A CLAUSE IN THE WILL
The funeral ceremonies of Rowland Trowbridge were of the dignity and
grandeur that are deemed necessary for a man of his station in life.
Great men of the financial world, scholars and statesmen had all come to
pay their last respects to the one so suddenly taken from his busy and
forceful career.
And now, the obsequies over, a group of people were gathered in the
library of the Trowbridge home to hear the reading of the will.
There was a hush of expectancy as Judge Hoyt produced and read aloud the
document.
As has already been disclosed there was a bequest of fifty thousand
dollars to Kane Landon. The house and furniture were given unreservedly
to Mrs. Eleanor Black, with fifty thousand dollars in addition. There
were bequests of one thousand dollars each to Miss Wilkinson and to
Terence McGuire, both favorites with their employer. Also a similar sum
to Stryker, the butler, and various smaller sums to other servants and to
a few charities.
And then came the disposition of the residuary fortune, which, it was
rumored, ran well up into the millions.
In the words of the will it was set forth that all moneys and properties,
not otherwise designated, were bequeathed to Avice Trowbridge, on the
conditions that “she shall keep my collection of Natural History
Specimens intact, and, within a year duly present it to some worthy
museum; and herself become the wife of Leslie Hoyt. Also, she must add to
said collection not less than twenty-five specimens of certain value
every year. If these conditions are not fulfilled, my niece, Avice,
inherits but fifty thousand dollars of my fortune, and the residue must
form a trust fund, under the supervision of Leslie Hoyt, to be used to
found and endow a museum of Natural History.”
With the exception of Hoyt and Avice, every one present looked astounded
at the terms of the will. And yet it was not surprising that Mr.
Trowbridge desired the union of his niece and his friend. Besides being
the lawyer of the dead man, Hoyt had been his intimate friend and
companion for years, and Hoyt’s regard for Avice was no secret. Moreover,
the girl had always looked on the lawyer with friendly eyes, and it had
been assumed by many that they were destined for each other. To be sure,
Avice was only twenty, and Leslie Hoyt was forty-five. But he was a man
who seemed ten years younger than he was, and Avice was mature for her
years. So, while it was a surprise that their union had been made a
condition of the bequest, it was not thought by any one that this fact
would be objectionable to either of the two concerned.
But Avice looked grave, and an obstinate expression came into her eyes.
Hoyt saw this, and smiled a little as he remembered her aversion to being
_made_ to do a thing, even though she fully intended to do it. It was the
girl’s nature to chafe at authority, and Hoyt well knew he would have to
give her free rein in many matters. Of course, having drawn up the will,
he had known of this condition, but this was the first time he had had
opportunity to note how it affected Avice. And it was quite plain that
she was displeased.
“Then,” she burst out, “does my inheritance depend on my marriage to
Judge Hoyt?”
“Yes,” answered Hoyt, himself, smiling at her.
“Then I refuse it! I will not be told whom I shall marry!”
“Let us not discuss that now,” said Hoyt, gently; “there is time enough
for you to decide that later.”
Avice realized that this was not the time or place for such a discussion,
and said no more.
Mrs. Black was dissatisfied. Although she had a handsome inheritance, she
well knew that this will had been made before her betrothal to Rowland
Trowbridge, and had he lived to marry her, she would have had much more.
Indeed, the only person who seemed satisfied was Kane Landon. He looked
serenely pleased, and began to make inquiries as to how soon he could
have his share in cash.
Judge Hoyt looked at him, as if incredulous that any one could be so
mercenary, and rising, went over to sit beside him and discuss the
matter. On his way, Hoyt passed by the boy, Fibsy, and patting his
shoulder, remarked genially, “I’m glad you were remembered, sonny. When
you want to invest your money, let me advise you.”
Fibsy glanced up at the lawyer, and with an inquiring look on his face,
he exclaimed “Vapo-Cottolene!”
What this cryptic utterance meant, no one could guess; and no one gave it
a second thought, except Landon, who smiled at the red-headed boy and
said, “Yes!”
As soon as she could do so, Avice escaped to her own room. So this was
her inheritance! A fortune, only if she took also a husband of her
uncle’s choice! It had come upon her so suddenly, that she had to
reiterate to herself that it was true.
“If I’d only known,” she thought. “I’m sure I could have persuaded Uncle
Rowly not to do that! I don’t blame him so much, for I know he thought I
wanted to marry Leslie, but I never told him I did. I suppose he had a
right to think so,—but—that was all before Kane came back.” And then her
thoughts wandered far away from her inheritance, both real and personal,
and concerned themselves with the strange man who had come out of the
West. For he was strange. Landon had abrupt ways and peculiar attitudes
that Avice could not altogether understand. He was so blunt and breezy.
