The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-17
SELECT STORY.
TIE sBRGEANT's WILL,
"Mr. Warrington, l believe p

assert, lnaJ never llau words so taken
me by surprise, nor has my name ever
been put to me under more singular
circumstances. That this may be
clear, must explain. As shortly as ]
can will do so, for | dislike explana-
ton, and would have my Judge, when
] am moving the Court, know before
hand, if possible, what my point is.
am barrister, as you guess, and
my chambers are in Hare court, ii is
the most ancient, quiet and retired
place in the temple just on your right,
if you come in by the archway at the
bottom of Chancery lane, MY number
is of no Importance in fact, abundant
reasons will appear why / should be
reticent as to it. One reason which
will not appear, but cogent one never
theless, being that solicitors are not
fond Of counsel who rush into print,
unless their lucubrations are bound in
calf. have one room in which | sit
myself, and the undivided half of
clerks room and passage; the rest of
the set are occupied q am talking of
time six months back by Sergeant
Greathead, @. c., of the Western Cir
cult, whose large room in the rear is
the only comfortable and well furnish
ed one, my rooms being as dingy and
cheerless as most ground floor apart
ments in the temple. A couple of
doors shut us in, but the oak is only
sported when the clerks leave it at 7.
Then our chambers, not very lively
during the day time, are abandoned to
darkness, silence and the mice. In a
word they are merely offices.
Well, about the time l have men
toned, l was obliged, no matter why
perhaps because over my dinner at
the Suffolk Street Club | discovered
fallacy in the opinion to be sent out
the next morning--I found myself
obliged, for the first time for certainly
a year, to go to my chambers after
dinner The clock at st. Clement
danes was striking the half hour after
0 as turned into the lonesome and
echoing temple. l opened my outer
door with my key, after ascertaining
that had some matches in my pocket,
and did the same to the inner door,
drawing the oak to behind me and
shutting it ; then ! stood still 1t was
very odd all should have been dark
ness, but from the keyhole Of the Ser
geant's room a bright ray of light
shoue steadily, and from within came
the familiar sound of the rustling of
papers. 1t was very odd. had
known the Sergeant to say he never
worked at night and certainly | had
never heard of him coming to his
chambers in the evening. Very sin
gular that we should both be there on
this particular night AT any rate
would see if it was all right. l open
ed the door and walked in quietly, an
apology on my lips. The room, as l
have said, a spacious one, was covered
with papers and books; but no Ser
geant Greathead was there Some one
was though, with vengeance.
"Mr. Warrington, believe p
With one hand resting on the table
and pressing something among the many
papers which Uttered it, stood the
speaker, lady. Apparently about 35,
she was tall and of a good figure, her
dress handsome though simple \
veil obscured much of her face, which
was toward me as | entered Either
her complexion was naturally colorless
or agitation had driven the blood from
her cheeks. The latter, | conjectured,
since her left hand was pressed to her
side. | stood dumbfounded, and at
least twice this unexpected apparition
repeated the words | have set down.
| Who was she and what was she doing
alone and at this time of light in our
chambers As far as | remember
said at last in bewildered tone, still
holding the door-handle;
"Yes, certainly | am Mr.. Warning
ton"
"You must be surprised to find me
here. l am Sergeant Greathead s
niece"
"Oh, yes" l answered, with bow
and vain attempt to indicate by my
tone that l thought this a perfectly
satisfactory explanation of her presence
at $50 in his chambers sob, yes"
"lIe is rather unwell this evening,
and thought he would like to have
some papers to read, in case he should
not sleep. have volunteered to fetch
them--was it not bold of me ?-and
my cab is waiting in Fleet street.
"The Sergeant not well? am very
sorry. Can | give you any assist
ance 2"
From the appearance of the table
she must have undone most of the bun
dies in search of the right papers, such
was the litter upon it, She really was
very good looking woman.
"You can undo the harm you inro,
Gently caused, Mr., Warrington, by
getting me glass of water, if you will
be so kind. You startled me not a
little. was prepared to find darkness
and loneliness, but not to meet any
one"
IF have frightened you | do wish
| had stayed away-which is unselfsh
| added gallantly "l}ut it is curious
fate should have led me here tonight
for the first time this year
es; not ohly curious, Mr.. war
rington provoking also
! laughed and fastened to my room
lit candle and drew some water from
the filter. There was flavor of ro
nance about this, and yet, handsome
as she was, and singular as was tn,
circumstances, something repelled me
| had not got over the start she causeC
. me perhaps,
"Are you sure you have got wha
you want 81 She had replaced the pa
pers and cleared the table with wonder
full deftness while was away. Sh,
was Standing now by the fireplace, evi
IDENTITY ready TO go,
81 have to thank you, she answered
rather thoughtfullyi perhaps yol
would be good enough TO escort me t.
my cab; my nerves have hardly re
covered yet.
She smiled bewitchingly as sh,
spoke what | took for badinagp, bu
the next instant | saw that il was tru