The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-01-25

heard OF the sudden death of his old friend.
Arnold is apprehensive of paralysis. Is it
anything that l can do?'
mo, no." replied Mr.. Shape; "your
father is one of the executors to Mr.. Law
rences will, and have brought it here
with me, to consult him about it. The 9th
er is Grey, of the Temple. Under: r:these
circumstances, suppose l must forward it
to him and perhaps it is best. 1t must be
proved at Canterbury, and he can see to it
at once"
"Why at Canterbury ?' asked eagerly.
because there is landed property in three
different dioceses," he answered. "rn
send it to Grey by to-night's mall
"Well, my father can do nothing" l
said, wondering all the time whether Mr..
Shape knew what were the provisions of
the WILL so momentOus to Katie and me.
There was a will, however; that far was
certain A kind of wild hope which had
been kindled in my breast, was quite
quenched by the visit from Mr.. Snape.-
felt myself sinking into gloomy depres-
sion, which appeared exceedingly ominous
to me. For three or four hours / brooded
despOndently over the fact that there was
will, scarcely allowing myself to cherish a
spark of hope that Katie was provided for
in it for how often does a rich man leave
his money to the poorest of his kindred? I
had nothing else to occupy my mind. My
mother and sisters sat weeping in my faith
er's darkened and silent room. All the
windows in our house had the curtains
drawn. At last it occurred to me that this
was the last day of September, and that the
mOney-Order account, which was made up
quarterly, ought to be balanced, and sent
up to London by the nights mail. Glad of
anything to work at, went down stairs to
the inner Office, found the necessary forms,
and set myself steadily to the task.
had just completed it, and folded up my
balance-sheet, when l heard a footstep and
voice in the outer office, both loud and of
kind to arrest attention. They belonged
to one of Shapes clerks who had come in
to post his masters letter.
"Look here" he said 81 was to see
you take this one straight in to Mr.. Slaney
it's on no account to be left here with ordi-
nary letters. It's old Lawrence's will, |
guess. BY George! only wish that my
name was inside of it,
1t was brought to me Immediately, and
placed before me on the counter. did not
touch it, but there it lay, a long narrow
packet, not over large or bulky, yet contain
ing the whole of Kate's future and mine.
! cannot say how long l sat before it.,
fascinated, perfectly spell-bound my eyes
riveted upon it, as if they could see through
the thick cover, and read the mOmentous
lines within. l never touched it with my
fingers even. felt as if no more dare do
that than would have dared to tease and
arouse some deadly serpent. lam concious
however, that not the shadow of an idea of
opening it ever crossed my mind. At last
felt a warm smooth little hand laid upon
mine, and Katie's voice whispered close to
my ear. What is it you're staring at,
Harry?"
There was of course an entrance into
this inner office from the house, and Katie
had stolen in several times before, when
was alone, and had always spoken in the
lowest of whispers, lest the clerks in the
Office beyond should overhear her; yet
started nervously at the sound of her voice
and the touch of her hand, and she was
obliged to repeat her question before seem.
ed to comprehend it.
"This is your uncle's will answered
Her eyes met mine, and there was q
strange look in them, such as had never
seen before,-an uneasy, troubled, almost
sly expression. She had been crying unit
they appeared smaller than usual under
their swollen lids. She dropped her eyelid'
hurriedly, and then she whispered again, =
! eff there had been no will?"