The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-17

the Sergeant, and the aundress, who
died some months ago SO it is evi-
dent that it was made at chambers
There was an uncomfortable silence
for moment. Then Miss Chilling
crossed the room and rang the bell.
"ls Mr.. Humphreys still here p she
said to the servant.
"Yes, 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 unpre-
possessing follower.
"No,' said Miss Chilling, impera
lively. We all stood still and listened
to the old clock ticking solemnly, till
the old clerk appeared.
"I1umphreys," she said, with a
strange yearning in her tone, a sudden
softDess, as it were, ''please to exam
ine this signature, and tell me if it
is your late masters? 2
lie was her last hope.
The old man slowly took out and
put on his glasses. Miss Greathead,
nervous and frightened, covered in the
window seat. Mr.. Ford looked stead
| lily into the fire. fancy he saw there
a short law report, headed, "In the
matter of Charles Henry Ford, gentle
man, one,' etc, or it might be more
shortly, "In the matter of solicitor" "
As for his clerk, can answer for it,
that no heart in the room was going
pit-a-pat like his. How long Hum
phreys was poring over it At last he
spoke and then with torturing slow
ness
"Ah, that's his writing sure enough.
God bless him."
Then two of us drew such a 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.
gratulations 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 broodlng
over the fire, with face ever so much
older, as it seemed to us, than that
which had shone in dusk behind her
fluttering fan.
"Upon my honor" Ford whispered
to lis confidential clerk, as the door
closed behind them, 81 am almost
afraid to leave them together"
"Pooh! your young woman hasn't
made will"
"Why? what you don't think she
--?' he stood still.
''The Sergeant ? No, l don't. I've
seen his doctor. She was the first on
the scene, that's all couple of hours
before anyone else, expect.
"What if our plan doesn't answer
How long are we to keep it up? 7"
"a week won't do US harm then il
nothing turns up we must find out
something wrong with our precious
document. But l don't think she is in
clined to fight" And the confidential
c'erk of Ford, Ford & Bittle linked hi.
arm with that of "our Mr.. Ford" will
astonishing freedom and an utter for
getfulness 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 no
greatly surprised.
"Show her in. Good gracious How
do you do? Please take seat, Miss
ah, yes, Miss Greathead Very sac
things have happened since l saw yo'
last" 1t was my former visitor, thu
, Sergeant's niece.
Yes indeed; they are too fresh t.
, speak of. have called to ask you
) question, Mr.. Warrington, and l an
sure may trust in your discretion"
, "Absolutely," l assented warmly.
"Please do not think it an odd one
( l have a reason. Do you remembe
, witnessing my uncles signature abou
, a year ago?'
e swell, l remember this much, that
I did so, but / don't think can tell yo
K much about it. AS far as can recal
r the matter Mrs. Cell was there. N
! one else, l think. If l can help yo
o any further l will think it out"
e "Thank you? he said, with hal
audible sigh, drumming softly on m
+ table with her gloved fingers. That
n all, l think, that l wanted to ask. No
s that / am here, should like to see IN
s uncle's room for-for the last time, NJ
g Warrington if you please
n "Most certainly. Nothing has bee
e dis .urbed since you were here | le
e the way into the room. She stood
l. the middle and looked around with
steady, scrutinizing gaze. a will lea'
,r you for moment said !, considerat
d ly, and, half-closing the door, steppt
,r into my room and sat down--to tinii
A. the statement of claim in Davey v
n, Davey-nouhing of the kind, but ex
ii cuted upon my hearth.rug sile
50 dance of triumph that would ha
Y gained for me a lucrative engageme
ID at the Aquarium. After five mnut
of this | composed my face and we
st back to the old gentleman's roor
ut stumbling carelessly over the mat as
err did so. She was apparently standil
Sc exactly where had left her. 1t &C
| me all my self'command to avoid gla
k, cling around the room.
Us "Thank you" she said, swectly,
a am so much obliged | am very q
IL | came, You will not mention my V
~ it ?"
r. "You may depend upon my re
d. cence," said, with a bow, in whict
r. flatter myself that sincere person
ks devotion and an OVERLOOKING apprec
IS tion of her affection for her uncle {
o. peared to mingle. The moment, ho
er ever, that | had got her out of t
chambers, and the doors closed behi
~ her, | sent Thomas off with a note, a
| darted back into the Sergeants roo
er There | stood in the middle, where
of visitor had stood, and looked arou
o. the There was a melancholy tidin
everywhere, Quickly | opened
iss drawers, cast my eye over them,
Ter behind them ; as expected, nothi
er, Then ! procured chair and a canC
ISIS and with care aud minuteness Il