"No doubt you would like that," I answered. "But
I'm not going to give you the pleasure. I abide by the
terms of the will. My grandfather was a fine old gentleman.
I shan't drag his name through the courts,
not even to please you, Arthur Pickering," I declared
hotly.
"The sentiment is worthy of a good man, Glenarm,"
he rejoined.
"But this woman who is to succeed to my rights,-I
don't seem to remember her."
"It is not surprising that you never heard of her."
"Then she's not a connection of the family,-no long-lost
cousin whom I ought to remember?"
"No; she was a late acquaintance of your grandfather's.
He met her through an old friend of his,-
Miss Evans, known as Sister Theresa. Miss Devereux
is Sister Theresa's niece."
I whistled. I had a dim recollection that during my
grandfather's long widowerhood there were occasional
reports that he was about to marry. The name of Miss
Evans had been mentioned in this connection. I had
heard it spoken of in my family, and not, I remembered,
with much kindness. Later, I heard of her joining a
Sisterhood, and opening a school somewhere in the
West.
"And Miss Devereux,-is she an elderly nun, too?"
"I don't know how elderly she is, but she isn't a nun
at present. Still, she's almost alone in the world, and
she and Sister Theresa are very intimate."
"Pass the will again, Pickering, while I make sure
I grasp these diverting ideas. Sister Theresa isn't the
one I mustn't marry, is she? It's the other ecclesiastical
embroidery artist,-the one with the x in her
name, suggesting the algebra of my vanishing youth."
I read aloud this paragraph: Provided, further, that in the event of the marriage of
said John Glenarm to the said Marian Devereux, or in
the event of any promise or contract of marriage between
said persons within five years from the date of said John
Glenarm's acceptance of the provisions of this will, the
whole estate shall become the property absolutely of St.
Agatha's School, at Annandale, Wabana County, Indiana,
a corporation under the laws of said state.
"For a touch of comedy commend me to my grandfather!
Pickering, you always were a well-meaning
fellow,-I'll turn over to you all my right, interest and
title in and to these angelic Sisters. Marry! I like the
idea! I suppose some one will try to marry me for my
money. Marriage, Pickering, is not embraced in my
scheme of life!"