The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-08-03

aoyiso that the conditions contained IN
aicil annexed to the will, and which
wat to be opened before the expiration
OIL said term, were to be by them full
fiiie'The will was not disputed, and
Ihtll, angular notary did not finish
tile irce; but at the last words he look
ed at NTH an air of triumph. l made
him at completely happy by compli-
mehtlhS on his story.
"Mohs'' I said, you have interested
me deeplSBut you must have formed
some cohleN-e regarding the dispositions
of this eccel. will -,
Monsleu he said, with comical re-
serve, II ne allow myself to pass
Judgment on ble who have done me the
honor OF preset me with diamond"
After a little re discussion of the mat |
ter, which let tothing more interesting
than detained aunt of all the conjec-
lures oil all the g people in the town |
concerning the mya;ous codicil. NJ. Reg
nault took his ieas'n high good humor.
Then 1 sat down, plai NV feet on the two
dogs in the fireplac,nd was plunging
into romance of the dcliffa tvne based
upon the lnformatlon ,ad received from
the legal lips of NJ. fuault. when my
door was opened, and hostess fat,
radiant, good tempered ,erson-entered
the room.
"Well, monsieur" she &, az suppose
NJ. Regnault has been givi Won his eter-
nal story about La Grande l eche e'
"He has, Mere Lepas."
"What did he tell you?'
l repeated in few worothe grim,
freezing history of Madame dMerret.-
At each sentence, my hostess st hed her
neck forward, regarding me W. the au-
bergiste's habitual perspicacity-ouality
which combines something of the stincts
of the qendarnse with the astutenes,f the
spy, and the cunning of the tradesn,.
MY dear Dame Lepas,' l added con.
clusion, "you seem to know someing
more about the matter, eh9 If not, hy
have you come up into my room %
"Ah! on my faith as an honest WON,
as truly as my name is Lepas"-
mo oaths, please; your eyes are b
with some secret. You knew n. de Me
ret. What kind Of a man was he %
"M. de Merret was fine man, and
good sort of a gentleman. He came fro
Picardy, and he was as hot as a pepper BIO
as we say. He paid ready money for ever
thing; he made no difficulties with al
one. He was rather wild, and the ladi
found him very agreeable"
"What. because he was rather wild? p
asked my hostess.
Every likely" she said. You m
suppose that he had something to recol
mend him, when he could marry Nadar
| de Merret, who-without wishing to S
anything against the others-was t
most beautiful and the wealthiest match
the country. She had near about TWEEN
thousand livres a year. The whole toy
was at the wedding. The bride was l
tie engaging creature, quite jewel OF
woman All. they made lovely couple
"Were they happy in their MARI
life p
"H'm. HIM, Yes and no-so far,
least, as one can Judge; for you don't su
pose that we townfolk lived hand and glo
with them. Madame de Merret was go
little woman, very quiet, and she had
good deal to bear sometimes; but, though
was little proud, we liked him. Bah.
was natural for him to be like that. VIII
ones gentleman, you see
"But there must have been some cats
trophe, to make them separate in the vi
lent way they did?'
81 never said there was any catastropf
1 don't know anything at all about it,
81 am quite sure, now, you know ever
thing;
Well, monsieur, I'll tell you all about
My dear Dame Lepas," said, 6
your secret is of nature to comprom
me, I would not for worlds take it upon I
shoulders.
"Don't be afraid she said, interrul
ing me. ''You shall see.''
Her eagerness led me to believe that
was not the only person to whom my 60
landlady had impaired the secret of viii
l was to be the sole depository, and /
tened.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.