The Heatherford Fortune
A SEQUEL TO THE MAGIC CAMEO
_By_ MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON
AUTHOR OF
"Tina," "The Lily of Mordaunt," "Mona," "Little Miss Whirlwind," etc.
[Illustration: Decoration]
A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
* * * * *
Popular Books
By MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON
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Price per Volume, 60 Cents
Brownie's Triumph
Earl Wayne's Nobility
Churchyard Betrothal, The
Edrie's Legacy
Faithful Shirley
For Love and Honor
Sequel to Geoffrey's Victory
Forsaken Bride, The
Geoffrey's Victory
Golden Key, The; or a Heart's Silent Worship
Heatherford Fortune, The
Sequel to The Magic Cameo
He Loves Me For Myself
Helen's Victory
Her Faith Rewarded
Sequel to Faithful Shirley
Her Heart's Victory
Sequel to Max
Heritage of Love, A
Sequel to The Golden Key
Hoiden's Conquest, A
How Will It End
Sequel to Marguerite's Heritage
Lily of Mordaunt, The
Little Miss Whirlwind; or Lost for Twenty Years
Lost, A Pearle
Love's Conquest
Sequel to Helen's Victory
Love Victorious, A
Magic Cameo, The
Marguerite's Heritage
Masked Bridal, The
Max, A Cradle Mystery
Mona
Nora, or The Missing Heir of Callonby
Sibyl's Influence
Threads Gathered Up
Sequel to Virgie's Inheritance
Thrice Wedded
Tina
Trixy, or The Shadow of a Crime
True Aristocrat, A
True Love's Reward
Virgie's Inheritance
Wedded By Fate
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A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 52 Duane Street New York
Copyright, 1898 and 1899 BY STREET & SMITH
THE HEATHERFORD FORTUNE
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The Heatherford Fortune.
A SEQUEL TO "THE MAGIC CAMEO."
CHAPTER I.
MOLLIE FINDS A FRIEND.
Mollie Heatherford had thought no more of her brave act, by which, at
the risk of her life, she had saved the child Lucille from being
trampled to death under the hoofs of the pawing horses.
The next morning she was greatly surprised to receive a letter from a
gentleman--Monsieur Jules Lamonti, by name--who said he was the
grandfather of little Lucille, and who, after expressing his gratitude
in most heartfelt terms, requested permission to call upon her at her
earliest convenience.
The missive was written in French, and evidently by a highly cultured
gentleman, and Mollie felt that it would only be courteous to grant the
interview so earnestly solicited. She accordingly responded immediately,
and named an hour of the following morning for Monsieur Lamonti to call,
if the time should be convenient for him.
She was somewhat disappointed that he did not keep the appointment, but
the next day, at the specified hour, a magnificent equipage, with
coachman and footman in cream-colored liveries, dashed to the door and
stopped.
Presently an elderly gentleman, of apparently sixty years, with
snow-white hair and beard, his somewhat bowed and attenuated form clad
in the finest of garments, alighted. He was a trifle lame, and depended,
in a measure, upon a cane which, Mollie observed, had a massive gold
head, curiously carved.
Eliza answered his ring and admitted him to the small parlor, then took
the visitor's card, bearing the name "M. Jules Lamonti," to her young
mistress.
Mollie did not keep her caller waiting, to make any change in her
toilet, for she made it a point to be always neatly, if simply, clad;
and, entering his presence with perfect composure, greeted him with a
charming ease and grace of manner.
She saw at a glance that he was an aristocrat; but that did not disturb
her in the least.
He bowed low before her as he responded to her greeting; then, in a
voice that was tremulous from deep emotion, he observed in very fair
English:
"Mademoiselle Heatherford has laid on me an obligation everlasting. Ah!
but my poor heart would have been broken if I the little one had lost."
Mollie, realizing that it would be much easier for him to express
himself in his own language, responded in purest of French, disclaiming
all thought of obligation, and concluded by inquiring if little Lucille
had experienced any ill effects from her accident. The Frenchman was
delighted to find that his hostess could converse with him in his
mother-tongue, and his face beamed with pleasure.
