A TOWN OIRSEX.
4 nlotof around ihn mi'ro-t wrp
iwco, lue Cry fr.ratleu well,
A rtrrtn wujluin it bilvk-b'lilt ItP.
VMicre men mk mww.biiy ul H:
And WMiRK.tin llirouirti Wtgmnl ba
Dim ll iwcr., with pi:e !! "
tnn oi wlib nmihln p( lh en
Tbit bumetlck tf c bvo oul ou tnem.
. There In 4 ro; ali"l ! " ,
With waulv, tiu'.ke lnoiuWJ lW.
Falrihowrnou htppler r we fall -
Oil lull runt drupi.iiw Uioi'AH.
II ptiu. but on ml br:jr noi;
It din ty IiicIh In ib xloom;
ioou in Uiu iiirlns-vme. If bT tour.
lang fcu fciKui.m lo dfciu ol uloora.
Tlnpnonlblnom,ndUwreclied
Wllb color ml u.oe-bul uevrr It iwoii
II t.loomn wlib the row ''! bli oin U p l
Of trry lius 1 and auur.
Thi-T H M-ir m iw I iik
Th diimi-k lm U tli'l bn bo and lor ,
llu wl.il tom: ilowe br 4 brook,
LatIui cl Jlcr o( lry suow.
tYm M ono irn''-'-nt Ton (fr on high
A rauiiymtin'i Iik'iK 'be Uio)
Ami n-t jrou 'tiealh iu trying my,
Hi lie sru rouniry, nuuy mito',
Woiil.l jon rik jd;pu(liuck antral to,
v,.ln-d iib ralu Hud biimi wub parl,
Un to tbe m llU. taiff ! "nib,
ewcil who bljMom (oi Juue toil glrir
Yet no! Who uf U yo In lhoe bnwtra?
VS ho prti kiri tlul a:l ro glvt?
B-iWW your Ilia luurtil of II twem,
Aid tfowly die ilml drraiiii mty live,
Prtmd iiid perl.blu yourdoe
Of lit ifi nug l-avrt .ball uol bi Tln
Wortbr to rrtb the hemlock bowl.
Or twliie About the cromuf plul
THE SERJEANT'S WILL.
' '.Mr. Warrineton. I believe?"
Bimplo words and true as fur as that I
am Mr. Warrincton: but this I can as-
sort, that never had words so taken mo by
surpriso.nor had my name ever boon put
to me under more singular oircum
Unces. 'fust this may be clear, I must
eiplain. As shortly as I can I will do
o. for I disliko explanation, and would
have m v iudiro. when I ata moving tho
oourt, know beforohand, if possible, what
mr iioiut is. '
lama barrister, a you guess, and my
chambers are in Hare Court; it is the
most ancient, quint and retired place in
tho Temple, just on your right if you
conie in by tho archway at tho bottom of
Chancery Lane. My number is of uo
importance; in fact, abundant roasons
.. l 1 , 1 ,. l! l .. ..
Will appear wny l siioum ue reuuem as
to it. Una reason, wliiou will not an
mr. but a verv oot'ont one nevertheless.
hoiug that solicitors aro not fond of
ourjssl who rush into print, nnloss their
luoaarations are bonnd in calf. I bavo
one room in which I sit myself, and tho
undivided half of a olork'a room and a
passage; the rest of the let are oocupiod
1 1 am talking of a time six montlii back)
by Serjeant Oroathead, Q. 0., of tho
western oircuit, whose large room in the
rear is the only comfortable and woll
furnished ono, my rooms boing as dingy
and cheerless as most ground-floor apart
ments in the Templo. A couple of doors
shut ns in, but the oak is only sported
when tho olarks leave at seven, then
our chambers, not very lively during tho
iay tnuo, are abaudonod to inrknoss, si
Jeuco aud tlm mioo. Io a word, they
. aro merely ollioos.
Woll. about tho time I have men
tioncd, I was obliged, uo matter why
iwrhaps becaufe over my dinue r at tho
Suffolk btreet (jlub I discovered a lail.i
cy in tho oiiiniou to bo sent out tho next
morning I found myself obliged, for
tho first time in eorhiinly a year, to go to
ray chambers after dinner. The clock at
St. Clement Danes was striking tho half
Lour after nino as I turnnd iuto tho lmie
so mo and echoing Temple. I opened my
outer door with my key, aitor aioortuu
ing that 1 had somo mutches io my
pocket, and did tho same to the inner
door, drawing tua oak to betund me, an 1
hutting it. Then I stood still. It wai
- very odd! all should have been in dark
noes, but from tho koy hole of the nvr-
jcaui's room a bright ray of light shono
atcadily, and from wituin cauio tho ix
miliar sound of the rustling of papers. It
was very odd. I had known tho snr
jcaut to say he never worked at night,
and certainly I had never hoard of him
coming to his ohambora in tho evening.
