It would be too provoking, for he would be forever interfering in my plans and wishes for the child." She waited till the day after that on which the body was laid away in its last resting-place, then finding herself alone with her brother-in-law, said to him, "I want a little talk with you, Lester, for it is time for me to be arranging my plans.

As you were with your brother for some weeks before his death, I presume you can tell me all about his affairs.

Did he make a will ?" "He did; leaving his entire estate to his wife and child," replied Lester, in a grave but kindly tone.
"One third to me and two to her, I suppose ?" "Yes; but I think he said you would be the richer of the two, having some property of your own." "That is quite correct.

I am appointed executrix, and guardian to Evelyn of course ?" "No," Lester replied, with some hesitation, for he saw that she would be ill-pleased with the arrangements Eric had made; "at the earnest solicitation of my brother, I consented to become his executor and the guardian of his child." Laura did not speak for a moment, but her eyes flashed and her cheek paled with anger.

"Ah, I might have known it," she hissed at length; "had I not been the most innocent and unsuspicious of women I should have known better than to leave him for weeks to the wiles of designing relatives; when, too, his mind was weakened by disease." "His mind was perfectly clear and strong from first to last, Laura," returned Lester mildly, "and you greatly mistake in supposing I had anything to gain by agreeing to his wishes or that I was at all covetous of either office." "Pardon me," she sneered, "but if you do not receive a percentage for your trouble, you will be the first executor I ever heard of who did not." "I shall not accept a cent," he retorted, with some slight indignation in his tones.
"We shall see; men can change their minds as well as women.