The Argosy — page 296: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Hammonds’ Ugly Duckling. 277 ** Public applause is our hall-mark. It stamps us for something of worth. I did not dare ask your permission for fear you would not give it. But now that Fraulein Klettermann exists no longer, you will forgive her—won’t you ?” asked Joan with a smile that was irre- sistible. | The sound of a door violently slammed awoke everybody to the knowledge of Miss Priscilla’s abrupt departure. When the Hammonds reached home that night their cousin was in bed, and by the time they rose next morning she was on her way to London. | Her behaviour caused much surprise, of course, and she was. pur- sued with conciliatory letters. But no answer to these arrived, nor did the Hammonds ever again see the sight of Miss Priscilla’s handwriting. But her solicitor wrote for her, and his letter was to this effect. ‘His client, Miss Priscilla Upton, after consultation with him, had arrived at the reluctant (she begged him to say the reluctant) con- clusion that; according to the terms of her old promise, Miss Joan Hammond was entitled from her to the sum of £10,000. For Miss Upton had destined this gift from the first to that Hammond who, before the age of thirty, should achieve distinction in one or other branch of art. Miss Upton, from. observation and experience, had never expected so glaring a deviation from the traditions and habits of the family; but, having been mistaken, she felt it her mournful duty to warn the remaining Hammonds that at her death the whole of her property would go to the Society for the Preservation of the Ojjibeway Indians. Miss Upton’s sympathies were entirely with savages, and not at all with any one result of a cultured and effete civilisation.” ‘Four thousand must go to you, papa,” said Joan, “‘ and the rest can be divided between Gertrude and Edith—unless Ned objects.” But Ned did not object, being, as Mr. Hammond remarked, the only member of the family, except himself, who had always properly appreciated Joan. connicloooks (C(O) =