Very singular that wo should both bo
there on tins particular nigntl At any
rato, I would soo if it was all right.
opcucd his door and walked in quietly,
au apology on my lips. The room, as I
have said, a spcious ono, was brilliantly
lighted, tho table was covered with
papers and books; but no Serjeant ureat
head was thore! Some ono was, thongh,
with a vengeanoo.
"Mr. Warringtou, I believe."
With one hand resting upon tho Ublo
and pressing some among the many
. papais which littered it, stood tho
pcakcr, a lady I Apparently about fivo
and thirty, she was tall and of a good
figure, her dress handsome though sim
plo. A veil obsoured much of her face,
which was toward me as 1 entered. Either
her complexion was naturally colorless,
or agitation bad driven tho blood from
tier cheeks; tho latter, I ronjto nred,
ainco her loft hand was pressed to nor
aide. I stood dumbfounded, and at least
twice this unexpected apparition ro
Patod the words I have sot down. Wh)
was tthe, and what on earth was she do
iug alono aud at this time of the night in
oar chambers? As far as I remembor I
aaid at last in a bewildered tone, still
holding the door-handle:
"Yes, cortninly, I am Mr. Warring
ton." "You niut bo surprised to find me
here. I am Serjeant Ureathead'a nicoo."
"Ob, yes!" I answered, with a bow and
a rain attempt to indiaato by my tono
that I thought this a perfectly SAtisfuc
tory explanation of her presence at 9:30
in hi chambers; 'Oh, yes.'
"Uo i rather nnwell this evening,
and thought he would like to have some
papers to read, in case he should not
aleep. I have volunteered t9 fetch them
waa it not bold of me? and my cab is
waiting in Fleet street."
"The eerjeant not well! I am very
orry. Can I give yon any assistance?"
From the appearance of the Wile sbo
mast have vndooe most of the bundles
io search of tbe right papers, such was
the litter npon it. She really was a very
good-looking woman.
"Yon can undo the harm yoo have in
nocently ransed, Mr. Warrington, by
getting me a glass of water, it too will
' feo so kind. Yon startled me not a little.
I waa prepared to Mod darkness and
loaeliness, bnt tot to aioet any one."
"If I have frightened yon I do wish I
kAd aUyed away which is unselfish." I
aulded gallantly; "bnt it is curious that
- fate should have led me hereto night for
the first time this year."
"Yee; not only curious, Air. Warring,
too, provoking also."
I laughed and hastened to my room,
lit a oandle and drew some water from
tlm inter. There was a flavor ol romance
about this, and yet, handsome as she
was, and singular as were iuo circum
stances, something repelled mo. I had
not got over tuo sun sue caused me
perhaps.
"Aro you sure that you novo got what
von want?" She had replace 1 tho papers
- . ., .ti. :,t. I. ... I
and oiuaron me laoio whu huuuoiiui
deltnew whilo I was away. Sho was
standing now by tho fireplace, evidently
ready to go.
"I have, thank yon," shoaniwerod
rather thoughtful ly ; "perhaps you would
bo good enough to escort rne to my cab,
my norves bavo hardly recovered yet."
Sho smilod bewitchmgly as sue poka
what I took for badinsgo, but tho next
instant I saw thut it was trim enough.
We wero moving toward tho door, and I
had just saidr"Witb pleasure," when a
heavy footstepComing along tho passago
outside, made itself clearly heard even
through the closed doors. It halted a
couple of seconds as if going no further,
then it prooooded on ana up mo enus.
Vell, just dnring tho scoond or two that
it halted at tho door, I saw my compan
ion's face-it had turned white again and
had tho same nervous, expectant expres
sion I had first obsorvod. ller nerves
had not recovered tho surpiiso of my
sudden ou trance.
"It would hardly do for any ono to
find me here," she said, with a forced
laugh, finding my eyos fixod upon her
faco.
"No? but that was so like your undo a
footstep that it did not alarm mo."
She did not smile as I expoctcd. On
the oontrury, she helped to unfasten the
outer door with almoHt potulant eager
nosH, Onco in tho open air she breathed
more freely, but she hardly spoko again
except lo thank me when I put hor iuto
the cab.
"I hope tho Serjeant will slocp to
night and not need his papers," were my
lust words, which she onlv acknowledged
by a bow, as she threw herself back. But
1 bad cause, as win do soon, io remem
I cr thorn.
I did not tret much work done that
nicht. nuiet as it was : ray visitor had
insettled mo, I suppose. Twioe I thought
I heard someone in tbe sergeant s room,
and was foolish enough to tnko a light
and go and see. Of course thoro was no
one thero ; so after a short time I gave
it up and went homo to bod.
