The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-21

empty. r.
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II is certain that the honest wine merchanp5
anxiety TO make a will originated In profound
cODscientiousness; though II is possible (and
quite consistent with bis rectitude) that he may
unconsciOusly baye derived some feeling OF
relief from the prospect OF delegatIng his own
difficulty to two other men who were to come
alter him. Be that a. 1t may, he pursued his
new track of thought with great ardor, and lost
no time in begging George Vendale and Mr..
Bintrey 10 meet him in Cripple Corner and share
his confidence.
"Being all three assembled with closed
ooors,n said Mr.. Bmtrey addressing the new
partner on the occasion, II wish 10 observe
before our friend land my client) intrusts US
with his further views, tnat / have indorsed
what understand from him to have been your
advice, MIR. Vendale, and what would be the
advice OF every sensible man have told bin
that he positively must keep his secret. ] have
spoken with Mrs. Goldstraw, both in his pres
enCe and in his absence; and If anybody Is TO be
trusted (Which Is very large Ley, think she
is to be trusted TO that extent. | have pointed
out 10 our friend land my client), that TO SCI on
foot random inquiries would not only be to
raise the Devil, in the likeness of all tue swim
dleis In the kingdom, but would also be to
waste the estate. Now you see, Mr.. Yendale,
our friend (and my Clent) does not desire to
waste the estate, but on the contrary, desires
to husband 1t for what he consders-but
l can't say l do-the rightful owner
if such rlghtful owner should ever
be found. am very much mistaken il he ever
will be- but never mind that. Mr.. Wilding and
l are, at least, agreed that the estate is not to
be wasted. Now, have yielded to Mr.. Wild
ine's desire to keep an advertisement at inter
walls flowing through the newspapers cautiously
inviting any person who may know anything
about that adopted infant, taken from the
Rounding Hospital, to come to my Office; aud
have pledged myself that such advertisement
shall regularly appear. have gathered from
our friend land my client) that l meet you
here to-day to take his instructions, not TO
give him advice. / am prepared to receive his
Instructions, ard TO respect his wishes; but you
Will please observe that this does not imply my
approval. of either as matter OF professional
opinion"
Thus Mr.. Bintrey; talking quite as much at
Widmg as to Vendale. And yet, in spite of his
care for his client, he was so amused by his
clients Quixotic conduct as to eye him from
time 10 time with twinkling eyes, in the light of
highly comical curiosity.
Nothing observed Wilding, "can be clearer
only wish my head were as clear as yours, Mr..
"If you feel that singing in it coming or, :"
hinted the lawyer with an alarmed glance,
'put it off, mean the interview"
Not at all, l thank you," said Wildng.
what was going to -
Don't excite yourself Mr.. Wilding," urged
the lawyer.
NO; 1casnF going to-" said the wine mer-
chant. "Mr. Bmtrey and George Vendale
would you have any hesitation or objection to
become my joint trustees and executors, or can
you at once consentW
~ CONSENT replied George vendale, readily.
II consent" said Bintrey, not SO readily.
"Thank you both. MIR. Blntrey, my Instruc.
tions for my last will and testament are short
and plain. Perhaps you will now have the
goodness to take them do wn. l leave the whole
OF my real and personal estate, without any ex.
ception or reservation whatsoever, to you two
my joint trustees and executors, in trust to pay
over the whole to the true Walter WildiDg, if he
shall be found and identified within two years
after the day of my death Failing in that, in
trust to you two to pay over the whole as bene-
faction and legacy to the Founding Hospital"
"Those are all your instructions, are thev
Mr.. Wilding W demanded BiDtrey, after blank
silence, during which nobody had looked at
anybody.
''1he whole.n
'And as to those instructions, you have alb
solutely made up your mind, Mr.. Wilding ?"
Absolutely, decidedly, finally"
"It only remains" said the lawyer, with one
meal and binding form, and TO execute and
attest. Now, does that press? Is there any
hurry about it You are not going to die yet,
! sir"
'Mr. Bintrey," answered Wilding. gravely,
"When ! am going to die is within other know
! ledge than yours or mine. / shall be glad to
| have this matter off my mind, If you please"
I'VE are lawyer and client again." rejoned
| Bintrey, who, for the nonce, had become almost
sympathetic. "If this day week here, at the
Iame hour,-will suit Mr.. Vendale and yourself
will enter in my Diary that l attend you
accordingly"
The appointment was made, and in due
sequence kept. The will was formally signed
sealed, delivered, and witnessed, and was car.
ried off by Mr.. Bintrey for safe storage among
the papers Of his clients, ranged in their respeo
tive iron boxes with their respective owners
! names outside, on iron tiers in his consulting
room, as if that legal sanctuary were con
densed Family Vault of Clients.
With more heart than he had lately had fol
former subjects Of interest, Wllding then sci
about completing his patriarchal establishment
being much assisted not only by Mrs. Goldstraw
but by Vendale too: who, perhaps, had in his
mind the giving of an Obenrezer dinner as soou
as possible. Anyhow, the establishment being
reported in sound working order, the Oben
refers, Guardian and Ward, were asked to din
ner, and Madame Dor was included in the in
Vtation. If Vendale had been over head anC
ears in love beioIe-a phrase not to be taken al
implying the faintest doubt about it-this din
ner plunged him down in love ten thousanc
fathoms deep. Yet, for the life of him, he could
not get one word alone with the charming Mar
guerite. So arely as o blessed moment seemed
TO come Obenreizer, in his hlmy state, woRl(
stand at Vendale's elbow, or the broad back o
Madame Dor would appear before his eyes
front view, from the moment of her arrival Il
that of her departuTe-except at dinner, AnC
from the instant of her retirement to the draw
ing room, after a hearty participation in tina
meal, she turned her face to the wall again.
Yet, thIoHgh four or five delightful though
distlactng hours, Marguerite was 10 be seen
Marguerite was TO be heard, Marguerite was X
be occasionally touched. When they made tht
round OF the old dark cellars, Vendale led he
by the hand; when she sang to him in the lighteI
room al night Yendale, standing by her, helC
her Ielinquished gloves, and would have bar
tered against them every drop OF the forty-hy
year old, though II had been forty-hVe time
iorty-hve years old, and its net price torty-dy
times iorty-fve pounds per dozen. Aud still
when he was gone, and great gap of an eXtin
guisher was clapped on Cripple Corner, h