The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-22
THE NEW WITNESS.

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An odd sort OF "a parsonage, ~ regarded
his pets, was Old Mr., 0vington, aud he had
indalged his pecltiiarftieS to his hearts
coatent i'm these latter ycars, and there
on che bead ot enc gHtepnstf while John
Grapley leaned against the other, perched
che nest 6isaErrCMble faS0gire of then ALL
except. perhaps. these newly discovered
grandchildren whose inopp0rtune ARRIVAL
had 50 wrung what ought to have been
John GrapleysAs heart.
On che top OF the gate-post, with his
dark, brilliant satiEical eve turned know
ingly sldewiSe, now nc Johns moedy face,
and now nc the doctor buggy at the road-
Kadrs as much ~ 60 &aySf ff
know NH ahoat it, inon't You wish
that Won did ~
John would have thrown a brick az his
step fathers tame crow. ii be had dared,
and sileHced his irritating cav for ever.
" The old man isn't Sick mnttcted
john bnt he always conspEts with Doc
sur Prsndie on money affairs, as much as
on physic- IL was che doctor that drew
the other viii. and know what was In
that
~Ca-a-a-ca-caw r enphatically remark
cd Martin the Cow.
Sits more than likely John continued.
with petnlant glance nc Martin, "that
the old man has got the doctor here now
TO cook mp some confOundea change in favor
CT thar white faced girl and her brother
ITO rob me 40r the chiidreR Of scapegrace
whom hr disinherited score 0E years ayo
It's shame 70
q @CR-a-a-caw,n y philosophised Martin.
"Shut mp, You ilI-omened c1uakcrI Any
how, can lounge around under the win
dow, and see if there's cLance OF know
ing what they're att
The low and vins-hung window OF old
Mr.. Uringtnn's study was opened wide
that Summer afternoon, and a man who
chose To crouch under it. as John Grapley
did. could hardly fail 10 hear most Ot what
might be said, In any ordinary tone Of
voice, by those within the room
John bad slipped noiselessIy away from
the rate, lenFing the tame crow TO his own
medisations, bnt MartfmlSvas d sociable
bird, and had already completed his OBJ
servntiunS Of the doctors horse and buggy.
lie was morally sure that he could steal
neither. and they were therefore matters
cf indifference 10 him. But we must GO
little ahead OF Martin.
When, some twcRtF minutes earlier,
Doctor Pundle bad catered the house, hc
had beeu usheFrd into the study by sweet
Alice 0ringtcn herself, daughter Of thai
Adrian Oyingtonr whose runaway love-
match had embFttered 90 nany years OF his
fathers existence.
A lovely girl. indeed was Alica, Of not
vet eighteen Summers; aud il was no
wonder that her stern grandfather had
opened his heart TO his sons diving petit
ton In behalf oF her and her brother.
Doctor Prfndle was one OF those brisk
but dignilied old gentlemen who know al
most creEy-thing, say very little, and are
exceedingly valuable members oil society
Ai1ee told him that her brother George
was wei, and would soon be hcue ffom
college, to spend the vacation with his
grandfather.
"Ye%, Alice said the doctor; y let hiIn
spend 10 NIL here, Ii will be better.n
Aud then he disappeared thrsugh the
study-door, closing 1T fast behind him.
Alice hurried away, 20 attend 10 house
bold affairs, and the muffied sound of
voices from the study died quickly away.
Very few words passed, MT first, between
Mr. Osiugton and bis counsellor, and the
old mans red and choEelic visaGe betrayed
mo atom OF emotion. ns he took from ita
envelope paper Of every moderate dnnen-
sions, and spread it ON the table, saying I;
"There X is, doctor. I guess you1l find
il right That's the will
:. Sensible shing. Glad OF it.s growled
the doctor, as hesettled himself In bis chair
A moment more, and he was deeply en-
gagged ON the precious document. Slowly
and carefully be read it down. ns III he did
not mean to do IN twice, and when be had
completed 1t he cnly Esid:
sCorrect. and now what Fa
ssCa-a. ca cav ~ croaked doubtful
voice MT the window and then Martin
himself tapped heavily In. and perched on
the table beside bis master.
Martin, my boy, iE's alI right. only
wish yon could sign as m witness
"Ca-a-cay,n p said Mafsin.
81 wish be couId,n said DR. Prindio;
but as you've only got old Hector's name
here, \ suppose you will want mine. Its
all right ofherwIses
A0f course il is." gasped the old gentle
man. "It's copy OF the one you drew,
in all but the names and the division Its
no injustice 10 John Grapley. He IA well
taken care Of, and, besides. he has proper
CIV ~ his own, from his mother, and he
has no claims OF blood ON mer
e Still, it cuts MIN out OF n very com
Portable pile" said the doctor HWhereis
the penn That rascally bird Look at
him. There he il on the top Of the book
case, with the pen In his mouth. Th tst
Martin, you scamp laughed his mas
Ter, come down with that pen, or I'LL
disinherit you. Never mind, doctor.
Don't look MT him, and he'll bring it back
Inn n minute. He's fond ct stealing. but
he never keeps anything long" a
Sure enough, In the course of two or
three minutes the pen was on the table
again, and meantime the two friends talk
ed ON.
John will hardly be pleased With this, =
said the doctor.
III shan't care, then, whether be is or
net, and don't care much, anyway
= Have you destroyed the other win ~
aNo; but Pm going TO. It's over
there in the secretary. You will know
WUEEE 10 NDu thlr OlEs III You UHtttFt Wc.
aAll right said the doctor. = Martin
hans brought back the pen.n IL was slow
ard grabbed signature that the doctor al
fixed, but it was good enough for the pur-
pose.
When he had signed the will, and put il
back In it's envelope, HE locked around o7er
the table, only to find that Martin was
again on tho top of the bookcase, and this
time with the little negro-headed penwiper
in his beak.
That rascally birdl~ " laughed the doc
tor. Well, the pen can Ec plawiped-
He'll bring ii back again. Martin is
good bird, Y said MF. Oyington.
"Ca-a-caw r. exclaimed Martin, and the
penwipar dropped lightly on the Aoor.
Score, doctor--c0me and take q look
at INV new Deyons, before y0u go. I'm
haIEminded to drive into town with you.
The walk back with be good for me-heIp