The next day, be It observed, was Sun
day. I pass on as briefly as I oau ; at
broakfast ou the Monday I receivod a
moro serious shock. Among tho items
of intelligence in tho morning Tost op
pcared this paragruph (it will save mo
much explanation): "Wo regret to
bavo to announce the sudden death, at
his residence, Gloucester Roud, of Mr.
Sergeant Oroathead, Q. 0., of tho West
era Cirouit, recorder of Diddlohaui.
llis decease, which took lilace very sud
denly on Saturday evening, was caused
by a hoart complaint from which the
learnod gcntlemau had for some time
suffered."
" Unph," I said to myself, and boing
a lawyer, began to think and to put two
and two togomer, not wuuoui uow ami
again a little eerio fooling down tho small
of my back. Mr. Sergeant Oreathead
died on Saturday evouing. Ou Saturday
evening, before or after tho event, is uot
proved, a lady is occupied all nlone
among Mr. Sergeant Qreuthead's papers
in his chambers, and, though this I was
not quite sure about, among tho drawers
of his writing table. "Umpiii wen, i
was never on very intimate terms wiih
the old gontloman, who was thirty years
my senior, and it is no particular busi
iii'ss of mine. It's all right, or will oome
sointhooud, doubtless. And I put on
my boots and coat and went down to
chambers aud discussed tho old gentle
man's death, with the due amount of
sympathy, with his clerk, and forwarded
a letter of condolence to the family, of
whom I knew nothing, applied to the
treasurer of tho Inner Templo to tako on
the Sergeant's chambers, aud did my
usual work aud lived my usual lifo for
four days. Theu something happened.
Thomas, my boy, Bhowod in to me "our
Mr. Ford," of Ford, Ford & Bittlo, of
Staplo's Inn, whom I knew to bo tho lato
Sorgoant's solicitors. "A new client,"
said I to myself, with much excitement.
With a inilimoim mixture of courteav
and dignity I waved him to a seat; which
was all thrown away.
"Njw, pirhaps you can tell me, Mr.
Warrington, ho said after a few prelimi
nary observations, which sufficiently en
lightened me. "Have you any idea
whero onr poor friend is likely to havo
put his will."
"Not tho slightest. Wo wero not on
very intimate torms, though the best of
friends. Have you searched bis cup
board and books?"
"Cref ally. Yet I feel sure that it is
hero. The day ho signed it ho said to
me, 'Here you'll find it when you want it
Ford,' and he tapped tho table, so that
1 took it for granted ho meat.t to lock it
up there."
"What family haslio left, Mr. Ford?"
"IIo wae never married. His niece, a
remarkably nice girl, lias lived with him
for over a year. Except a distant cousin
who acted as a kind of housekeeper, she
was his only connection."
"Waa his niece a very great favorite of
his?"
"Yes, of lute, very much so. Her
mother and the sergeant did not get
on; ayoar ago the mother dieJ, and Mr.
Orecuhead, who was a good man at bot
tom, took the girl home. I don't mind
telling yon that the missing will leaves
her nearly everything."
"What!" I cried, in astonishment,
"leaves her nearly everything?"
"Toe; and very naturally, too. Why
hot?"
Up to this moment I had had, since
the lawyer opened hit business to me,
bnt one idea which was, that on the
night the old man died, his niece, "this
very nice girl," had come to his cham
bers, searched for the will, and, for ber
own advantage; abstracted and destroyed
it. Had done that, and hail into the
I a Train, startled mo first, and fooled me
afterward. Bat how about this theory
now? "Cat bono."
"I can't make it out?" I said, slowly
oraing my chin.
"Nor can II" cried the other briskly.
"Is the niece. Miss Miss Oreathead,
of a very Quiiotio rpirit at all likely to
burn np the will to benefit somebody
else?"
' She's not so mad as to throw away
seventy-thousand pounds, if you mean
that. Good heavens! what suggested
such a thing to year
I told him all that had occurred on tho
Saturday night, just us I have related it
above. If my readers feel a tithe of the
wonder ho expressed, I au satisfied with
my powers of description,
"If you had not told me face to faco,
sir, I would not huvo believed a sylla
bio of it!" ho said emphatically, "not a
syllable I"
"Could you" after I had thought a
minntn nr'iwn- 'uould vou urocure mo
a glimpse of Mi Orcathoad, or of hor
photogra ih?"
Our Mr. Ford actually blushed.
"Well, I could. Perhaps it would( bo
moro satisfantory if you saw herself."
"Not at all." What in tho world made
the man U1 get so?