That, of course, was owing to his recent surroundings; then, again, he
was so masterful and dominating, but that he had always been. Still more,
he was incomprehensible. She couldn’t understand his curt, almost rude
manner at the time of the inquest proceedings. To be sure, it was enough
to make a man furious to have insinuating questions put to him about the
murder of his uncle,—as if Kane could have known anything of it!—but,
well, he _was_ mysterious in some ways.
And his attitude toward Eleanor Black. They must have met before or they
never would have talked as absorbedly as they had been doing when Avice
came upon them unexpectedly. And Eleanor was another mysterious one! She
had her inheritance now, and Avice hoped they might separate, never to
meet again. Well, of course, they would, for neither had a desire to
continue living with the other. As for Avice herself, she would go out of
that house at once. But where? That must soon be decided. Then, like a
flooding wave, came back the memory of her uncle’s will! She must marry
Judge Hoyt or lose her fortune. She would have some money, to be sure,
but the interest of that, as an income would make life a very different
matter from what it had been!
And Eleanor would have this house,—to live in, or to sell. Idly she
speculated on this, feeling an undercurrent of satisfaction that the
widow’s bequest had not been even larger.
Then her thoughts reverted to the episode of Mrs. Black’s telephoning so
late that night, after the death of her uncle. She remembered she had
secured the telephone number.
“I’ve a notion to call up and see who it is,” she mused. “I am going to
devote myself to searching out the murderer, and while I don’t, of
course, dream that Eleanor had anything to do with it, yet—she is
Italian,—and suppose she is mixed up with some secret
society—oh—well—I’ll have to call that number or never rest. I might as
well do it now.”
Unwilling to take a chance of being overheard in the house, Avice dressed
for the street and went out. She said to a maid in the hall, “If any one
asks, say I’ve gone out for a little breath of air.”
Glad of a walk in the sunshine, she went to the nearest public telephone
booth and called the number. She had a queer feeling of doing wrong, but
she persuaded herself that her motive was a right one.
“Hello,” she heard a man’s hearty voice say.
“Hello,” she returned, thoroughly frightened now, but not willing to back
out. “Who is this, please?”
“Lindsay, Jim Lindsay; who wants me?”
“But,—but,——” Avice was at her wits’ end what to say, “are you—do you
know—that is, are you a friend of Mrs. Black? Eleanor Black?”
“Don’t know the lady. Is this Mrs. Black?”
“No; but you must know her. She—she talked to you last Tuesday night,
late—very late.”
“Tuesday night? Oh, I wasn’t here Tuesday night. A chum of mine had my
rooms; Landon—Kane Landon,—”
“Who?”
“Landon. Say, what’s the matter? Won’t you tell me who you are? What’s it
all about? Oh, I beg your pardon, I’m inexcusably butting in! Forgive me,
do. Yes, Kane Landon had these rooms to himself for a night or two while
I was away. I believe he’s at a relative’s on Fifth Avenue now. Want to
see him?”
“No—thank you. Good-by.”
Avice hung up the receiver, her brain in a whirl. Had Eleanor, then, been
telephoning to Kane the very night of the murder? What had she said? For
him not to try to see her that night! For him to meet her next day at the
same time and place! Oh, they _were_ old friends, then. More, they were
keeping that fact quiet, and pretending to meet as strangers! Was there,
could there be any connection between all this and the murder?
Scarce knowing what she was doing, Avice left the booth and went for a
long walk. But she could get no meaning or explanation of the facts she
had learned. The more she mulled them over the more confused she became
as to their import. Her mind turned to Hoyt. After all, Leslie was the
one to bank on. He would help her and advise her as he had always done.
But, that will! She could ask no favors or advice of Judge Hoyt now,
unless she acknowledged herself his betrothed. And was she prepared to do
that? Well, one thing was certain, if Kane was all mixed up with Eleanor
Black, she surely wanted no more to do with him! And he had told her he
loved her. Perhaps because he thought she was her uncle’s heiress! Of
course, he did not know then of the clause about her marrying the judge.
Probably now, Kane would have no further interest in her. Well, he could
marry Eleanor, for all she cared!
She went home, and paused first for a few moments in a small reception
room, to calm her demeanor a little. But, on the contrary, the sight of
the familiar walls and the realization that she was to leave them, struck
a sudden sadness to her already surcharged heart, and she gave way to
silent weeping. And here Hoyt, looking for her, found her.
“What is it, dearest?” he said, sitting beside her. “I have now a right
to comfort you.”
“Why?” said Avice, throwing back her head and meeting his eyes.
Hoyt smiled tenderly at her. “Because our betrothal, long tacitly agreed
upon, is now ratified by your uncle’s wish and decree.”