"You speak French, mademoiselle!" he exclaimed. "Ah! that is delightful!
Now we will talk without any difficulty, for I mix your language so
badly. No, Lucille was not hurt. She is perfectly well, and as bright as
the morning. But, Mon Dieu! I tremble when I think what might have been
to-day but for you," he interposed, growing so white that Mollie was
startled. "It was very brave, Mademoiselle Heatherford--it was grand!
They tell me you went straight in under that powerful, frightened brute
to save my precious child. You are a heroine, mademoiselle, and now I
have come to ask you what I shall do to prove my everlasting gratitude."
Mollie flushed and smiled as he called her a "heroine." The word always
thrilled her--as she once told her father. It was like a strain of music
in her ears.
"Please, monsieur, do not speak of any return for what was simply a
humane act," she gently returned; "I am more than recompensed in knowing
that your dear little grandchild escaped unhurt. And how is poor
Nannette to-day? She was greatly frightened and distressed, and I felt
very sorry for her."
A frown darkened Monsieur Lamonti's face, and his eyes flashed with
sudden anger at the mention of the bonne.
"Nannette shall go away--I will not trust my beautiful one with her ever
again," he said sternly. "Ah! if she had been killed! Mon Dieu! I tell
you I could not have survived; she is all I have, mademoiselle, the
only child of my only daughter--ah! but I cannot talk of it," he
concluded brokenly, and trembling visibly.
"But, monsieur, it is all over--she is safe, and let us rejoice that all
is well," soothingly replied Mollie. "And I am sure," she added
confidently, "that Nannette will be very careful in the future. This
will be a lesson to her, and I would have far more confidence in her now
than in a strange maid. She seemed like a good girl and very fond of the
little one, while she bewailed her carelessness with sincere sorrow."
"There is truth in what you say," the gentleman returned, after a moment
of thought. "Nannette has been a good girl--she is faithful, as a rule,
and Lucille loves her. I shall consider what you have said,
mademoiselle, and Nannette will have cause to be grateful to you."
"Thank you. I should feel sorry to have her lose her situation; at the
same time I can understand your anxiety, and she should be required to
promise to be very careful in the future."
Mollie and her caller drifted to other subjects after that and chatted
of many things--of Europe in general, of Paris in particular. Monsieur
Lamonti was charmed with the beautiful girl, while she was no less
delighted with his courtly manner, his culture and brilliant
conversation, and was sincerely sorry when he arose to take his leave.
"Adieu, mademoiselle," he said, holding out his slim, aristocratic hand;
"it is a great pleasure to have met you--you know my country so well;
you speak my language so beautifully; while, for yesterday, I shall
always cherish you in most grateful remembrance. Ah! but to me that is
like sounding brass," he interposed, with a dissatisfied shrug of his
shoulders and in a regretful tone. Then, as his keen eyes swept the
graceful figure in its simple cambric dress, he added: "Is mademoiselle
sure that I cannot serve her in any way?"
Mollie glanced up quickly at him, as a thought suddenly flashed through
her mind, and a bright flush suffused her face as she asked herself if
she dare put the thought into words. There was something his expressive
face, in the sincerity of his speech and his refinement and courtesy,
that inspired her with confidence in him.
"Monsieur, there is one way in which, possibly, you might aid me," she
began, with some reluctance.
"Name it, mademoiselle!--by all means name it!" Monsieur Lamonti eagerly
interposed.
"To do that I shall have to open my heart to you a little," Mollie
continued, with a slight quiver of her sweet lips.
"Ah! mademoiselle honors me," said the gentleman, with a grave and
courteous bow.
"Monsieur," the fair girl resumed, flushing again, but with her lovely
eyes steadfastly gazing into his, for she had no false shame on account
of her poverty, "I have recently been reduced to the necessity of
supporting myself and my father, who is a hopeless invalid; but I am
unable to obtain a position. If monsieur could assist me in this
respect, I should be very grateful, for the need is urgent."
