The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-28

to the servants, clerks and others, the
whole is given to Miss Greathead.
When he ceased, the woman by the fire
rose grandly to her full height.
This IS not the final arrangement
our friend intended to make; so much
] know; 1T is sad lesson of the danger
OF representation even III the wisest of
us. Thus Mr. Ford, in a low, apollo
getic tone, busy with the paper.
30, Edith, am very sorry!" Miss
Greathead had risen, too, and put her
hand upon the elder woman's shoulder.
The servants were filing out. Miss
Chilling pushed the other aside, not
cruelty, but as if she were in the way.
j '"The will show me the will, she
said, in hoarse, low tones, holding out
one white hand imperatively Mr.. Ford
handed it to her without a word. She
took it to the window and examined it
carefully. Wonderful as under the cir
cumstances was her self-command, one
could hear the paper rustic in her shak-
ing hands, In a moment she faced us.
"You did not draw this will?n ,.
mo, Mr.. Ford answered, nervously,
''he took, | suppose, other advice. The
attesting witnesses are Mr.. Warrington,
lwho, you may be aware, has chambers
had, | should say-with the Serjeant,
and the laundress, who died some
months ago. SO it is evident that 1t
lwas made at chambers"
j There was an uncomfortable silence
flor a moment. Then Miss Chilling
Icrossed the room and rang the bell.
! 'ls Mr.. Humphreys still here P" she
(said to the servant.
Eyes, Miss
"Ask him to come to me, if you
please"
''My clerk shall fetch him." cried Mr..
Ford, hastily, with a glance first at the
servant, and then at his unprepossess-
ing follower ..
NO." said Miss Chilling, impera-
lively. We all stood still and listened
to the clock ticking solemnly, till the
old clerk appeared. ....
Humphreys she said, with a
strange yearning in her tone, sudden
softening, as it WERE" please to exam
inc this signature, and tell me if it is
your late masters" ..t .afl t-NH
He was her last hope. .... ....,..,
The old man slowly took out and put
on his glasses. Miss Greathead, ner-
vous and frightened, covered in
the window seat. Mr.. Ford looked
steadily into the fire. l fancy he saw
there short law report, headed: ''In
the matter of Charles Henry Ford, gen
tleman, one, etc." or it might be more
shortly, 'In the matter of a solicitor -"
As for his clerk, | can answer for it,
| that bnort tho
pit-a-pat like his. How long Humphreys
was porting over it! At last he spoke,
and then with torturing slowness.
''Ah, that's his writing sure enough.
God bless him." ...-
Then two of us drew such q sigh of
relief, as well. am at loss for a suf-
ficiently strong metaphor, but at any
rate it was very deep sigh.
Mr.. Ford murmured few words of
coincidence to the one lady, and of con-
graduation to the other, and he and his
clerk got themselves out of the room as
well as they could. The last seen of
Miss Chilling she was brooding over the
fire, with face ever so much older, as
it seemed to us, than that which had
shone in the dusk behind her futtering
1 fan.
''Upon my honor" Ford whispered
closed behind them, 81 am almost afraid
to leave them together"
" Pooh, your young woman hasn't
made q will"
"Why? what! you don't think she
p" He stood still.
''The SERGEANT? No, I don't. I've
seen his doctor. She was first on the
scene that's all; couple of hours be-
fore any one else, / expect
"What if our plan doesn't answer?
How long are we to keep it up?"
"a week won't do us harm; then if
nothing turn up we must find out some
thing wrong with our precious docu-
ment. But / don't think she is inclined
to fight" And the confidential clerk
of Ford, Ford & Bittle, linked his arm
with that of ''our Mr.. Ford with as
tonishing freedom, and an utter forget
fulness Of his seedy hat and boots.
John Warrington, barrIster-at-law,
was sitting alone in my room next day,
when Thomas came in.
"a lady to see you, sir" / was not
greatly surprised. r-
"Show her in. Good gracious How
do you do ? Please to take seat, Miss
-ah, yes, Miss Greathead, Very sad
things have happened since / saw you
last. 1t was my former visitor, the
Serjeant's niece. ..,s..... 81.
Eyes, indeed they are too fresh to
be spoken of. have called to ask you
a question, Mr.. Warrington, and am
sure l may trust to your discretion.
absolutely assented, warmly.
'Please do not think il odd one.
have a reason. Do y emember
witnessing my uncle's sig re about
a year ago?''
"Well, remember this much, that ]
did'so, but don't think can tell you
much about it; as far as l can recall
the matter, Mrs. Coil was there. Nc
one else, think. If can help you
any further, will think it out" p
THANK YOU" she said, with a half
audible sigh, drumming softly on my
table with her gloved fingers. THAT is
all, | think, that wanted to ask. Now
| am here, should like to see my I'M
cles room for-for the last time, Mr..
Warrington, if you please" 49,
s'Most certainly. Nothing has been
disturbed since you were here" led