“Not at all. Because my uncle wished me to marry you, is no reason that I
am obliged to do so.”
“Not obliged, my darling. That is a harsh word. But you want to, don’t
you, my Avice? My beautiful girl!”
“I don’t know whether I do or not. But I’m sure of one thing, I won’t
marry you simply because Uncle Rowly wanted it! Much as I loved him, and
much as I revere his memory, I shall not marry a man I don’t love for his
sake!”
“But you do love me, little Avice. You are so worried and perturbed now,
you can’t think clearly. But you will find yourself soon, and realize
that you love me as I love you.”
Hoyt spoke very tenderly and the girl’s quivering nerves were soothed by
his strong, gentle voice, and his restrained manner. He didn’t offer
endearments which she might resent. He knew enough to bide his time,
confident that she would turn to him of her own accord when ready.
“I don’t want to think about marrying now,” she said, wearily; “I have so
much to think about.”
And then Leslie Hoyt made his mistake.
“No, dear, don’t think about it now,” he said; “but remember, if you
don’t marry me, you lose a very big fortune.”
The words were meant to be half playful, half remindful, but they roused
the deepest indignation in the heart of Avice Trowbridge.
She turned on him with flaming eyes. “How dare you? How can you put forth
such an argument? Do you think that will help your cause? Do you suppose
I would marry any one for a fortune? And any way, as a lawyer you can
find some way to set aside that proviso. It can’t be possible a whim like
that can stand in law!”
Hoyt looked at her intently. “It will stand,” he said, coldly; “I do not
use it as a bribe, but I tell you truly, if you do not marry me the bulk
of your uncle’s fortune will go to a museum.”
“Can’t a will like that be broken?”
“In no possible way. Your uncle was in full possession of all his
faculties, the will is duly witnessed and recorded, there isn’t a flaw
that could be found on which to base a contest. But don’t let us talk in
this strain, dear. If you don’t want to marry me, you shan’t, but you
must realize the situation.”
“I begin to realize it at last. But I cannot decide now. Give me time,
Leslie,” and the sweet brown eyes looked appealingly into his.
“Of course, I will, you darling girl, all the time you want. And please,
Avice, if you want any information or advice, come to me and let me help
you, without feeling that you are committing yourself to anything. You
understand?”
“Oh, thank you! That is what I wanted. Yes, I do understand, and I bless
you for it. I am very much perplexed, Leslie, but I want to think out
things a little for myself, before I tell you what I’m bothered about.”
“So be it, then. And whenever you’re ready, I’m waiting.”
Judge Hoyt went away, and Avice, wandering listlessly through the house,
came upon Eleanor Black. That volatile spirit had already assumed
complete ownership and command of the home that was now all her own. She
was giving orders to the servants in quite a different manner from the
one she had shown as a mere housekeeper, and was already arranging for a
different mode of life.
“I shall close the house for the summer and go away,” she was saying to
Stryker, “and then in the fall there must be complete renovation. Avice,
what are your plans?”
“Oh, Eleanor, I haven’t made any yet. How can you be so hasty? Do have a
little respect for uncle’s memory, if you have no sorrow in your heart.”
“Don’t trouble yourself to talk to me like that, Avice,” and the black
eyes snapped. “There’s no need of pretense between us.”
“Then let’s lay pretense aside,” and the girl’s attitude suddenly became
as haughty as the older woman’s. “Who is Jim Lindsay?”
“Mercy! I don’t know, I never heard of him. Why?”
It was impossible to doubt the sincerity of Eleanor’s speech and
expression, and Avice was at once sure that it was the truth.
“Nothing, then. I don’t know him either. And Eleanor, I’ll talk with you
some time, soon, about our future plans and all that, but I can’t just
yet. You don’t mind my staying in the house a short time, do you?”
“Of course, not. Don’t be a goose. Stay till you marry Judge Hoyt, if you
will. But I’m going away for the summer.”
“When?”
“As soon as I can settle up some matters and get off. But you stay here
if you choose. Keep the servants, and get some one to chaperone you. My
dear Avice, look on the place as your home just as long as it suits you
to do so, won’t you?”
The invitation was given in a whole-souled, honest manner, and Avice
really appreciated the kindness that prompted it.
“Thank you, Eleanor,” she said; “I shall be glad to stay for a time, I
can’t say yet how long. And it’s good of you to be so hospitable.”
“I’ve asked Mr. Landon to stay a while,” Mrs. Black added, “until I go
away, at any rate.”
Avice wanted to ask her then, how long she had known Kane Landon, but
something seemed to restrain the question. So with a few murmured words
of acquiescence, she went her way.