The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-06-14
Where There's q Will There's q Way.
BY TOM HOOD.

| BY TOM HOOD.
met the young people at picnic, and
it was plain that Tom Tilby loved Bessie
Welfit, and impossible to doubt that the
feeling was reciprocated. l took an inter-
est in the young couple because had boen
the intimate friend of their fathers.
Tom Tilby pere and Sam Welft had been
fast friends both at school and at college;
fast friends, boon companions, and sure
partners in every scrape as in every stroke
of luck.
went up to the University on a special
invitation to be present at the parting sup
per given by Tom and Sam when they had
taken their degrees.
Next day was instructed to draw up
their wills, in which each left all he possess
sed to the other, if he should survive him.
The documents were drawn up, signed,
and witnessed, and was requested to take
charge of them. From that period saw
very little of either. was glad to learn,
therefore-dear me! how the time must
have slipped away, said to myself-that
the pretty golden-haired girl at the picnic
was the daughter of my worthy old friend,
Sam Welfit and that the handsome, manly
young fellow who was paying such attsn-
ton to her, was the son of the Rev. T.
Tilby, who was best known to me as Tom
Tilby.
Of course l lost no time in introducing
myself. To myssurprise the young people
did not seem overwhelmed with Joy to hear
was an old friend of their fathers. They
exchanged looks of surprise and consterna-
ton. What could it mean?
Tom, tearing himself with evident re-
luctance from the side of his charmer, ask
ed me to favor him with few words in
private. To my surprise his first request
was that would not mention the picnic,
and the fact that Bessie and he met there,
to either his father or hers. My surprise
was changed to sorrow when heard the
reason of his request. Those COMPOUNDED
wills were at the bottom of it! Tom Tilby
thought Sam Welfit must wish him dead,
that he might have his money; and Sam
felt certain that Tom Tilby would not be
grieved to hear of his decease.
Time went on. Suspicion begot indiffer-
ence, and Indifference paved the way for
hate. Of course each was conscious of
change in the other, but did not observe it
in himself; and so the mutual dislike deep
bly,. AS luck would have it, young Tom,
who was entered at LincOln's inn, met Bes-
sic, who had come to stay with some friends
in town, and they fell desperately in love
with one another. They wrote to their
parents like good and obedient children,
informing them of their acquaintance, and
perhaps revealing unconsciously what that
acquaintance had ripened into. That
brought matters to crisis. The Rev. T.
Tiby told his son that Bessie was, no
doubt. designing mink: she was not
likely to be a fig. springing as she did from
thistle like Sam Welfit. He threatened
to cut his son off with a shilling if he
heard any more Of this nonsense, and for
babe him to see her again.
Sam Welft was equally stern. He told
Bessie that young Tom was mercenary
adventurer, and-like his father, probably
"a rake, an ldler, and scoundrel.
1t was bad case, and told young Tom
so. He implored me to keep their secret
l consented-and what is more, Ipromissd
to aid them. That very night, in my
lonely bachelor chambers, laid my plan.
and acted on it. l wrote two letters: ono
to old Tom Tilby, the other to Sam Wslfit.
l asked them, for reason alleged, to come
to me on the following Tuesday-Tom at
twelve, and Sam at one. Then dispatch
ed little note, asking Bessie and young
Tom to lunch with me at three on the same
day.
The day camo-the hour came-and the
men came! Old Tom Tilby arrived punct-
ually at twelve, dressed in deep mourning,
and carrying in his hand my black-border-
ed missive bidding him como here to pro-
F! coed with me to the funeral Of our old
friend Welft. l asked him to sit down,
and began to talk Of old times. Tom had
been shocked at the news in my letter; and
as he went on recalling the past, his heart
was touched. Tender recollections came
in a flood, the old love revived, and by =
quarter to one the old boy was weeping
bitterly, and wished he'd been more just
and true to dear old Sam.
Presently came knock at my door, Tom
begged of me to let him get out Of the way,
not to show his emotion to strangers.
put him in the next room, but left the door
little open, and then gave orders for
the admission of my next visitor. Sam
Welfit, of course! could see by his trem-
ulous lip, the moment he entered, that
should have an easy task with him. He
spoke softly, luckily, or old Tom might
have recognized his voice, but as precau-
ton, m onopolized all the talking, and
spoke in low tone, until had Sam blub-
being like q child. Then changed my
tactics.
CATER all, SAM" said I, raising my
| voice, "You benefit by the death. Tom