"Theu I think I havo somcwhoro,
if I've not left it, tho very thing you
want. Oli, yes, here it is." And aftor
fumbliug iu all his other pockets, from
his breast pocket Mr. Ford, a little red
in tho faco, produced a noat little Ras
sia leathor caso. He opened this and
hold tbo portrait wimin lor my inepcu-
tion.
"Well?" ho uttered impatiently, wbilo
with a critical eyo I was examining a
vory pretty, very youthful, wholly good
face.
"Noso a little, just a little, too rctrous
bo," I murmured.
"Eh?" shutting it up with an angry
snap.
"Dut, howovcr, that is not tho lady
who was occupied here on Suturlay
nicrlit 'flint is one noint clear. Mr,
Ford. Now, who would profit by tho
destruction of this will? Is thcro any
earlier one in existence
"Yi-s. There is a former will diseov
nroil in Ihn snrcpant's desk at homo. It
was made beforo Olivo I mean Miss
Greutboad came to live with him.
"Its date?"
"January, 1879."
"Well?"
"It Idavps two thirds of the estate to
the cousin who than kept house for
him.
"A tall, pale, dark eyed woman, de
ei.ld,11v pood-lookinff."
"Yes. UyJovo, I seel Sho was your
visitor, and with lnstiuctivo caution,
gave Olive s name, or rather descrip
tion, ne criod.
"And has destroyed tho last will?"
"I don't know so much about that,"
Iia nninriroi1 tlnttlv wininir his forehead.
"She did not burn it here, as yon say
l,a flra gui mil KliA mi Till knon it to
soo bow things would turn out. It gives
her 5,000, too."
"Ah. doos it? Wait a moment. Does
it really? Well, then, we can get it back
liv bold atrnke. I'm with vou in this.
Mr. Ford. It gels interesting. Tho first
will, whioh must bo proved if the last bo
not found, gives tho housekeeping cousin
two-thirds, about 50,090, say; tho lator
and missiug will gives her 5,009. But
suppo8o ono woro ouly Biippow ono
wore to turn up between tue two ami
civfl her nothing, eh?"
"No chancel" said the lawyer: "I
don't think I auito follow vou."
"I cm exulain in two words. You
But as tho two words lengthened
thomsolvcs to two hundred, as two words
always do, 1 need not go tnrougu any
moro of onr conversation. Its drift will
bo guessed by tho sagacious reader.
At parting, "Its rather a serious thin
von know." said the lawyer ruefully.
"Yes," I answered mischievously; "its
fiv viirs."
Wo were assembled iu tho dead man's
dying room iu Gloucester road to hear
tho will read. It may soetn odd that I
should have been present at this merely
family matter, nut tno met is tuai i,
John Warrington, of tho innor temple,
liiirristnr-at-law. was not. A silent and
humble gentleman, with a beard and
glasses, with also a seedy coat aud boots
to match, aud a habit of taking snuff sur
reptitiously yet with n certain amount of
ostentation, was present. But he was
merely Mr. Ford's clerk, and if his
tliriire'nud faco wre not familiar sights
iu the offices of Messrs. Ford, Ford 1
Bittlo, why Mr. Ford had a right to en
gage a special clerk for business of so
confidential a naturo as this. There
wero not many present. The tall,
gracious, almost quoenly woman sitting
near the fire with her back to the light
and a largo black fac iu her hand is Miss
Chilling, 'third oousiu to the deceased,'
as the newspapers would say. The fair,
nervous girl by the table is Miss Olive
Oreathead; observe that her pale face
flushes a little, as he shakes bauds with
'our Mr. Ford." In tho back-ground are
old Humphreys, the olerk, aud several
tervants.
"I have two wills hero which I think
I ought to read," saya the lawyer, softly,
taking his seat at the end of tho table.
"Tho first is dated 1879, the second
about a year back. A third will was
made within the last six months, but I
regret to say that our poor friend must
have destroyed it, iutending, of this I
have no doubt, to make another in its
place. In the midst of lifo, we aro yes,
imbed."
H iving uttered this in low but clear
tones ho takes from me I mean from
tho clerk, who produces them from his
blaok has, 8om papers, and proceeds in
more business like tones to read the 'last
will aud testament of Jonathan Great
head, of Gloucester road, in the county
of Middlesex; and of Havre court, tbe
temple, at tho city of London, barrister
at law."
"The purport is this," said he, after
the usual flood of verbiage bad passed
for the most part harmoniously over onr
heads, "that the bulk of the testator's
estate would go to his cousin, Miss Chill
ing, and a share, very much smaller, bnt
still considerable, to Miss Greatliead. In
one respect I very much regret that my
task does not end with this will."
