“Judy Says No”

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 14

“Judy Says No”

Sy

Winifred Carter.

CHAPTER I (Continued). •Don’t go,” t.e said, peremptorily. "You must not take so much notice. I have had my own way for a good many years, and I can’t stop my bad habits all at once. Sit down for a minute and let me explain things to you. As you know, your cousin Nicholas was my heir.- ' He "i as thoroughly disappointed me. r cover of being a straight, reliable man, I discovered he was —well, I won’t go into that, but he did un-heard-of things for a Harmer." Her Pride. He frowned angrily as he thought of his disappointment. “At the finish, my girl, I discovered something I could not pass. Deceit, lies, falsity from start to ■finish. Though he was my own flesh and blood, I turned him away.” “• I’ve never met Nicholas, but I don’t think he sounds like one of us.” The touch of pride in that “ one of us ’’ interested the old man. . “ You don’t seem to realise that if I took him back into favour your chances would be up," he said cynically. ~ , “ I want nothing that wouldn t be just,” she retorted. “No one wants justice,” he chuckled maliciously. “Not if it means money going to someone else. You needn’t worry. Nicholas’ chance has gone I It is your turn now. Six months on probation, and at the finish I make you my heir —If you please me.” Judy dropped in the big chair, and flung her hat off, the better to think. The whole story had interested but perplexed her. She felt vaguely sorry for Nicholas. To lose all thisl She realised, a little soberly, just what a marvellous heritage it was. It must be bitter to be Nicholas at the moment. With a sigh for Nicholas Harmer’s fall from grace, she looked at him wistfully. “The lawyer told me that I was to be on trial for six months, so that isn’t news. I know I shall have to be careful, ■ for I have a temper when I am roused.” She looked at him ruefully. “ I’m sure you will rouse it," she conMessed. “ I’m not without one myself,” he said, chuckling. “We’re none the worse for that, my girl." “Some of these days I may flare up and you’ll send me packing at once, and thgit will be that,” said Judy, grimacing. He was amused at this.

“ I promise, if I do, that I give you permission to sleep here so that I may have time to reconsider.” “It would be wise,” she said naively. “ You are rather an Impudent young woman," growled her grandfather, but he was not ill-pleased. “You’ve got a head on those young shoulders." And now he rang the bell, and a servant came. Judy saw his face light up with come inward mirth. Send Mrs Crawford to me, and say Miss Enid and Master .Clive are to come as I well."\ As the servant went off, she heard him chuckle, as though he was prepared really,to enjoy himself. “Stay where you are, and don t appear until I call you. I don’t want them to see you for a moment." Judy felt troubled. Somehow it seemed as if her grandfather s sneering spirit had winged its way to her depressingly. He seemed so in the shadow. She gave a little shiver, then her face grew pitiful. How dreadful to grow like thatl Please God, before she left she would have helped him back to the sunshine. “They’ll Hate You!” While the servant was gone to fetch the Crawfords, he talked to Judy about them. “ I have not explained the Crawfords to you, my dear,” he said. “ Eliza Crawford is my housekeeper, and incidentally distantly related io me. Her son, Clive, is my secretary, her daughter, Enid, a pretty doll. She set her cap at Nicholas, got engaged to him, and has jilted him ruthlessly since I disinherited him.” He chuckled at the thought as if he enjoyed it. Judy looked very sober at this. She was sorry for poor Nicholas, even £ he was a black sheep. “ Enid’s time is taken up. or supposed to be taken up, by seeing to the flowers, and mending the linen. She never does it. She is incorrigibly lazy. Her ambition is to make a wealthy match.” “ I did not know there would be any relations,” said Judy, after she had digested this information in horrified silence. “I don’t suppose they were pleased you were £oing to invite me," she added dolefully. He gave a laugh full of malicious amusement. “Pleased? No, I think I can promise you that. At the moment they are in ignorance of the treat in store for them.”

“ That was too bad of you, grandfather," said Judy, dubiously, and her dark eyes were troubled. “ They are sure to be thoroughly angry. And I don’t blame them. They will start out by disliking me.” “ Oh, they’ll hate you at sight,” he said. “What you don’t understand, my dear, is the full force of the blow. Mrs Crawford is one of those mothers who think her children the most wonderful on the face of the earth, which is purely insufferable vanity on her part, for they are nothing of the kind. She thinks, now Nicholas is gone, that the most natural thing for me to do is to make her spoiled son Clive my heir. I have no intention of doing so, and 1 have planned this as a surprise for them. And I hope you will enjoy the next few moments as much, as I snail.”

