Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09


mum?'
every true, assentcd the widow.
GLOW much money do you think now,
for instance?" asked Mr.. Chatiicld.
"Wcll, really, that altogether depends
upon circumstances of position but
should you not think twenty thousand
pounds enough to make the generality of
people rich?'
"More than that, mum that's not
enough to satisfy n man-only enough to
give him an appetite for more and Mt
five times that, n man would feel hungry
STILL"
"Gracious Mr.. Chatield, you're never
contented."
CHATS where It's, mum. You've hit
it no one is rich till he is content"
"Are YOU content, then, yourself ~
"No. mum, 1 amt and, what's more,
amt likely to he, or to meet the man who
is.
Mrs. Banwell had at first thought the
old gentleman was going to give her some
notion Of the extent of his resources, but
found lie was only talking in circle to
leave off where lie began, which aggra-
waited her MS much MS his persistent Use of
the word "mum."
However, Mr. Chatfield soon became n
constant visitor at Woodbury. Cottage,
and the widow had every reason to con-
graduate herself on being installed in his
good graccs. She gave n goodly number
of parties, and invited him to all of them.
He always came scrupulously neat and
clean, but in wcll-worn dress coat, and
a wig n shade better than the one he usu
ally mounted. In point of fact, Mrs.
Bauwcll spent good deal of money on
the old fellow, and, what ismore, thought
it money well laid out. Some months
passed so. Then Mr.. Loney came down
to pay n short visit to his aunt, in the
course of which he smoked his pipe more
than once at Mr.. Chatiield's.
From that time, Mr.. Chatiield became
less reserved in his illusions to his own
fortune when in Mrs. Banwell's company.
He even admitted to her that he was, in
fact, part-owner of n vessel of large ton
in addition to that, spoke of
dividends he was receiving from another
source-not obtrusively, but in the most
casual manner in conversation. The reas-
on of this change, not to make any mys-
terry about it, was, that he had either dis
covered himself, or else land more likely
Mr. Loney had helped him to discern
that the lively interest the widow took in
him and his affairs was not wholly of an
unseltish nature. Not that he had any
dread of being married, like the butcher
or the inoney-lender, whose fate he had
heard from Mr.. Loney; not at all he
saw that Mrs. Bauwell had other notions
him. Those two, metaphori-
cally speaking, the Vampire had cooked
before eating. Had they not both pass
ed the fires of Hymen first p But she
did not mean to marry Mr.. Chatfeld. 1t
was her desire to cat Mr.. Chatheld raw,
without any cooking. However, her vic
tim reconciled himself to his horrible
with the best grace imaginable,
and with the utmost docility even prepar-
pres table, as follows
One day he walked into Mrs. l'anwell's
sitting-room, apparently perturbed in his
mind.
:'What is the matter, my dear Mr..
Chatfeld?'
ooh, num-" he said, 1--WE had some
money left me-.
"Surely legacy is no cause for sor-
row q she remarked.
SIT ought to be, mum, if the person
who leaves it is dear enough to us to make
hc gift really valuable. But / dn'tsay
my one had left me money, but the other
yay-the money has left nc. 1t is not
much, but enough to worry about, and
enough to remind me that, in the course
If nature, l shall soon leave all my mon
~ l am going, mum, to make my will.
have no near relative in the world /
have outliyed them all. The question is,
who am / to leave it to T.? What do you
say o.
''Really, Mr.. Chatfield-such ques-
tion-and to mel don't know what to
say" She hesitated. "There are hospi-
ais"
"Yes, mum, there arc hospitals. There
IRE also penitentiaries. But there are
also trjcMs-friends, who, though they
may now sec in legacy no cause Of SUI
tow"
Not in the legacy ITSELF" interrupted
Mrs. Banwell, trying hard to cry, whilst
II an ecstacy Of delight "but the de-
plUrable event which made it Immediate
y payable would be cause OF excrucia-
ing woe.
"Friends, mum" lie continued, "who
cOitId, We will say, see matter of mourn
ng in n legacy (Ycs," lie thought to him
self, "a matter of fifty pounds worth of
black silk and Grape. and very becoming
wear to woman of her age), but who
would naturally feel sighted if deprived
Jf such cause for woe friends who
nave been generously kind when the
world fruwus upon us, and whom we can
1nly repay by leaving them the handker-
chief OF affection, with the blessed as
5urauce that our loss is their gain. Oh,
my dear mum, you've been true friend
to me-yOu know you have. Haven't
you ?"
GO He certainly wanders, the old silly"
thought Mrs. Banwell d" but for all that,
as good-hearted an old soul MS ever
breathcd."
'But, indeed, Mr.. Chattield,' she con-
tinued, aloud, "you should not distress
yourself thus. The only advice I can
give is, that you act on the dictates of
your own generous impulses and if, in.
deed, / am so happy as to be deemed n
friend, leave me at least-your regard,
friendships dearest legacy"
Mum, you have decided me. l will
at once get the matter off my mind. l
have only one more favor to beg, and that
is, that you will kindly honor my poor
cottage with your company, and make
tea for us this evening, as l shall have the
lawyer and his clerk there to execute the
document
Mrs. Banwcll promised, and Mr.. Chat
field withdrew.
When the widow arrived at Mr.. Chat
fields she was shown into the little front
room by the housekeeper, who said her
master would be downstairs in few
minutes. The lawyer had not come and
when the housekecper withdrew, Mrs.
Banwell was left quite alone in the room
On rickety three-legged side-table, she
espied Mr.. Chattield's desk. 1t was not
quite shut, for there was stiiliy folded
parchment, which not only prevented the
desk shutting, but projected far enough
to show the nature Of the document. 1t