Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-11-29

w
all his real and personal property to me,
with full powers as executrix and [ am
to take charge of his only child and
make for her such allowance as | shall
think wise" ....-
"What is your daughters name?"
"She is not my daughter!' she ans
wered, with the slightest token of a
gathering animation In her voice.
"Ah, yes; just so!'' said l, nervously
fumbling with the paper "She's your
step-daughter.
''Yes, sir.
What's her name You see L must
mention her.
Mabel Cecil" she haItingly spoke.
ga deuced pretty name y / remarked
to myself. 81 wonder what she wants
to stumble so over pronouncing it ?" And
then [ tried to forget all about it, as |
took up my pen and began; I'll"
''Ah pardon me, madam, but what's
your husbands name?"
What fools men are when little ex-
cited, especially young lawyers sitting
up with an early case
"Robert E. Cecil"
81, Robert E. Cecil, of the county of
Herkimer and state of -, do make
aud publish this my last will and tesla
ment:
l give, Lequeath, and devise to my
dearly beloved wife"
"Ah, pardon, madam, but what's
vour names"
Lucy L. Cecil" an ..
'sTo my dearly beloved wife, Lucy L.
Cecil, all my real and personal property
q, -, a.
payment OF all my just debts; and [
hereby commit to her guardianship nay
0uly cGild, Mable Cecil for whom there
shall be made such allowance and main
tenance as to my beloved wife may seem
fit. .'...4 81.
"And ] hereby appoint Lucy L. Cecil
my sole executrix of this my last will and
testament, hereby revoking all former
wills by me made. $50
/" In witness whereof [ have hereunto
set my hand, this third day of Novem-
Der, A. d. 49,"
81 suppose you understand, " under
took to explain, that this will vests all
your husbands property In you, and to
leave your daughters allowances to your
discretion is to leave her at law nothing
III her own right. The provision is, in
short, meaningless, except that 1t shows
the testatOr had her in his mind when
he made his will, and so far makes it all
the more binding"
"Exactly!" she spoke with animation.
cts his wish-and / shall see that you
are well peid for your trouble and coun-
sel-the carriage will be here very soon"
And she had gone as quickly AS she
had come.
That remark about payment had en-
tered very threadbare coat, and had
struck right home.
''But it's too mean, all the same, pay
or no pay" I growled, "to cut that girl
of that way without a cent! But it's
the old story, and-I can't help it!' and
] sank back with a philosophical smile
on my face.
Then-iust in sport, in fit of malig-
uant satisfaction-I took up a second
sheet of legal cap, and scrubbed there
upon, with formal opening and close,
that this same Robert E. Cecil gave all
his property to his dearly beloved daugh-
ter, Mabel Cecil, and left the lady of
the veil where the law found her.
But such is the history of the
world" [ concluded, solemnly, "ever
such; and what gulf. deep, impossible,
between what ought to be and what is!
How [ should like to bridge it over~
And | buttoned up my coat, and walk
ing to the window, imagined could see
through the darkness the coming of the
carriage of Madame Cecil
The time dragged slowly, very slowly,
and never felt more genuine relief than
in hearing heavy wheels grinding
through the mud and slush, and knock
ing at the door to notify me the carriage
was ready.
I sprang into the carriage and away
We dashed through such darkness that I
could not for the life of me discover to
what portion of the town we were being
driven. But In a very short time we
came TO sudden halt, and the carriage
door opened. The coachman conducted
me up the brown stone steps, where the
open door was already awaiting me, and
I stepped into the dimly-lighted hall.
As did so, a lady, whose figure and
manners told me she was Madame Cecil,
glided from side room, and with lit
| tie plaintive smile, babe me follow her
at once. But in that instant, 1 had her
face and perhaps her character. She
might have been 35, only she didn't
look it with those brilliant black eyes,
pearly teeth, and elegant manners; but
behind all these read the positive force
that turned to good may save country,
but given over to evil would sacrifice
| everything 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 furni-
ture and costly paintings, and embroi-
dered cOverlets are not to overawe our
destiny.
IS Mr.. Cecil, the lawyer has come" she
softly said, as she stopped over the ema-
ciated face Of silver haired man.
" What! who!'' as he started from a
seeming stupor, and looked wonderingly
at me from his sanken eyes.
He will read it to you now, Mr..
Cecil" adding in low tone: ''He is
sinking rapidly; I fear you must