Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-25
THE EVENING STA r.
THE ECCENTRIC WILL.


and who was the Only son of Sir George
Taunton.
The Judge introduced him to MS by saying,
This is my son Edmund who has only this
Gay returned from "A leXandria. He is well &C
9ualDted with his cousin Millicent, since
he passed several weeks at Dion, and saw her
daily"
"Ahr screamed Madame Beaupare, as she
at once folded Edmund Taunton in a volumiR-
GUS embrace. ~ was to know him we'll He
was to he what Won call le grand ualeur of hear
of Millicsnt. All bon / was see and not to
was see! Ahw
"There is no need added Sir George, uto
make any farther secret of the matter, since
Miilicentis now her own mistress; but the fact
10, there mas existed a sort Of engagement b.
tween her and my son for the past two years"
The young man lcked rather red in the face.
az he added, Eyes. and have come home post
haste from Alexandra, on receiving spatch
from my father to the effect that my dear cousin
Mlllicent was in London, and her own mis-
tress"
Have you seen her, sir ~ asked l.
.'He has only been in London two hours"
said Sir George Taunton.
"Then. my dear young SIR cried Mr.. Mar
tin, spray come with us at once to Park Lane,
and see if you can identify your cousin in the
yeuns lady who is living there in stvle upon,
at all events your cousins property
Yes, sir-st once"
land l. too" said the Judge. "My car
rage my carriage at once!'
There was quite q hustle at the Judges
Ioomy coach of Sir George; and as the distance
was not great. we soon found ourselves at the
door Of handsome mansion, which bore all
the appearance of great luxury and expense.
The Judges footman knocked one OF the ire
mendous peals at the door which that fraterni-
ty so delight in, and then we all waited, but the
door remained as still and as close as if it had
been part and parcel OF the solid wall itself
The fooman knocked again.
1t was very strange.
Still there was reply.
Then a servant from the next house came out
and said, "If You please, gentlemen, rather
think they are all gone"
"All gone - cried the Judge.
aGcne !" shouted Mr. Martin.
: Mon Dieu :" said Madame BeaupeTe.
Yes, sir. They all went OIL in two hackney
coaches about an hour ago, sir. The servants
then went away, too. with their boxes; and
rather think, sir, the house is empty
We Were completely brought to d.stili
by this most unexpected information; and the
Judge looked at me, and looked at the Judge,
in doubt what we could do in the matter.
I'VE must get into the house, said Edmund
Taunton.
But how, Edmund 7"
awe must break down the door, father.n
"Illegal ~ said Mr.. Martin.
For you, sir; but not for me, fancy" said
the young man. II will risk it. My heart mis-
gives me most sadly that something terrible has
happened to Millicent. If she has been in this
house, will go at once into 1t, il it be posi-.
ble''
BE careful, Edmund" said his father.
door, but it resisted his efforts: and the servant
from the next house then said nIf YOU don't
mind getting in by our pantry at the back. it
Will he quite easy, sir"
.Yes-yes! ANY way-any wayn'
Edmund accompanied the friendly servant
OF the next door, and no doubt got into the
house easy enough: for in a few minutes he
flung open the street door from the inside to all
of us, and we walked into the hall or as mag
nificent house as / ever saw.
Not yestige of the furniture and appoint
maDts OF. the place seemed to been touched.
On the hat and coat pegs of the hall there
were several coats ana cloaks hanging. A pair
OF lady S slippers were on the mat. hand
kprchief, with rich lace border lay close TO
the foot of the stairs and, in fact it would seem
as if the house had been evacuated by its ten
ants with haste and fear.
In the drawing-room a bright fire was etin
burning IN the CRATE. Books were on the table;
a newspaper, that had evidently not been
opened, was upon a chair. A glass OF untasted
liquor of some sort was on a tray, with 3 plate
of biscuits by the side of it.
But not the least sound Of living person
could be heard in the house.
We went from room to room on the ground
floor, but could see no one.
With EXPLANATIONS OF surprise we assembled
and aosl and we resc6sd the the
rooms on the first floor of the mansion
There they were in all their grandeur, but
not a soul was visible.
Good Heaven!' said Sir George Taun-
ton: "Ehat can be the meaning of all this %
."Ring, sir-ringn' said Mr.. Martin.
ssWhatr'
"Ring the bells"
II fear that will bring no response"
The bells were TuHg, and such was the silence
in the house, that we could hear afar Off in the
servants hall below, their faint tinkle.
But the sound died away, and no one came
to wer the summons.
The rooms were warm with the fires, and on
the tables were books, prints biiouteries. and all
the thousand and one little eleganees that go to
rH.y III puy of T1oh
cap-a mans fancy travelling cap-lay on
the floor. took it up from curiosity. There
was name inside it.
Joseph Jones.
oHiiloa - l shouted "a discoyeryr'
what? what % cried every body
"Mr. Martin, has yeur clerk, Jones, lef.
you :"
"HIs Christian name!''
"Josepb.''
ssThen there is his capo
"His-capl"
eyes. I will profound theory TO you Sir
George Taunton. Your clerk was the brother
of the clerk of Mr.. Martin. They were both
aware OF all the circums tances connected with
Mr.. Devises's will. no doubt"
Mine had the care of it for night" said
the solicitor.
And mine,'' said Sir John, acopied the let
ter sent to my niece Millicent, at Dion, with
full particu lars."
Then look here. gentlemenu' / added;
ssthose two Joneses have played you all a
j q
Devises, and got the money, and are off-of
with haste as, on the visit of this lady, Mad
anne Beaupere, they must have felt their dan
ger was imminent"
"Goed Heaven, it must be sor' cried Mr.
Martin.
And Millicent-the real Millicentr' said
Sir George sswhereis she -
"Yes, my Millicentu' cried Edmund aWhat
has become OF her 20
.sAnd my d0use- eent-etnqudnte francs 90 cried
Madame Beaupere,
l shook my head.
She may be murdered ~ said the Judge
Father, father, do not say so ~ interposed
Edmund. ssOh, do not say anything SO terrible
as that! Millicent, Millicent, where are You 7
Oh. where can ever look for you now in this
wide world with hopes of success 7 Millicent-
nv Millcent!'
1t was heartrending to see the distress Of the
young man; and no one could say anything, or
suggest anything to help him.
We were all looking at each other in this
state of perplexity, when a loud, single knock
came at the door of the house.
We all started.
We all simultaneously went to the windows
of the room we were in and which fronted the
park but there was a heavy balcony in front of
n haffa