had remained
in the house while the family was at the grave, were there, evidently
expectant. It was not Howard's idea to broach the subject at once. He
wanted to talk it over with Jack and Eloise, and make himself right with
them. The lawyer had no such scruples. He had read wills after many
funerals, and now that there was none to read, he spoke up:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry I can't oblige you, but there ain't any
will as we can find, and nothing to show who Mrs. Amy is, and matters
must rest for a spell as they are. Meanwhile, Mr. Howard Crompton, as
the Colonel's nephew and only known heir, must take charge of things."

Eloise's face flushed, and Jack, who stole a look at her, saw that her
hands trembled a little. No one spoke until Mrs. Biggs rose and said,
"'Squire Ferris, if no will ain't found, and nothin' is proved for Mrs.
Amy,--adoption nor nothin',--you know what I mean,--can't she inherit?"

"Not a cent!" was the reply.

"You mean she'll have nothin'?"

"Legally nothing!"

"And Mr. Howard will have everything?"

"Yes, everything, as he is sole heir and next of kin."

"Get out with your 'sole heir and next of kin' and law!" Mrs. Biggs
exclaimed vehemently. "There ain't no justice in law. Look a-here,
Squire; when women vote we'll have things different. Here is Amy, been
used to them elegancies all her life." She swept her arm around the
room, and, still keeping it poised, continued: "And now she's to be
turned out because there ain't no will and you can't prove nothin'! And
that's law! It makes me so mad! Who is goin' to take care of her, I'd
like to know?"

"I am!" and Eloise sprang to her feet, the central figure now in the
room. "I shall take care of my mother! I don't care for the will, nor
anything, except to prove that she is Col. Crompton's legitimate
daughter, and that I will do. I am going where she was born, if I can
find the place, and take her with me. I am not very lame now, and I
would start to-morrow if--"

She stopped, remembering that in her purse were only two and one half
dollars, and this she owed to Mrs. Biggs for board; then her eyes fell
upon Ruby, the friend who had stood by her in her need, and who had been
the first to congratulate her on finding her mother. Ruby had offered
her money for the journey to California, and something in Ruby's face
told her it was still ready for her, and she went on: "I was foolish
enough to think Crompton Place was her rightful hom