The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18

as is the sound of that boisterous exui-
tation in the ears of all present. the
dread conviction forces itself upon them
all that there is only too much ground
for it.
Little Lawyer Lewis, however, is of a
different opinion.
No, Mr.. George" he says, quietly,
stllllng for moment, as he speaks, the
rising storm of general protest. "No,
Mr. George, it does not come to you.'
1.-The deuce it don't! Who else,
then? | don't think there's ANYBODY
here with much less mourning about
them than | have
mo, Mr.. George. So 1 am sorry to
see."
81 don't doubt it, you canting old
humbug. But you're done this time,
anyway. The will says the one who
has on the least mourning. Don't it?"
Not quite, Mr.. George"
"Eh?''
1.-The will says the one who shall at
tend the funeral with the least mourn-
ing. ] don't think [ saw you at the
funeral, Mr.. George?"
Mr.. Peter Goodchild opines that never
in his life has he heard so terrible a
blasphemy as breaks from George Nor
toms lips at this unanswerable demoli-
ton of his new y-raised hopes. If he
had only taken Bessie's advice! But he
hasn't, and no amount of swearing will
avail him now.
And then, for few moments, all sit
and look one at another. Some of the
ladies even 90 so far as to make little
furtive clutches at the more conspicu-
ously mournful portions of their own
attire, in the vain hope of reducing its
too clamorous woe. Others, detecting
them in this surreptitious proceeding,
do not scruple to express aloud their
Reproduction of this mean and under
hand proceeding. The situation is en-
citing. In a very few minutes more
complications may possibly arise, of a
somewhat serious character.
Lawyer Lewis brings matters to a
crisis, and with decision which looks
as though he were as little displeased
as surprised at the denouement which
has so startled the rest of the company.
81 don't think there can be much
doubt as to who the real legatee is I'M
der the will you have just heard read,
ladies and gentlemen. Miss Daryl, al
low me to wish you joy"
Thereon arises on a small scale no
bad imitation of the Tower of Babel
Poor Bessie faint little startled Me-"
is scarcely audible even in her own
pretty little ears, amid the chorus of
Semi-articulate protest which breaks
out on all sides.
Little Bessie Daryl insignificant
little Bessie Daryl! Shabby little Bessie
Daryl! whom not one of the family has
designed so much as to notice, her
dingy old frock and the fashionless old
straw bonnet, with the one poor lit
tie Grape bow upon it! Bessie Daryl!
Absurd! The old man must have been
out of his mind. The will is monstrous,
idiotic, cannot possibly be allowed to
stand single moment.
Mr.. Sergeant Netherton puts the in
articulate feeling of the assembly into
articulate words.
MIR. -ahem!-Lewis, this will is
preposterous. shall dispute it,"
Every well, Mr.. SERGEANT. You
know best, sir, of course. As you
please
Il shall upset it, sir-upset it alto
gether."
Just as YOU please, Mr.. SERGEANT.
There being no other will, as can per-
sonally avouch, of course you know
how the property will 90 in such case. ="
"To the next of kin, sir presumed"
"To the heir-at-law, Mr.. SERGEANT.
The heir-at-law."
"And pray who may he be?''
"Well, SERGEANT, take it, Mr.. Rich
ard Netherton, only son Of the de-
ceasedn
Dick Netherton! Stuff and nom
sense! He died abroad three years ago,
the young vagabond.
"Not quite, Uncle Simon,n says a
quiet voice, from the dark corner where
the bronzed, big-bearded stranger has
hitherto been sitting so silently. "On
the contrary, I have been making
rather a good thing of it out there late
ly. Iwish l could have got back in
time to have been seen the poor dear
old man. However, here l am now, at
all events"
This time it is Mr.. SERGEANT Neither
ton whose profane ejaculation scandal
ICES the pious ears of Mr. Peter Good
child. The learned Serjeant's interest
in the disputing of the will has alto
gether cooled. The only possible ques-
ton now is whether the property shall
90 to Bessie under the will, or to Dick
in default of it.
Bessie herself thinks she sees an
other alternative, and slips softly up to
little Mr.. Lewis to point it out.
Mr.. Lewis, Cousin Richard is the
right person in every way. He was in
the church-yard, and you see he is not
in mourning at all.
Which latter claim on the part of the
heir-at-law is indeed clear enough.
Dick has only landed that morning
has first learned the news of his fathers
death at the hall door. The other mat
ter is not quite so self-evident.
Its very delicate point, my dear.
Mr.. Dick did not come with us-did
not join us till the ceremony was just
over. On the whole, l don't think it
would be considered an attendance
within the meaning of the bequest.
But it can be tried, you know; it can be
tried"
Indeed no, Mr.. Lewis. / am quite
| satisfied. | shall give it up altogether.