“What is it, dear?” Janet asked, seeing his astonishment.
“Why,—why, Janet! the Varian pearls are left to Eleanor!”
“To Eleanor? No!”
“But they are! See, it’s plain as day!”
There was no doubt as to his statement. The final clause of Frederick Varian’s last will and testament, bequeathed the string of pearls, known as ‘the Varian pearls,’ to his niece, Eleanor, the daughter of his brother Herbert.
“Just what is so startling in that?” asked Potter, curiously, and Doctor Varian replied:
“The Varian pearls are an heirloom, and are valued at two hundred thousand dollars. It is the custom for the oldest of the family to inherit them, and he is expected to bequeath them to his oldest child. Why did my brother leave them to my daughter instead of to Betty?”
“Herbert, it’s dreadful! Eleanor shall not take them!” Janet cried.
“That makes no difference, ma’am,” Potter said; “it’s the fact that Mr Varian left them away from his own child, that proves the attitude of the father to the daughter!”