“ I think you are very unkind,” said Judy, quaveringly. “ I never knew people thought out hateful things like that, and watched the effects of them. It’s not only unchristian, it’s positively revolting.” ‘‘Now then, young woman,” warned her grandfather, “ you are not trying very hard to please me.” “I don’t think I want to very much," said Jqdy, gravely. She felt anything hut happy. It was too bad to spring this ordeal on her. The lawyer ought to have mentioned this family living here; but for the young man in the train she might have been quite ignorant. She would not blame them if they did hate her. At that moment the door opened, and a tall, handsome, elderly woman entered, followed by a young man. ,Judy burrowed well down in her chair, feeling most uncomfortable, and wishing she had never come. “Enid is out. She’s at the Tennis Club,” said Mrs Crawford, and looked at the old man expectantly. He said northing. “ You sent for us, Henry?” said Mrs Crawford, a little uneasy at his queer silence. “ I wanted you ail to talk about something," said the old man, muffling a chuckle. “It is to talk about my heir.” Judy heard a little ecstatic sigh come. Miserably she huddled down In the big chair, thankful that she had not Sfi§a yet, yej tovfe -ffihaj

scant welcome she would get when she was. She heard Mrs Crawford say In a sulky purr: “ Of course, now Nicholas has proved himself unworthy you must choose another heir., Such a pity the boy was so foolish. “ Quite true, quite true,” said the old man. “• He was foolish to get found out." . . “Have you decided yet? she went on, trying to hide her agitation. “ Well, not exactly," said Henry Harmer and he chuckled sardonically —so much so that the young man, who had been lounging about, came and sat down by his mother. Judy knew that her grandfather was enjoying it thoroughly, and she felt indignant With him. It wasn t fair that one man had the power to act like that. _ , , “Of course,” said Mrs Crawford, smoothly. “ You want your own kin to inherit.” “Naturally!” said Henry Harmer. “’Well, perhaps being his mother I ought not to praise Clive, but he loves every stone of the place, and the tenants. Henry, you’d be surprised •how the tenants simply worship the b °“Yes, I should be surprised!” he said sceptically. “ And, of course,” went on Mrs Crawford, undaunted by this, “of course, you would get absolute loyalty from Clive, and he has some of your own blood in his veins.” , “Don’t gush, Eliza,” he said coldly. “Let Clive speak for himself.” “ Why, sir," said Clive, flushing up, “ I don’t need to tell you how earnestly I should consider the tenants, how sacred a trust I should hold it, if you did think of making me your heir. Judy, the kindest little soul alive, one who never judged anyone if she could help- it, instantly took a dislike to Clive Crawford, for it did not seem to her that it rang true. “ And, of course, my one hope is that you live many years to enjoy your property, sir,” 'he added. Henry Harmer chuckled maliciously. , ~ “He is very bitter and cynical, said Judy to herself. “He does not believe that Clive does want, him to live, and it’s wrong to go on- letting them talk when he means to bring me in any minute. 'He is playing with them all as a cat does a mouse.” .. " Of course, we want you to live years,” cooed Mrs Crawford. “ Of course, sneered Henry. , At this Judy rose from her chair and took a step forward, flashing a reproachful glance at her grandfather. The two Crawfords regarded her with cold animosity. They did not know who she was yet, thought Judy gloomily, but they disliked her on the -spot. Mrs Crawford’s hard eyes raked her contemptuously, took in her shabby suit, her cheap hat, and solid ’Shoes.

“Who is this young person, ‘Henry?” said Mrs Crawford, superciliously. . ' ’ . ' “ That, my dear, is my granddaughter! Judith's girl! I have invited her here. If Igo on living <the very long span Clive lias been wishing me," he chuckled again, it will be unnecessary to bother about an heir, but I may not live so long, and so I have invited Judy here on six months’ probation, to see if she is fitted to fill my shoes.” “ I don’t understand you,” said Mrs Crawford. “Don’t you? Then you are more than ordinarily dense. I am considering making her my heir.” CHAPTER IL At Daggers Drawn. “Your heir?” said Mrs Crawford, shrilly. “ You mean you intend to make that girl your heir, Henry?” “If at the end of six months she has proved herself worthy of the responsibility I most certainly do," said Henry Harmer, smiling pleasantly. “ It will be to your interest to make her happy, Eliza, since most probably she will be mistress here some day. It’s a wise woman who makes friends with mammon.” But Mrs Crawford could not think ■of the future at that moment. Her hard eyes raked Judy again contemptuously, scornfully. This girl to take her beloved Clive’s place! Oh, it was too disappointing. “I can’t believe that you would have done anything quite so insulting,” said Mrs Crawford, flinging back her head and facing the old man. “ Insulting is a queer word to use, Eliza,” said Henry Harmer, with a chuckle. “After all, it is scarcely Insulting for me to decide to leave my own property where I will." “ Oh, but after all you’ve talked to me about Clive." “ I promised nothing.” “ No, but you made me hope.” “ Hope, my dear Eliza, is a dangerous thing." “ It is if one hopes for anything from you,” muttered the crestfallen woman. “Mother,” it was Clive Crawford’s voice, and it sped a warning to the angry, dismayed woman. “I am sure (Mr Harmer did not mean to be disappointing.” He turned to the old man with an •Ingratiating smile. “ You must admit, sir, that mother has grounds for being disappointed.” “Oh, I'll admit that!” he said grimly. “ Personally," went on Clive smoothly, “I have always hoped that you would make friends with your daughter Judith’s children. There are six of them I believe, and I am sure would give you a great deal of happl&ess in your old age.”

(To be continued.>