Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-12
A Story of Two Wills.

-------------------------- ----------------------
A Story of Two Wills.
1t wes the glocmiest of gloomy Gays
There was not a redeemiDg feature
about it. II it had only rained there
might have heen music in the drops; il
il bad showed, We could have lived
over" the beautiful poem; bnt it did
neither, and now, late in the afternoon.
the air was thick, damp vspor, anl
the streets ankle deep with the slush
and mud that al unpaved Western
town supplies SD bountifulIy and
readily.
Then. again. the life of young at
tOrney is not always one whirl of *
element and pleasurable results. n t
living sonl except boot black Just
es il We should ever need boot. blacks
again-had entered the door that dav.
In vain had tried to give my mind
over to the arbitrary statutes, and then
in despair songht the more inviting
simulsnts of Regina rs. Reynolds; even
the gossip Of great leading case failed
80 inapire me, and wearily l turned
from my b1oks TO my thoughts, and
from my thoughts to NY gloom.
1t was just then. before had as
cended to the realms of suicidal pur-
pose-for walk that way slowly-that
the door knob. hesitatinglY. cautiously
turned, snd Twas again hard at work
pen iu hsrd, with one eye on the paper
and the other On the door.
won't make diagnosis of Just how
fast my heart.was beating if peradven
ture the door would open, and some
body that ,ras somebody would come
in. I could endure the suspense no
longer, and looked tqusrely up. The
door bad opened, and though the even
ing shadows were gathering thick and
fast, could see that my visitor was in
dress and manners q lady-the most
significant word in tie greatest of
languages. Her veil concealed her
face. but old or young, ugly or pretty,
her thoughts probably were, Hes a
young man-very young--he hasnt t
had much experienced don't think he
ever did such work before-it would
help him, but that don't help mel
had better look"
But interrupted my own forebod-
ings by springing to my feet with a
GOOD evening. madam Step in; I'm
through with the matter in hand-a
little pressed now with term time upon
us, but have an hour to spare to-day
suoh dull day! sit down. and my
first triumph vas Won, for she was
seated.
Then l swept my books from me
with it, ,lr Of relief. rs il any probe m
she III, H. agitate would be cbild's play
compsrtd to what had Just passed
through.
I had not yet so much as csught the
color OF her eyes, and couldn't but
worder vLy she Eep; her veil drawn so
clOsely-uniess kLe was meditatinR q
euaden flight to the Office of the bald
beaded wretch right across the way,
who had q few gray b airs and more ex-
perience, you know-but q bad attack
of the rheumatism too, thank Heaven!
which l devoutly trusted was keeping
him home on SO bad day as this.
" want you to write will!' she
suddenly began. in a lf-halting, half
inquiring voice.
Certainly, madam" l answered,
nobly resolving to strengthen the faith
within her; and I pulled half quire
pf legal cap toward ne, and thought of
the solemn opening and the weighty
formaliiies of it's publication.
It's to be my husbands WILL" che
added. "He dare not come out on
sach a day as this.' And she shivered
SO prettiiy that I felt reconciled with
the weather for the first time that day.
Hadn't ] better come to your
house2" l veniured to suggest.
"Oh, moi Not nowr she answered
With little sigh. ut might excite
bim too much. He's very, very feeble
these chilly days. but he NAV be bet.
ter tonight, aud will send carriage
ior you ther. 1t will not mako any
difference. will it, about the will being
pindlnss' And something told me she
vas petring very anxiously at me.
"Of courae, madam, ii be then fully
aad Voluntarily adopts it as his, it il
Just the same as if l took it all down
from bis own lips"
"Well, We wart-he wants-to leave
all his real and personal property to me
with full powers as executrix and ]
am to take care Of his only child. and
make for her such allowances as l shall
think wisc.'
What is your daughters name?'
"Shes not my daughterl' she nm,
sweret. with the slightest token Of 8
gsther1ng animation in her voice.
All. yes; just sol" said /. neryous.
" fumbling with the paper. "She's
your step-daughter.."
Yes, sir"
mention it, 1''
Mabel Cecil" she haltinely spoke,
Adeuced pretty name!" Remarked
to myself. II eorder wLy she
wants to stumble q. over prononncino o
~. and then I tried to forget ali
ABOUT it az | took up nv pen and be
gan: IL" "Abl nsrdon mo
name?" 'o0' "uSoana
What fools men are when a ,;.,,o ov.
cited. especially young men more more "a. -
pecialiy young lawyers. sitting M with
an early easel "'D