Then we will listen to another last will
and testament, and a fresh current of
conveyancer's English, much shorter
than the last, however, is let loose upon
ns. One person in the room, I ean safe
ly assert, feela on the rack, and Miss
Chilling's fan never stays, but flutters,
new slowly, now with a sadden impetus.
And no wonder, her fortune of $15,000
swept sway by a stroke of the pen, and a
miserable 500 all that is giv. n her in
stead. Of the residue, after payment of
certain legaciee to the servant, clerks
snd others, tbe whole is given to Miss
Greatbeed. When he ceased the woman
at the fir rose grandly to her full
height.
This is not the final arrangement onr
friend intended to make; so much I
know; it is a sad lesson of tbe danger of
procrastination even in the wisest of us."
Thus Mr. Ford, in a low, apologetio
tote, busy with tuo paper.
"Oh, Edith, I am vory sorry!" Miss
Oreathead had risen, too, and put her
hand upon the older woman s shoulder.
The sorvants were filing out. Miss Chill
ing pushed the other aside, nit cruelly,
but as if she wero in the way.
"Tho will! show mo tho will! ' sho
said, in hoarse, low tones, holding out
ono white hand imperatively. Mr. Ford
handed it to her without a word. Suo
took it to tho window and examiaod it
carefully. Wonderful as under tho cir
cumstaucos was her self-command, one
could hear the paper rustle in ber shak
ing ham)?. In a moment sue faced us.
"You did not draw tuis win.'
"No." Mr. Ford answered nervously,
"ho took, 1 suppose, other advice. The
attesting witnesses are Mr. Warrington,
who, you may bo aware, uas cuomoors
had, I should soy with tho sorjeant.and
the laundress, who diod some months
ago. So it is evident that it was made at
chambers."
Thero was an uncomfortable silence
for a moment. Then Miss Chilling
crossed the room and rang the boll.
"Ij Mr. Humphreys still here?" she
said to the servant.
"Yes. Miss."
"Ask him to oomo to me, if you
nlease?"
"My clork shall fetch him," cried Mr.
Ford, hastily, with a glanco at tho ser
vant and theu at h! unprepobsessing
follower.
"No." said Miss Chilling. Imperative
lv. We all stood still and listened to tho
clock ticking solcmly, till tho old clerk
appeared.
"Humphreys." sho said, with
stracgo yearning in her voice, a sudden
softening, as it were, "please to examino
this signature, and tell me if it is your
late masters.
He waa her last hope.
Tbo old man slowly drew out and put
oa bis glasses. Miss Ureat bead, nerv
ous and frighconed. cowered in tho win
dow seat. Mr. Ford looked steadily into
the fire. I fancy ho saw there a law re
port headed, "In tho matter of Charles
Henry Ford, gentleman, one, etc.," or it
might bo moro shortly, "In tho matter
of a solicitor." As for his clerk, I can
answer for it, that no heart in the room
was going pit-a-pat like his. How long
Humphreys was pouring over it! At
last he spoke, and then with torturing
slowness:
"Ah, that's his writing, sure enough.
God bless him.
Then two of ns drew such a sigh of ro
lief. as. well I am at a loss for a mota
phor sufficiently strong, but at any rate,
it wos a verv deep ono.
Mr. Ford murmured a fow words of
condolence to the one lady and congrat
ulations to the other; and he and his
oleik gut Iheuiselvos out of the room as
well as they could. Tho last eeeu of
Mies Chilling, she was brooding ovor the
fire, with a face over so muchi lder, as it
seemed to ns, thau that which bad
shono in tho dusk hehind her fluttering
fau.
"Upon my honor," Ford whispered to
his confidential clerk, as tue door closed
belaud them, "I am afraid to leave tnem
together.
"Foohjour young woman hasn't made
a will.
"Why? what! you don't think she-?"
He stood still.
"Tho Serjeant? No, I don't. I havo
scon his dootor. She was first on tho
scene, that's all; a couple of hours bo
fore any one else, I expect."
"What if our plan doesn't work? How
long are wo to keep it up?"
"A week won't do us harm; thon if
nothing turns up we must find out some
thing wroug with our previous document.
But I don't thiuk she is inclined to
fight." And tho confidential clerk of
Ford, i ord & liittlo linked bis arm witb
that of "our Mr. Ford" with astonishing
freedom, and an utter forgetfulness of
his seedy hat and boots.
"A lady to see you, sir." I was greatly
surprisod.
"Show her in. Good gracious! How
do you do? Please to take a seat, miss
r - r i i - 1
au, yes, iiuss ureuiueuu. erj ou
things have happened since I saw you
last." It was my former visitor, the
Serjeant s nioce.
