Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-01
person who shall shed genuine tear upon my

grave
What said Mr.. Groves "a tear, sir -
| am afraid, really, that--that--the Lord be
with us. My dear sir, it's rather extraordi
nary, and almost doubt, Mr.. Smythes-'
If anybody will ever become entitled to it.
Well, be it so. have further disposition
to make of it, in that contingency. Go on
If this bequest fails, let my daughter, DORM
da Smythes, have all. She does not love me
If she had loved me she would not have left
me to marry beggar. Her name is Rolfe
now | have not heard Of her for many
years.
Then she may be dead, sir. say, sir
she may be dead-eh! Dead, sir, say
Oh, good God, he's gone!'
heard quite a scuffle in the room, and then
there was a deathlike stiffness, after which
the servant said ...........
Yes, he's dead enough
Still ! did not move from my hiding-place,
but listened intently, and after few mo-
ments | heard Mr.. Groves say -
Maria, did you ever suspect he had SO
much money! We are quite alone, here, Ma
ria, with the dead What if he had made a
will leaving it all to me-to me, Maria, if he
had-Hush say, Maria, if he had, II, as
am a widower, would have married you.-
Yes, if he had left it all to me, and you had
been a witness, you see. To be sure, two are
required, butt could get another for CON
sideration, and you would be a lady, and ride
in your carriage. Forty thousand pounds in
cash-only consider I am older than you,
and would of course leave it all to you, Ma
ria, do you hear What, suppose it had been
so-eh1 h!'
Couldn't you, said Maria, couldn't you,
What-what-what
Make it so nowl'
with your help could. Yes, of course.
You, as his servant, could so back it up, with
evidence of his friendship for me-of his re-
peatedly announced intention to leave me all,
and finally, of your presence when he dictat-
ed the will. Yes, yes, can do it,
But how do know that you will keep
your word to me afterwards. Can't you leave
half of it to me at once!
No, no, oh no. That would spoil all It
would look too grossly inconsistent, besides
setting you completely on one side as a wit
ness So you see il will not do. will give
you written promise of marriage. Besides,
how dare / break my word with you
Well, there is something in that, said
Maria. 'How terrible he looks, don't he q
Yes, he-rather does. But-but you con-
sent Mind, then, it is all arranged will
sit up tonight and prepare the will. You
must find me some signature of Mr.. Smythes'
that | can initiate, and then you sign, you
know, as witness, and | will get another.
Come to me the first thing in the morning.
well, Mr.. Groves, if you don't keep your
word, and make lady of me, I'll soon blow
you to blazes, if I'm transported for it. And
they do say you are always praying now mind
you must leave that off.
'Of course | will only pray to get rich
not when am rich. Religion, Maria, is the
medium through which wish the world Il
look at me, that's all. Religion pays in Lon
don, in all professions. 1t enables the wise tc
hook the foolish. My pie,y will evaporatt
beneath the sunlight Of forty Thousand. sover
eigns, be assured Good night-good night
BY the bye, it will look we'll TO call in doc
tor just TO look at him.
'Oh! tomorrow morning will do for that
| amt going 10 stay here tonight. You shall
see me about nine and mind, shall expect
something to drink, as am 10 be made lad,
Of
crept out of the house, and went home.
On the following morning, about O'Clock
was sent for to No. 10, and told that Mr.
Smythes had just died. had made Up my
mind to make no remarks, and so / merel,
looked at the body, shook my head and ther
walked away.
was enormously puzzled to know what e
do Ought | TO make police affair of il, ant
denounce the will-forgery! Ought | to tax,
legal advice, or ought Ito warn Groves Of III,
abyss on the brink of which he stood. No
no. The man who could speak as he did o
the religious mask lie wore, surely deserved
no sympathy.
walked about for several days quite in
state of perplexity about the affair, until
heard that the funeral Of Mr.. Smythes was /,
take place, and then | made up my mind L
make slight movement in Inc business.
got the following notice inserted in morn
ing paper day after the funeral:
died at his residence in London, Mr.
Smythes, in great poverty. He was ATTENDED
by DIR. -, and in his last moments spoke 0
his daughter Dorinda, who married a Mr.
Rolfe.'
1t struck me that this would produce some
thing beyond great amount Of CONSERVATION
in the minds of Maria and Mr.. Groves, and
was quite in nervous fdget all day.
Towards dusk, rather TO my establishment
Mr.. Groves was announced to me, and wheI
he came in, he said, with an attempt of
smile, although his face was awfully pale, ant
he looked ten years older than when last saw
him
All, doctor, how are yous | find you hay'
put in the Times notice of my old friend Mr.
: Smythes DEATH | went to the Office and they
told me your name was on the advertisement
: hny do