The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-01

he had seen nothing whatever of the
packet which had been posted 10 our
Office. There was not the shadow OF
a doubt of that last circumstance.
The clerk who received it, aud l N.Y.
self, were compelled to admit that it
had been safely deposited with us;
but no trace of it could be found be-
yond that. Both Shape and Grey had
been to the general postofice to make
inquiries there. but nothing was
known of it. The whole onus of the
disappearance rested upon our Office,
and the three persons within it.
1t was simply impossible to keep
Che mysterious loss of old Lawrenee's
will any longer a secret. The rela-
tives seemed almost ready to pull
Mr.. Grey to pieces as soon as he
showed his face in the town. Was it
not shameful, scandalous, that fort
night had already dragged by, and no
one knew how a quarter of a million
of money-for rumors said the old
mans wealth was no less-had been
bequeathed? With real reluctance
Grey made known the facts. There
had been a will; he and the postmas-
ter were executors; it had been posted
for him on the night after old Law
rence's death, and nothing more was
known about it.
The excitement in the town was ten
fold, hundred fold greater now than
on the occasion of the testator's sud
den death. Our postofice was besieg-
ed, and the clerks piled with ques-
tions, while / kept myself safely out
of sight in the inner Office. brooding
in perplexity over the singular occur
renee. | could arrive at no other
conclusion than that the packet must
have slipped into a wrong bag. and so
been mis.sent. OF course there were
worrying inquiries made by the Lon
Dr. authorities, to which | could give
r reply than this superstition.
Tn lair was of such importance
that official circulars were dispatched
to most of the offices in the kingdom,
requiring any information concerning
any mis-sent letters; and In the
course of few weeks q handsome re-
ward was offered for the discovery of
the missing document.
About five weeks after old Law
rence's death, I received a summons
to present myself before the surveyor
lived sixteen miles or so from Thorn
bury. He, too, was al old friend of
our family, aud had assisted In OBJ
tanning the post Office for my father.
He was one of those jovial, courteous
old gentlemen of a past generation,
who liked to make his own and every
ones life as easy and agreeable as
possible, and who had somewhat of
an aristocratic contempt TO the ex-
acting public-far less exacting then
than now. / received a cordial greet
ing from him, was set down to a good
dinner, and forbidden to speak of
business until he began. which he did
over our wine.
Nov, Harry, just tell nee all about
it. as shortly as possible y said Mr..
Talbot; and | obeyed him.
But this Is a deuce of a messl" he
exclaimed, when ] had finished, 1.-THE
will must be found, sir. The author
tiles insist upon it, and will not
answer for the consequences if there
is much longer delay. Do you know
what your tOwnsfolk are saying, my
boy2
His manner had changed from con-
sternation to anger, aud then into
compassion, as he spoke; but I only
looked into his friendly face and
shook my head 10 reply.
They say just this" he continued;
"neither more nor less-that the will
is in your possession. They say you
are going 10 marry Parson Lawrence's
only daughter, and by keeping back
the will you expect to come into pos
session Of all the property"
Il should be fool if [ did," [ an
swered, stammering; for this phase of
my position had not failed to occur to
me.
TT0 pE rONTTNTTFO