The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-22
SPRINGlNG A MINE.


enclosed land rich in rank grass, and shaded,
little as it needed shade, for the ncighboring
houses hqmmed it in on all sides, by an Old,
stunted murky elm-tree. The land had origi-
nallv pcrtained 10 church that had long
since vanished Sometimes, after ghostly-
looking solitary sheep, coming none knew
from whence, or by whose authority, had
been turned into the enclosure and had
croppcd and munchcd away the long grass,
faint outlines of recumbcnt tombstones could
be traced, whitening here and there the vegc-
tation. Within living memory no intcrment
had taken place there; and the inhabitants
of the adjoining buildings took little heed OF
it now, except now and then to turn 1t to nc
court as dust,bin, "A receptacle for broken
glass and crockery, cindcrS, litter, refuse and
rubbish of all kinds.
Mr.. NIerdocll's offices were on the ground
floor of Il rambling old house in one of the
tortuous, confined thoroughfares Of Wall.
brook His private room was in the back of
the building, and thus obtained its feeble sort
of rural outlook He was Il solicitor of sound
reputc, enjoying an excellent practice; tall,
lean, elderly man. with good features, worn
very sharp by time and hard work ut his
calling. His tall, bald forehead had the look
of old parchment, or of discolorcd ivory; his
sallow face was deeply lined and very gaunt,
Yet his aspect betrayed no trace of ill-hcalth
or Of premature decay He was alert of
movement; the fringe Of hair at the back of
his bald head was still II dense black; there
were no threads Of silver in the sharply
trimmed, cresentshaped whiskcrS he wore
on his high cheek-bones; although his lips
were cOlorlcss, his teeth were sound and
white, and his grey eyes twinkled picrcingly
between his heavy penthouse brows. Hell
was, plainly why, spare man, who could
still endure much wear and tear, and make a
good fight with time.
Mr. Merdock sat at his desk--idly for the
misunderstanding now at the green cncloS-
urc to be seen from his window, now at tin
box, one of large pile Of similar tin boxes
ranged against the wall opposite to him, now
at the Times newspaper, spread out before
him. With a medtative air he was rubbing
the palm Of his large, yellow bony hand
against his very blue chin, for his strong
black beard opposed stout resistance to the
razor, let him pity it as pcrsistcntly rs he
might He paused to take noisily huge
pinch of snuff, and then passed "A large scar.
let and puce silk pockcthandkcrchicfa across
his face.
poor Dclpratt!" he said, with Il glance at
the tin box. The legend, THE DELpRATT
TRUST, was inscribed upon it in dim gold
letters. Dead" He gazed from the win.
dow at the wayy grass and the murky elm of
the graveyard without. "Four DAYS ago,"
he laid his hand upon the newspaper. 1t |
contained among its advertisements of deaths |
the following brief notification: 81 s-r 81
"On the Goth of November, Mt the Manor
House, Lupton, Hants, EUsTAcE WE'RE Del
PRATT, aged fitty-seven"
Mr. Merdock shook his head mournfully,
sighed, and then shrugged his shoulders
making an effort, AS it seemed, to dismiss IL
distressing subject from his mind just then
one Of his clerks entered and handed him a
card. He started as he read the name it bore
After moments hesitation he said:
you must show him in, Booth"
\ young man entered, dressed in deep
"Mr Ernest Delpratty' Mr.. Mcrdock was
reading aloud the name on the card.
you have forgotten me, | see, Mr.. Mcr
dock, But it is not surprising. We have
not met for some years, | know that | am
much changed in appearance. was mere
boy then"
pray be seated"
He was now perhaps about thirty; wear.
a thick rcd-brown beard; and rather long
hair, falling ncgligenty across his forehead
His natural pallor was no doubt increased in
effect by the black clothes he wore. But his I
was of that deadly whitcncss 1
which knows little variation, and rcsists all )
influence Of temperature, refusing to be
bronzcd by the sun, or Redeemed by exposure
10 the wind. 1t was late in the year, but the
weather was unnaturaly sultry. Still il had ]
not brought any increase of color to his face l
only the glistcn Of cammncss on the surface t
of his skin.
You are aware, of course, of the sad Oc c
that has brought me hercg" Il
Il have only just read in the Times of Mr. c
Dclpratts death" Mr.. Mcrdock's manner
was reserved, even distant. a.....----.
Il can scarcely say so much as that. | i
saw him frequently at one time. But of late
years we seldom met rarely quit London
he rarely visited it, Stil regarded him as {
q friend. | heard from him occasionally. Il
He was kind enough always 10 address ne G
in the most cordial terms. have learnt of !
his death with extreme regret" u
But You were his professional adviser; 81
you know more of his private affairs than ?
any one" II
That may be So" said Mr. Mcrdock, L
coldly
lie executed will in your presence, some
ten years ago."
Mr.. Merdoclt made no reply.
Il should explain" the young man went
on, that as his sole surviving rclativc'--
"Pardon mt" Merdock interrupted, illegal
ly speaking, the late Mr. Dcpratt had no rel.
auyes.n
Perhaps so-but he always regarded and
spoke Of me rs his cousin, or rather AS his
first cousin once removed ! therefore
deemed it my duty TO search for his will to
ascertain if he had expressed in it any in.
structions in relation to his funeral | hope
that you see nothing Objectionable in that:"
Mr. Merdock merely bowed, He avoided
any statement of opinion on the subject
The will | found contained no instruc.
tons of the kind referred TO- Further of its
terms | need not speak just now; especially
as the document having been drawn by YOU,
Won are already acquainted with lis con.
tents"
The only will ofwhich know ANYTHING"
said Mr.. Mcrdock, after minutes delibera.
ton, was executed by the tcstator in my
presence some ten years ago. The will was
engrosscd in duplicate course am in the
habit of recommending in such cascs-as
matter of prudence and precaution. One