‚ÄúI‚Äôve got it all fixed. Harry was in a tight place‚ÅÝ‚Äîgambling as usual‚ÅÝ‚Äîand I gave him a lump sum in lieu of all claims. Then I gave John Taylor‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou needn‚Äôt look. I sent for him. He‚Äôs a damned scoundrel; but he won‚Äôt lie, and I needed him. I willed his children all the rest except two or three legacies. One was one hundred thousand dollars for you‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“Oh, father!” she cried. “I don’t deserve it.”
“I reckon two years with Harry was worth about that much,” he returned grimly. “Then there’s another gift of two hundred thousand dollars and this house and plantation. Whom do you think that’s for?”
“Helen?”
‚ÄúHelen!‚Äù he raised his hand in threatening anger. ‚ÄúI might rot here for all she cares. No‚ÅÝ‚Äîno‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut then‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôll not tell you‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äîah‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù A spasm of pain shot across his face, and he lay back white and still. Abruptly he sat up again and peered down the oaks. ‚ÄúHush!‚Äù he gasped. ‚ÄúWho‚Äôs that?‚Äù
‚ÄúI don‚Äôt know‚ÅÝ‚Äîit‚Äôs a girl‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
He gripped her till she winced.
‚ÄúMy God‚ÅÝ‚Äîit walks‚ÅÝ‚Äîlike my wife‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI tell you‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe held her head so‚ÅÝ‚Äîwho is it?‚Äù He half rose.
‚ÄúOh, father, it‚Äôs nobody but Emma‚ÅÝ‚Äîlittle Emma‚ÅÝ‚ÄîBertie‚Äôs child‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe mulatto girl. She‚Äôs a nurse now, and I asked to have her come and attend you.‚Äù
‚ÄúOh,‚Äù he said, ‚Äúoh‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù He looked at the girl curiously. ‚ÄúCome here.‚Äù He peered into her white young face. ‚ÄúDo you know me?‚Äù