Her companion regarded her with admiration. She looked like a young
queen, in spite of her surroundings and the simplicity of her apparel.
Her face was grave and sweet, but strong with the noble purpose that
animated her; her shining hair was like a coronet of gold above her
brow, and she bore herself with a quiet dignity and air of self-respect
that must have commanded the esteem of any one.
"And what is mademoiselle fitted for--what is the position which she
would like best of all?" Monsieur Lamonti inquired.
"I hardly know," Mollie thoughtfully returned. "I have a good education,
and I could teach, if I could find an opening. As you perceive, I can
speak French."
"Mademoiselle's accent is perfect," interposed her listener.
"I am equally familiar with German," she resumed, with an appreciative
smile at his compliment; "I studied in Heidelberg two years, and there
are some other branches which I think I may truthfully say I am
competent to teach."
The man was silent for a moment or two after she ceased, evidently
considering some thought which had suggested itself to him. Then he
broke forth with the characteristic impulse of his nationality:
"Ah! to teach--it is a slave's life!" he said. "The nerves they cannot
bear it, unless indeed mademoiselle has nerves of steel. I tell her what
she shall do. I know exactly the position and it is for mademoiselle's
acceptance if it meets her approval. She speaks French like the native
of Paris; would she take the place of a private secretary, to write
four hours a day for a French gentleman?"
Mollie's heart leaped with joy at such a prospect. It seemed very
inviting, particularly the "four hours a day," which would leave her
much time to be with her dear sick one. But was she competent? That was
a question that seemed important, and for the moment she did not know
what to say.
"Mademoiselle hesitates, and she is quite right," said her companion,
coming to the rescue. "I will explain: The gentleman's secretary was
discharged three days ago for betraying the affairs of his employer, who
not yet has been able to find another to take his place, and the
correspondence is piling up with every mail. It is important that the
letters should be answered. Mademoiselle speaks and writes German also?
Good! There will be German correspondence, too. The remuneration has
been four hundred and fifty francs--or ninety dollars of American
money--monthly. Will Mademoiselle consider the offer?" he concluded with
some eagerness.
"It is certainly very tempting," Mollie smilingly replied, and with
rapidly beating pulses, "and I should not hesitate an instant if----"
"Well?"
"If I was sure I could fill the position acceptably and the gentleman is
willing to substitute a woman for the clerk who has hitherto served
him."
"The latter doubt is easily dispelled, Mademoiselle, since I myself am
the anxious seeker for a trustworthy secretary. Regarding the ability, a
few days' trial will settle that point, and the requirements are
perfect and fluent French and German, and fidelity to the employer's
interests. I shall be pleased if Mademoiselle will come for a week and
try."
"Monsieur Lamonti, I will, and I thank you more than I can express; for
this offer is very opportune, I assure you," said Mollie, her lips
trembling in spite of her efforts at self-control. "I will gladly make
the trial, and I will certainly do my best to please you in every way."
"And when will Mademoiselle oblige me by beginning her duties?" queried
Monsieur Lamonti.
"I am sure, from what you have said, that I am needed at once, and I
will come to-morrow at any hour which you may choose to name," Mollie
replied.
"And that is considerate," returned the gentleman in a gratified tone.
"Then at nine, if that will not inconvenience Mademoiselle, and the
address she will find here."
He drew a card-case from his pocket and presented her a card which had
his business address upon it. Then bidding her a courteous "au revoir,"
he bowed himself out with as much ceremony as if he were leaving a
drawing-room, and a moment later his elegant equipage was rolling
rapidly down the street, while Mollie still stood in the middle of the
room, wondering if the interview had not been all a dream.
She could scarcely credit the evidence of her senses. Ninety dollars a
month! It seemed too good to be true, and like a smile from fortune to
her, when, of late, she had been so anxiously counting even her pennies.
A great burden rolled from her heart and a luminous smile illumed her
face, although there were tears in her eyes.
"At last," she murmured, "I am to know what it means to be of some
practical use in the world, and I will do my very best."