Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-12
I" Robert Il Cecil :"

"a AAeA niHiSis NnN hClhtc vi -, III
make and publish this my last viii
and testament.
I" l give. bequeath and devise to m,
: dearly beloved wife"
"hh! pardon. madam, but what
your neme?"
"Lucy L. Cecil
"To my dearly beloved wife, Lucy L
Cecil, all my real and personal propert,
of whatsoever kind and nature, afte
the payment Of all my just debts; and
hereby commit to her guardianship NJ,
only child, Mabel Cecil, for whom ther.
shall be made such allowance and main
tenance as to my beloved wife NAV
seem fit.
Aud hereby appoint Lucy l.
Cecil my sole execu.rix of this my las
will and testament, hereby revoking al
former wills by me made
"In witness whereof have bereuntc
set my hand. this third day of Novem
Der, A. d. 49,"
4" suppose you understand, l I'M.
dertook to explain, "that this will
vests all your husbands property in
yon, as to leave yolr daughters allow
apces to your discretion is to leave her
at law nothing in her own right. The
provision is, in short, meaningless, ex-
cept that it shows the !estator had her
In mind when he made his will, and so
far makes it all the more binding
=" "Exactly!' she spoke with anima.
tlon; and then. seeming to recall her.
self, added" It's his wish-and I shall
see that you are we'll paid for your
trouble and counsel-the carriage will
be here very soon" Aud she had gone
as quietly as she bad come.
That remark about payment had en-
tered very threadbare coat and struck
right home.
But it's too mean, pay or no paw"
growled. ITO cut that girl off that
Wy without cent! But it's the old
story snd-I can't help i'll" as I'sank
back with philosophical smile on nv
face.
Then-just in sport. in O fit of ma.
lIgnant satisfaction-I took up a second
sheet of legal cap, and scribbled there.
upon, with formal opening and close.
that this same Robert Z Cecil gave ali
his property to his dearly beloved
daughter, Mabel Cecil, and left the
lacy OF the veil where the law found
her.
But such is the history Of the
world!'I concluded solemnly. lever
such; and what gulf, deep. impassa.
bic, between what ought to be and
what How l should like to bridge it
overr And I buttoned up nv coat,
and, walking to the window, i'm agined
l could see through the darkness the
coming of the Carriage of Madame Ce.
Gil.
The time dragged slowly, very
slowly, and / never felt more genuine
relief in hearing heavy wheels grinding
through the mud and slush, and a
knocking at the door to notify me that
ah was ready.
IspraDg into the carriage, and away
We dashed through the darkness. now
so heavy and sullen that l could not,
for the life of me, discover to what
portion of the town we were being
driven. But it seemed q very short
time before we came to sudden halt,
and the carriage door opened. The
coaohman conducted me up the brown
stone steps, where the open door was
all ready waiting me, and stepped into
the dimly lighted hall.
As / did SO. lady whose figure and
manners told me it WAS Madam Cecil,
glided from o side room, and with q
little plaintive smile, bid me follow her
at once. But in that instant had read
her face, and perhaps her character.
She might bsve been thirty five, only
she didn't look it, with those brilliant
black eyes, pearly teeth and elegant
mannersi but behind all these read
the positive force that, turned to good,
may save country, but given over to
evil, would sacrifi ,e every principal to
success.
Noiselessly she glided over the heavy
carpets, and as silently followed her.
She passed into the library, and from
thence-as instinctively felt-into the
chamber of death; even elegant paint
ings ard embroidered coverlets are not
to overawe our destiny.
"Mr. Cecil, the lawyer has come"
she softly said. as she stopped over the
emaciated face of silver haired man.
"What ? Who?' as he started from
seeming stupor, and looked wonder
ingly at me from his sunken eyes.
He will read it 10 you now, Mr..
Cecil;' adding, in a low tone, he is
sinking rapidly; I fear You must hast
en-"
81 felt that must. hal seated
myself by his bedside, and as did so
l saw his lips tremble, and believed
they were breathing q name; imagined
it was" Mabel"
Oar boldest moves are born upon the
spur of the moment.
Mrs. Cecil. may thank you for
glass of water 2" as I took out the will
she had had drawn.
t "Qaick, sir. quickl" said !, as no.
ticed his sunkeh eyes Watching her
fastening footsteps. "Do you want
your daughter to have all yonr prop
erty cave what the law gives your
wife ?"
He started back from me as il he
could not trust his own senses. or was
doubling whether to put confidence in
mel but he seemed to feel the necessity
OF doing go, and suddenly the dull eyes
frightened with momentary CLEAN of
relief and Joy as he clearly answered.
Yes. yes! And God bless you?"
And | too was thanking heaven for
the whim that had led me to write two
Wills so much alike in length and ap-
pearance, that 1t was only the work of q
moment to make the exchange. and Just
in time.
With Mrs. Cecil came the house
keeper and mansefvant, and in their
presence tue dying msa tremblingly
signed his name to the second will, and
they witnessed it.
They had gone, and l started to go
when the old man pressed ny hand.
and saw the tears gathering in his
eyes. AS turned 10 60 involuntarily
felt that the black eyes of Madam Ce-
Gil had witnessed all and suspected
everything.
II should like TO SEQ that will" she
firmly said, in low voice.
Some other time. Hos dying, Mrs.
Cecil"
80 much the greater reason, sir!