The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-10

Katie's father, as heir-at law, would come
into possession OF his landed property
and into fourth part of his personality
which would be no insignificant windfal]
in itself It was subject which might
we'll thrust itself upon me, in spite of nv
fathers serious attack, which seemed not
unlike stroke Of paralysis.
During the course of the afternoon old
Lawrences solicitor, Mr. Shape, was an
nounced and I went to speak to him
He requested to see my father, with a
very important tone and expression of
! cOuntenance.
ut is impossible" l ans wered, "quite
impossible he cannot see any one. He
has rot spoken since this morning, when
he heard of the sudden death of his old
friend Arnold is apprehensive of
paralysis. Is it anything that can do %
mo, no. replied Mr.. Shape; your
father is one of the executors of Mr.. Law
rence's will, and have brought it here
with me to consult him about it. The
other is Grey, Of the Temple. Under
these circumstances, | suppose I must
forward it to him; and perhaps it is best;
it must be proved at Canterbury, and he
| can see to it at once"
"Why at Canterbury 2" asked eagerly.
because there is landed property IN
three different dioceses," he answered
'T'll send it to Grey by to-night's mail"
"Well, my father can do nothing" I
said, wondering all the time whether Mr.
Shape knew what were the provisions of
the will, so momentous to Kate and me"
"There was will, however; thus far
was certain. A kind Of wild hope which
had been kindled in my breas was
quite quenched by the visit from Mr..
Shape I felt myself sinking into a
gloomy depression, which appeared ex
tceedingly ominous to me. For three or
four hours brooded despondently over
the fact that there was a will, scarcely
allowing myself to cherish a spark Of
hope that Kate was provided for in it :;
for how often does rich man leave his
money to the poorest Of his kindred {?
| had nothing else to occupy my mind.
My mother and sisters sat weeping in my
fathers darkened and silent room. All
the windows of our house had the cur
tains drawn At last it occurred 10 me
that this was the last day of September,
and thai the money order account, which
was made up quarterly, ought to be bal
anced, 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.
I had just completed it and folded up
my balance, sheet, when | heard foot
step and voice in the outer office; both
loud, aud of kind to arrest attention
They belonged to one of Shapes clerks,
who had come in to post his masters
Litter
"Look here" he said, 81 was to see you
take this one straight into Mr.. Slaney
it's on no account to be left here with or
binary letters. It's old Lawrence's will,
[ guess. By George! I wish that my
name was inside of It,"
1t was brought into me Immediately,
and placed berore me on the counter
did not touch II, but there it lay, long,
narrow packer, not over large or bulky,
yet containing the whole of Kate's future
and mine.
cannot say how long 1 sat before it,
fascinated, perfectly spellbound my
eyes riveted upon it, as If they could see
through the thick cover and read the
momentous lines within [ never
touched it with my finger even. felt as
if no more dare do that than [ would
have dared to touch and arouse some
deadly serpent am conscious, how
ever, that not the shadow of an idea of
opening it ever crossed my mind. At
last [ felt warm, smooth little hand laid
upon mine, and Katie's voice whispered
close to my ear, "What is it you're star
ing at, Harry p
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 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 wss obliged to repeat her question
before | seemed to comprehend it,
"That is your uncle's will" answered.
Her eyes met mine, AMI there was a
strange look in them, such as / had never
seen before; an uneasy, troublesome, al
most sly expression. She had been crying
until they were red, and appeared smaller
than usual under their swollen lids. She
dropped her eyes hun riedly, and then she
whispered again, b.llz
"If there had been no will"
| [ answered her as if that were cues.
ton, but afterwards it occurred to me
that it was but an involuntary utterance
of her wish. a8a
H"Your father would have been heir at
law, Katie" Ireplied; "and you great
heiress." i
As / was speaking, an alarmed and
hurried voice called loudly for me from
the interior Of the house, a voice so
urgent, and strung to such pitch OF