"Yes, indeed; they aro too fresh to be
Bpoken of. I have called to ask you a
question, Mr. Warrington, and I am
sure I may trust to your discretion."
"Absolutely," 1 assented, warmly.
"Please do not think it an odd one. I
have a reason. Do you remember wit
nessing my uncle's signature about a
year ago?"
"Well, I remember this much, that I
did so, but I dou't think I can tell you
muoh about it; as far as I can recall the
matter, Mrs. Coil was there. No one
else, I think. If I can help you any
further, I will think it out."
"Thank you," she faid, with a half
audiblo sigh, drumming softly on my
tibia with her gloved fingers. "That is
all, I think, that I wanted to atk. Now
I am hore, I should like to see my uncle's
room for for tho last time, Mr. War
rington, if you please."
"Most certainly. Nothing has been
disturbed since you were here." I led
the nay into the room; she stood iu the
middle, and looked round with a steady
scrutinizing gazo.
"I will leave yon for a moment," said
I, considerately, and half closing the
door, stepped iuto my own room, snd
sat down to finish the Statement of
Claim in Davey v. Davey? nothing of
the kind, but executed upon my hearth
rug a silent dance of triumph that would
havo gained for me a lucrative engage
ment at the Aquarium. After five min
utes of this, I composed my face, and
went back to the old gentleman's room,
stumbling carelessly over tho mat as I
did so. She ras still apparently stand
ing exactly where I left her. It cost me
all my self-command to avoid glancing
ronnd the room.
"Thank you," she said, sweetly. ''I
am so ranch obliged to you. I am very
glad I came. You will not mention my
visit?"
"You may depend upon my reticence,"
I aaid, with a bow, in which I flatter my
self that a sincere personal devotion snd
an overflowing appreciation of her affec
tion for her uncle appeared to mingle.
The moment, however, that I had got
her out of the chambers and the door
closed behind her. I sent Thomas off
with a note and darted back into the Ser
jeant's room. There I stood in the mid
dle, where my visitor had stood, and
looked aronnd me. There was a melan-
I choly tidiness everywhere. Quickly I
opened the drawors, cast my eye over
them, felt behind tnem; as 1 expected,
nothing. Then I procured a chair and a
candle, and with a miouUuess that
would have doue credit to a tou;lio, I
looked along the ton of row aftor row of
the balf-bonnd books that ou thico sides
couoealcd tho walls from floor to ceiling.
Two sides had been examined before 1
found what I bad expected. Low down
between the fireplaoaand one of the win
dows it was, almost within reach of the
writing table. Tbon I sat down on tbo
floor, put tho candle besida ins and
took out my watch.
Seven minutes passed before 1 nomas
returned aud some ono with him. I did
not move, but sung out:
"ford! horolaui; come in and suut
the door."
"Thero has been a lady horo, your boy
tills me?"
"Yes, tho lady. Sho wished to boo her
uncle's room once moro. Sweetly ap
propriate, wasn't it?"
"Yee, yes.
"Well, out of consideration for her
feelings "
"Bother her feelings !"
"I left her alone and look hero."
Ho was on his knees in tho twinkling
of an eyo, and bad both eyes glued on
the top of the eleventh and twelfth vol
umes of Bevan's Reports of the Court
of Chancery. The layer of dust, which
elsowhore lay in uniform smoothness,
waa hero disturbed.
"The will is in Chancery, you may do
pen J upon it," I said, airily. At a sign
from ma Ford gingerly removed the
books, and opened first one and shook
it nothing. I won't swear thut our faces
did not flush as he opened the other and
shook it nothing! Then ho got up and
used a naughty word. I examined the
volume closely, with the same result.
Wo looked at one another.
"Nothing wrong with our calculations,
is there?"
"No; under the missing will she gets
5,000. That will disappears, that she
may get two-thirds of the whole estate
under tho first: whon. lo. up starts au
intermediate will a devilich odd will-
leaving her only 500, and good, as far
as she knows, until the missing one turns
np. She s no fool; therefore it will turn
np."
"If she has not destroyed it."
"Exactly. How much time did yoa
give her?"
"Five minutes at least; and some one
has been at these books. Wait a minute,
what fools we have been !" Two volumes
of Sevan's reports still lay upon the floor
side by side. I plunged my hand into
the orfice caused by their absence from
the shelf. I groped. Ford's eyes grew
perceptably bigger. "What 8 thisf 1
cried, aud brought out a paper.
"Kieht!" he shouted, as be hastily
glanced at it outside. The lost wjll 1
We've wou 1"
"No chance of 'five years with, eh,
now. Ford?"
"Ho, but upon my hoaor, at ono time
things looked awkward.
