Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-07-09

forward.
care you able to attend to me, sir ?'
he asked.
Romayne, reclining in his chair ap-
parently lost to all interest In what was
going on, heard and answered. The
weak tones of his voice failed to reach
my ear at the other end of the room.
The lawyer, seeming to be satisfied so
far, put formal question to the doc
tors next. He inquired if Mr.. Ro-
mayne was in full possession of his facul-
ties.
Both the physicians answered with
out hesitation in the affirmative.
Father Benwell added his attestation.
Throughout Mr.. Romayne's Illness"
he said, firmly. "his mind has been as
clear as mine is"
While this was going on the child
had slipped off his mothers lap with
the natural restlessness of his age. He
walked to the fireplace and stopped,
fascinated by the bright red glow of the
embers of burning wood. In one cor
ner of the low fender lay loose ittlo
bundle of sticks, left there in case the
fire might need relighting The boy,
noticing the bundle, took out one of
the sticks and threw it experimentally
into the CRATE. The flash of fame, as
the stick caught fire, delighted him.
He went on burning stick after stick.
The new game kept him quiet; his
mother was content to be on the watch
to see that no harm was done.
In the meantime the lawyer briefly
stated his case.
"You remember, Mr.. Romayne, that
your will was placed for safe keeping in
our Office" he began. "Father Ben.
we'll called upon lis and presented an
order, signed by yourself, authorizing
him to convey the will from London to
Paris. The object was to obtain your
signature to codicil, which had been
considered necessary addition to secure
the validity of the will. Are you favor.
ing me with your attention, sir?"
Romayne answered by a slight bend.
ing of his head. His eyes were fixed on
the boy-still absorbed in throwing his
sticks, one by one, into the fire,
cat the time when your will was exc.
cuted," the lawyer went on, "Father
Benwell obtained your permission to
take copy oft. Hearing of your illness
he submitted the copy to high legal
authority. The written opinion of this
competent person declares the clause,
bequeathing the Vange estate to the
Roman Church, to be so imperfectly ex-
pressed that the will might be made
subject of litigation after the testators
death. He has accordingly appended a
form of codicil amending the defect, and
we have added it to the will. I Thought
it my duty, as one of your legal adj
visers, to accompany Father Benwell on
his return to Paris in charge of the will,
in case you might feel disposed to make
any alteration" He looked toward Stella
and the child as he completed that SEN
tence. Father Benwell's keen eyes took
The same direction. "Shall l read the
will, sir?" the lawyer resumed; "or
would you perfer to look at it yourself" !"
Romayne held out his hand for the
will in silence. He was still watching
his son. There were but few more sticks
now left to be thrown into the fire.
Father Benwell interfered for the first
time.
zone word, Mr.. Romayne, before you
examine that document" he said. "The
Church receives back from you the pro-
perty which was once its own. Beyond
that, it authorizes and even desires you
(by my voice. to make any changes
which you or your trusted legal adviser
may think right. refer to the clauses
of the will which relate to the property
you have inherited from the late Lady
Rerrick-and I beg the persons present
to bear in memory the few plain words
that have now spoken"
He bowed with dignity, and drew
back. Even the lawyer was favorably
impressed. The doctors looked at each
other with silent approval. For the
first time the sad repose of Stellas face
was disturbed-I could see that it cost
her an effort to repress her indignation.
Tie one unmoved person was Romayne.
The sheet of paper ON which the will
was written lay unregarded upon his lap
his eyes were still riveted ON the little
figure at the fireplace.
The child had thrown his last stick
into the glowing red embers. He
looked about him for fresh supply, and
found nothing. His fresh, young voice
rose high through the silence in the
room.
"More |" he cried. "More |"
His mother held up warning finger,
"dush = she whispered. He shrank
away from her, and she tried to take him
on her knee, and looked across the
room at his father. "Morep he burst
out, louder than ever.
Romayne beckoned IN mo and no;nt