Fletcher had taken his departure, his
pent-up enthusiasm burst out before his youthful partner. Had she
realized that their struggles were over now, that their future was
secure? They need no longer fear ever being forced to take bounty from
the family; they were independent of them all! He would make a name for
himself that should be distinct from his father's as he should make a
fortune that would be theirs alone. The young wife smiled. "But all
that need not prevent you, dear, from claiming your RIGHTS when the time
comes."
"But if I scorn to make the claim or take a penny of his, Loo?"
"You say you scorn to take the money you think your father got by a mere
trick,--at the best,--and didn't earn. And now you will be able to show
you can live without it, and earn your own fortune. Well, dear, for that
very reason why should you let your father and others enjoy and waste
what is fairly your share? For it is YOUR share whether it came to your
father fairly or not; and if not, it is still your duty, believing as
you do, to claim it from him, that at least YOU may do with it what you
choose. You might want to restore it--to--to--somebody."
The young man laughed. "But, my dear Loo! suppose that I were weak
enough to claim it, do you think my father would give it up? He has the
right, and no law could force him to yield to me more than he chooses."
"Not the law, but YOU could.
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