with the Senator. She's secretary to Senator
Warrington, you know. He's on the Yankee side"--the tone was full of
contempt--"but yet he's our cousin, and when he offered Nellie the
position she would take it in spite of Carter and me. We were so
poor"--the lad's pride was off its guard for the moment, melted in the
soothing trust with which this stranger thrilled his soul. It was a
relief to him to talk, and the large hand which rested on his shoulder
as they walked seemed an assurance that his words were accorded
respect and understanding. "Of course, if Nellie had been here she
would have known how to get a lawyer, but Carter had a bad turn half
an hour ago, and the doctor said he might get better or he might die
any minute, and Carter remembered about the money, and got so excited
that they said it was hurting him, so I said I'd get a lawyer, and I
rushed out, and the first thing I ran against you. I'm afraid I wasn't
very polite." The smile on the gaunt face above him was all the answer
he needed. "I'm sorry. I apologize. It certainly was good of you to
come right back with me." The child's manner was full of the assured
graciousness of a high-born gentleman; there was a lovable quality in
his very patronage, and the suffering and the sweetness and the pride
combined held Lincoln by his sense of humor as well as by his soft
heart. "You sha'n't lose anything by it," the youngster went on. "We
may be poor, but we have more than plenty to pay you, I'm sure. Nellie
has some jewels, you see--oh, I think several things yet. Is it very
expensive to draw a will?" he asked wistfully.

"No, sonny; it's one of the cheapest things a man can do," was the
hurried answer, and the child's tone showed a lighter heart.

"I'm glad of that, for, of course, Carter wants to leave--to leave
as much as he can. You see, that's what the will is about--Carter is
engaged to marry Miss Sally Maxfield, and they would have been married
now if he hadn't been wounded and taken prisoner. So, of course, like
any gentleman that's engaged, he wants to give her everything that he
has. Hampton Court has to come to me after Carter, but there's some
money--quite a lot--only we can't get it now. And that ought to go
to Carter's wife, which is what she is--just about--and if he doesn't
make a will it won't. It will come to Nellie and me if--if anything
should happen to Carter."

"So you're worrying for fear you'll inherit some money?" Lincoln asked
medita