The five thousand pounds were prompt
ly paid to Mrs. Chilling, and bIio has
passed from our sight with that modest
independence. Sho was a very clever
woman, and most certainly will get ou in
tho world. I am glud she never learned
how she was cl ee imated. Olive Great
henl is now tho wife of "our Mr. Ford,"
a cozy, pleasant resort is their house in
Ureuviile place, bo niucu cl tue uusi
ness of Ford, Ford & Bittlo comes to my
chambers in Hire Court, that I also nm
thinking of setting up a little double
establishment at the West End. Ford
and I sometimes chat over the Sergeant's
three wills, and the lust time I dined
with him I heard him say, with singular
emphasis, to his guest ou the right:
"You never forged a will, now, I sup
pose, Sir John?"
"I, sir!" cried the Alderman, withpor
tentious dignity.
"Oh, no, of course not; but, do you
know, I dare say you have dined at the
eame table with peopio who have.
Tho worthy merchant swelled and
swelled with indignation until I quito
feared for him. And yet, do you know,
I think lord was right.
Description of a Cowboj.
A genuine cowboy is worth describing,
writes a correspondent of the rhiladel
phia Press. In many respects he is a
wonderful creature. Ho endures hard
ships that would take the lives of most
men, and is, therefore, a perfect typo of
physical manhood. He is the finest
horseman in the world, and excels in all
the rude sports of the field. He aims to
be a dead shot, and universally is. Con
stantly during the herding season bo
rides seventy miles a day, and a majority
of the year sleeps in the open air. His
lifo in tho saddle makes him worship his
horse, and it, with a rifle and a six
shooter, complete his happiness. Of vioo
in the ordinary sense he knows nothing,
lie isa rough, uncouth, bravo and gener
ous creature, who never lies or cheats.
It is a mistake to imagine that they aro
a dangerous set. Any one is as safe with
them ai with any people in the
world, nnlcss be steals a horse or is
hunting for a fight. In their eyes death
is a mild punishment for horso-stealing.
Indeed, it is tho highest crime known io
the unwritten law of the ranch. "Tueir
life, habits, education and necessities
breed this feeling in them. But with all
this disregard of human lifo there are
loss murderers and cutthroats graduated
from the cowboys than from among the
better educated classes of the east who
come out here for venture or gain. They
delight in appearing rougher than tbey
are. To a tender-foot, as they call an
eastern man, they love to tell blood
curdling stories and impress him with
the dangers on tbe frontier. Bnt no
man gets harmed unless he commits some
crime. Tbey very often own an interest
in the herd they are watching, and very
frequently becoms owners of ranches.
The slang cf the range they always nse
to perfection, and in season and out of
season. Unless you want to insult him,
never offer a cowboy pay for any little
kindness he has done, or for a share of
his rnde meal. If tbe changes that are
turning to stock raising should take tbe
cowboy from tbe ranch, its most inter
esting feature will be gone.
lilting Three Times a Day.
Messrs. Mailer and Jones, of Ger
many, have been making some quite ex
tenuve experiments in milking cows
more than the usual number of times a
day. By milking three times a day a
alight percentage of fat is secured that
wonld be lost nnila ii.
one exporiment reported li ?S I
wero worth thirty cents'. .""W
butter from the two mi kirHk
worth $14, and from tho
818, according to the pSt
found to be secured by t , " 6" '
ing. The question ariH W';
"Is the extra money valua .! m,k
the labor expended I in T'-
UUUrwi, uepend very Z, l
how the cows aro kei.t n l ttc!i,
mature, the trouble of driving
ind milkinr? tl.m ' u,riT.,n.a tten
baok again, is not altogBiu,l1rill
by the labor -xpendeJ.bTtfr
the cows from pasturo. n "k,
ruption of men and woman f
regular daily labor are serioag m? "
a farm where long di.&'N
tho hands from the om'
again on tho dairy farD
country, the great boglZ ?
want of coed mill-, Vew a
sucoeed in dairying who' hsTeV?
on hired help outside their on7
or cuuuouuons. men hate to miii ,
women cannot do it i... .""".tic
bers of cows are to be lin,n,.i ?' "
sonablv short timo T- n .." It.
where hands are numerous and Jj
bod for the ask ni i ",reli
... . r oi u uuruea of II..
milkinira n 1n i, " u' ujk
y aJ w ,m j .
creating a riot, but in ii.:
would not do. The chance, T"71'
that such frequent milking, W0S
AJ 111 T UIJ S.UD UUWH Ifir Until - y. "
of the udder. Thu " u. .n au!fe
cows in th .J Z'fct
cow is fresh and produces a'yi.u !?
threatens the udder n.i i -."
painful to tho cow.it is well to reli, !J
day, and even then it is scarcely S
pings. Under the nriinn. ,?.tri
of American farm life
nna DjMlhnnal rIU.: .
