Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-06-11
A Story of Two Wills.

DAYS. There was not a reQeeming
feature about il. If it hau only
rained there might have been
music in the drops: if it hau snow
ed we could have 'lived' over the
beautiful poem; but it did nett her
and now, late in the afternoon, the
air was thick, damp vapor and
the streets ankle-deep with the
slush and mud that an un paved
Western town supplies SO bounti-
FULL and readily
Then, again, the life of young
attorney is not always one Whirl
of excitement and 'sasurable re-
results. Not living soul except
a bootblack-just as If we should
ever need bootblacks again-had
entered the door that day. In
vain had | endeavorsd to give my
mind over to the arbitrary stat
utes, and then in despair sought
the more inviting stimulants of
Regina VS. Reynolds; even the goa
sip of great leading case failed to
inspire me, and YEARLY / turned
from my books to my thoughts
and from my thoughts to nay
gloom.
1t was ust then, before had as
cended to the realms of suicidal
purposes-for / walked that way
slowly-that the door-knob, hest
tatiDgly, cautiously turned, and |
was again hard at work, pen in
hand, with one eye on the paper
and the other on the door.
/ won't make a diagnosis of Just
how fast my heart was beating if
peradventure the door would open
and somebody that was somebody
come in. | could endure the aus
pense no longer and looked
squarely up. The door had open
ed and though the evening shad-
ows were gathering thick and fast
/ could see that my visitor was in
dress and manners a lady-the
most significant word in the great
est of languages. Her veil con-
cealed her face, but old or young,
ugly orlpretty, her thoughts proba-
bly, were: "He's young man
very young-he hasn't had much
xperience-doa't think he ever
did such work before-it would
help him but that don't help me
Il had better look"
But | interrupted my own fore
holdings by springing to my feet
with q "Gooa evening, madam
Step in; Pm through with the
matter in hand-a little pressed
now, with term time upon us, but
have an hour TO spare to-day
such dull day Sit down. and
my first triumph was won, for
she was seated.
had not as yet SO much as
caught the color of her eyes, and
/ couldn't but wonder why she
kept her veil drawn so closely
unless she was meditating sud-
den flight to the Office of the bald
headed wretch right across the
way, WHO had few gray hairs
and much more experience, you
know-but had bad attack OF the
rheumatism, too, thank Heaven,
which / devoItly trusted was
keeping him home on so bad a
day as this.
II want you to write WILL she
suddenly began, in a half-haltlng,
half-inquiring voice.
Certainly, madam ~ answer
ed, nobly resolving to strengthen
the faith with her; and | pulled a
half quire of legal cap toward me
and thought of the solemn open
ing and weighty formalities of its
publication.
"It's to be my husbands will"
she added "He dare not come
out such day as this And she
shivered so prettily that | was rec
onciled with the weather for the
first time that day.
Hadn't / better come to your
house ?" | ventured TO suggest.
"Oh, no! Not now!" she an
swered with little sigh. cit
might excite him 10 much. He's
very, very feeble these chilly days
But ne IN } tie better to night and
will senu tine carriage for you then.
1t viii not make any difference,
will it, about the will being bind.
ing 20 Aud something told me
she was peering very anXiOusIy at
me.
"Ot course, madam, if he then
fully and voluntarily adopts it as
is, it is just the same as ii l took
it all down from his lips
"Weii, we want-he wants to
leave all his real and personal
property to me, with full powers
as executriX-and L am TO take
care Of his only child and to make
for her such allowances as / shall
think wise"
What is your daughters
name p