Legacy by Dana Black Page B

daughter, I told myself. He might have sent me to school and taught me to keep an account book, and even let me balance some of his own books during my vacations, but that was not enough for him to own me. Now, even if he had another plan, I had Steven Graybar!
     
    Across the table, Reverend Scott raised his glass in an elaborate toast to praise the new cathedral Father had just given the Episcopal church. When he was done, Father glowed with pride, but he shook his head modestly.
     
    'That's enough said about that, Reverend. Next thing you know, these Baptists and these Methodists' - he indicated the judge, and lawyer Clay Anderson - 'will be wanting me to build one for them, too!'
     
    There was appreciative laughter around the table. On my right, Justin McKay asked me if the tall stone Gothic structure had really cost all of eighty-thousand dollars to build, the way the papers had reported.
     
    'That's how much he paid the contractors,' I said, for I had seen Father's books on the matter just after I had come home from school last Easter. 'They estimated twenty-five thousand, but they charged him eighty.'
     
    'That's quite a fortune. Your father must be very generous.'
     
    'He can afford it,' was all I said. But as I spoke I remembered Mother's words, and I wondered.
     
    'Hey, Sam,' Judge Hawthorne was saying, 'you goin' to let Brad Graybar come down to your church now that he's asked you up to his place next week?' He spoke with a good-natured laugh, obviously intending to make fun of the invitations that Brad had sent to all of the town's wealthy residents this morning. I could still picture ours, a large envelope of thick cream-colored paper, with an elaborate red wax seal. Father had torn it in half without even opening it. Now he remained silent.
     
    'They say he's bringing in a famous orchestra from New York,' one of the other women, Clay Anderson's wife, added. 'And my baker tells me he'll be busy all week with the pastries. And there are more people coming up by train from Harrisburg.'
     
    'Brad's spending a lot of money,' remarked Reverend Scott.
     
    And the unasked question hung in the air: Would Father take it unkindly, be really offended, if someone who was at his table this Saturday night went up to Brad Graybar's next Saturday?
     
    'And I suppose there'll be those who go up there to see what he's bought with it all,' said my mother, her calm voice causing heads to turn from Father's end of the table down to hers. She, in turn, looked directly at Father, as if reminding him that he ought to give his opinion on the subject and get it over with so that his guests would at least know where they stood.
     
    Father took the hint. 'I suppose there will be, too,' he said. 'But I happen to know old Brad's got another purpose in mind besides just showing the good people of Grampian a good time. Isn't that right, Judge?'
     
    The older man looked surprised, as if his mind had been wandering. 'What say? Another purpose?'
     
    'Evidently the folk in the county clerk's office don't keep you as well informed as they do me. It hasn't been a week that's gone by since Brad registered surveys of the bottom third of that mountain of his - all subdivided into nice, neat lots. Folks who go up there are going to be treated to a real estate sales pitch along with that New York orchestra.'
     
    'Oh, I can't believe he'd sell Legacy, can you?' asked Mrs. Anderson. 'He could never bring himself to part with an inch of it. Everyone knows that the Graybars are both half crazy about that mountain of theirs.'
     
    'The Graybars are going broke,' said Father, without even flicking an eyelash. 'I happen to know he's in debt quite heavily for that new mill of his and for that famous stone castle everyone seems so fascinated with. And some other notes are coming due not long from now. He needs to raise the cash, and quickly.'
     
    Amanda Scott spoke up. 'But what good would it do anyone to buy a lot up there? There's no gas line, no