r " tunning, in View oft
inconvenienoe attaehixi :. .. . "
ance would not nay tha
r1""'10 view oi tao eugcUiifl I116
tha nrnchen pvon if It - . '
VUU ASO.ll j uiau.
it
I.
he
:iei
ei
A Baby od the Battlcfloli,
The MartiniiVinrfl, n.. i .
iu iiuwiiog inieingencer relates 1
luiiuwmg eiory: Almost every
"'uo vi romance md
neelflrl with tlm lota m. 1
uuaiuuie, ui wnicu, i was kindly intiw
I met a lady whose talents a, t ani
ciau ana wnose remarkable beu
lia1 atfin,lA.1 .11 .
"" ""'i.hu mj uiienuUD. BU6 Ml
sessed that rare typo of prettineMfc
is wholly nonthern. (irn.A
eyes, the face perfect in every fctw
hair rioh in its abundance, and oV
ful in its tint. This is her to
.twenty years ago, when the tide
i . til . , 1 1 ,
uauitj iu long, oiooiiy wave, :
over the terrible flrl.l nf M..1
U MUUOCtC,
baby girl was left an orphan on tbe U
tie ground, uuring tho change, ol!
fateful day, the homo of the blue-tt
girl was at onotiaie directly between
hro of both armies. As the first it
whistled abovo tho house, the pan
started to flee for a place of refuge,
dozen yards from the door both t
shot down, and the baby, an orpb
without sister or brothor, was alone
the world. Tho flattlo raged on. d,
end dying wero everywhere, hut 1
uauy was unharmed. Iho day y
awar, and just as the sun's hbt n
half hidden in the curling smcko, u
kissed the earth good night, Gem
Jubal Early, riding by, heard thebal
cries. Ho dismounted, and taking
little waif up, cared Ur it until hecoi
placo it under tho care of hi, sisti
They watched it t branch its infam
years, giving it an education and a wa
oi love, and now that baby, grown
womanhood, lovolv and accnmoliih
the Pet of a wirli. nirnln of friends. t
call her "Waif," is tho sole eupportf
tuese two women, sisters of tbe rei
general. Over these she sit, direct
musical offering, every mch a won
ncblo and true, film talked to men
eatly, and her beautiful eyes filled n
tears as she spoke of her two old friei
If I should write her name it would :
be a strange ono here, for all tbe c
knows Miss Ida Henry.
Her Conduct Explained. Tbe c
duct of Lillian Rnssell will not be
much wonderod at when the follow::
extract from an interviow with b
mntlmr in rourl- "Vv nhiMrrn Sill
v. .guv, tfvuiiuucu Aula, avwu....,
ceeilingly self-helpful aud self reliia"
Tln Ajn nil A, f ll.nin rcl VDQ T afft
A.UC-T l,au (111 lJ 1 Jl lUCUiilCllVDi -
had eight children in all, five daugw
surviving; three oi tuem nave ueen
ripd and all nm Renernteil fromfc
liiifihinilti. Thin, including my OWB!
doe3 not argue stroDgly in favor of tf
institution of marriage, whicsyou
I condemn. About that mv prineip.
are well known. I believe in propiq
tion on purely scientifio pnneiplei, v-
uniiuc iu uij jauiuj .J ' . ' ' j
been a very successful institution.
Wl.. 1 l ..-. .r.nl Will
the opening of the triennial exhibit!1
uigauiAeu ujr ma ikui.u r "
The choicest works of the great l&
will t,9 m a volnoKU JtniWtiOD. ft
" in iuiui u waauwuaw - i
will attract crowds to Faris from W
la'h of September until tho 31st of I
tober.
11. , 1, .... i 11 an aVA ll
l suoum tnina it wouiu m . i
nervous to have ladies stare st yonr
so," said a sympathizing friend
young clergyman in a street car. '
does not at all, replied tue w w-j
'Christmas is near, and thOBe iaow
ivug ijv aajj iyuajn. h"mi
"So yon are married at last, (JB
I hear your wife is on energsUo wtTii
and keeps things stirred up. W'Sm
von married hr for love?" "It,.. L.
the husband, bracing him up.
ried her to cure my dyspepsia L
Bulgarian linen scarf, with gsjl
ish embroidery in each end are P1
into the milliner's service, and are
to form entire hats, or else mewJ'
the rough straw round bats, sw
adorn the smallest capote.
"Mav I ask yon why you left y" ,
place?" innocently itquired a cv t
young bride of a fchowy looking
bo offered herelf as a cook . J ;
mav I inquire why yonr lest w I .
A lr.1 dXllnr a,1 is eishtv
arned. Philadelphia Press.
i