"Why, how can you talk so, Aunt Heppy?
You have a daughter, who is your legal heir; how could you ever think of
robbing your own flesh and blood of her inheritance?"
"She's no flesh and blood of mine!"
"What!" cried Alice, "isn't Lindy your own child?"
"No," said Mrs. Putnam savagely. "Silas and me didn't think we'd have
any children, so we 'dopted her jest afore we moved down from New
Hampshire and settled in this town."
"Do you know who her parents were?" inquired Alice.
"Alice, what did you do with that letter I gave you the las' time you
were here?"
"It is locked up in my writing desk at home," answered Alice.
"What did yer promise to do with it?" said Mrs. Putnam.
"I promised," replied Alice, "not to let any one see it, and to destroy
it within twenty-four hours after your death."
"And you will keep yer promise?" asked the old woman.
"My word is sacred," said Alice solemnly.
"Alice Pettengill," cried Mrs. Putnam, "if you break your word to me I
shall be sorry that I ever loved you; I shall repent that I made you my
heiress." And her voice rose to a sharp, shrill tone.
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