The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-04-17
Surely he must have bequcathed some

| DICK IS III Ills SllltlS HOW u ueoI' \oNJ
| little room back of the drawing-room
which is in reality the library, but which
Mr.. Roy, he being a literary man, choos'
es to call his study. He Is sitting at his
table, with Nell's letter spread ont before
him, and is reading it for the fourth
time. There is nothing very remarkable
about it; it is not what one would style
a lovc-letter, and yet Dick would not tor
all the world have his sister get a. glimpse
Of it.
DEAR DICK,-I have been looking for
YOU to call, as you promised, and am
much surprised at not having seen you.
Your birthday, think you told me, is
about this time. Did you have a party
and are you so elated at having attained
YOUR majority that you are above visit
| ing YOUR friends? l cannot think that
because YOU are now man you have
given up all the friends of your childhood.
Please call soon, and tell me all about
your presents. Ever your friend, NELL. "
That is it; and in it Dick is trying to
find traces of something more than
friendship.
"Nell IS an awfully jolly girl he says
to himself, leaning back in his chair and
thrusting his hands into his pockets
"iust as full of fun as ever she can be. l
wonder whether she really does care any
thing for me? I'm not altogethera bad
| looking fellow, if l do say it myself, and
| fancy can talk quite us well as the
most Of 'em. How is one to tell whether
girl cares more for him than tQr
another, when she persists in being jolly
with every one?"
Then he gets to thinking of some
means to solve the problem. How shall
he prove her? Presently an idea comes
to him, first family, indistinctly; then
more plainly and more vividly, until a
plan-an excellent plan, he thinks
stands out before him in beautiful SYM
metry. Everything seems 10 have work
ed in favor of it, and he is naturally JOY
Gus over his discovery.
Fl. opens one of the drawers in his
writing-table and takes out a packet OF
letters. Through them he searches until
he finds two that Janet wrote him while
he was away on his midsummer vaca-
ton. These he spreads open before him,
and taking a sheet of note-paper he be
gins to write, now closely studying his
sisters letters, now slowly putting words
upon the paper. Half an hour and he
has finished. He folds the sheet, incloscs
it in on envelope, and addresses it rs
carefully rs he has written it. Then he
rises. and, unlocking the door. meets
Janet in the hall. She sees him take
down his hat to 60 out.
Had you not better wear your over
coat?" she asks. Pm afraid you might
take cold again"
Pm not going far" he answers
"only to post = letter"
"To Nell?" she asks, teasingly. "Are
you not rather prompt in answering your
correspondents?
Dick, making no reply, goes out, willie
she. laughing to herself, hurrieS away TO
her numerous household duties.
The next morning is the lst Of April
All-fool's Day, with its temptations to
practical Jokes and its myriads of little
innocent lies, when every one does his
best to make a fool Of his dearest friend
Is well rs his direst foe. 1t is bright,
sunny morning, that swells the buds to
bursting, and draws up the blades OF
fresh Young grass rs a magnet draws steel.
Dick Roy is in the very best Of spirits !;
he has persuaded Janet into believing
that he has taken fresh cold; has as
sumed a voice as hoarse rs n veteran bull
frog; and has been looking the very pic
turc of distress, until the arrival of the
postman-!iusst as lie is creeping IN to
breakfast and adding to his sisters ann
iety by his distressed countenance--
causes him to brighten up, and i'll the
clearest tone remark, "'Pon my word,
Jean, my colds gone. Did it strike you
this was the first day of April?"
An expression of relief mingled with
annoyance mounts Miss Roys counte-
nance.
"You awful boyr she exclaims. You
should be ashamed of yourself, trying to
fool your own sister"
And succeeding, too" laughs Dick.
The only letter this morning is one for
him. 1t is hidden by large yellow ell
velope, and addressed in bold heavy
hand that gives one an impression of i'm
portant business at once. AS Dick opens
it and catches sight Of the heading, his
face brightens in expectation, and CON
tinues Frightening until he has read 1t
quite through. when he is wearing the
broadcst of smiles.
"Hurrah !" he shouts, his boyishness
making its appearance through his new
" acquired manhood" hurrah for Uncle
Arthur Hurrah +! Jean, we've been
left fortune ~
Janet looks at him unbeliavingly.
She has been fooled once this morning,
and does not intend to submit ta.mely to
what she considers her brothers second
attempt.
"If you must joke, Dick" she says,
l. kra nlx-
contrasting with his excitement, pray
don't take such subject. You ere play
ing your part very well, ] admit; but
still l remember now what day it is.
"But I'm not Joking; it's fact. Here
is letter from the dear old boys lawyer.
Look at the postmark; look at the
letter-head; read the message" he goes
on, excitedly, running around to his sis
ters side of the table and spreading the
envelope and its contents before her.
He is certainly not fooling her now, as
she is compelled to admit when she il
thus presented with the evidence. The
same heavy style of writing that was
without is within.
Richard Roy, Esq:
DEAR SIR" Git begins),-"I have
! pleasure in informing you that the will
OF fthe late Arthur Roy, Esq, Of this city
bequeaths to his great-nephew and great
niece, Richard and Janet Roy (yoursel
and sister), each the sum of fifty thou
sand dollars. These amounts are in
vested in Unived States governrnen
bonds, and shall be forwarded to you II
| due course.
II have the honor to be your obedi
ent servant,
"J. MADISON PERRY, Executor"
The effect of the reading on Janet i
quite the reverse of that on her brother
Instead of breaking forth into joyou
shouts, her sensitive nature causes her t