wondered whether the lawyer had made a careful choice
in his method of