The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-23
The Serjeant's Will.
From Tine.l


Then we all listen to another last will and
testament, and fresh current of convey
ancer's English, much shorter than the last,
however, 1t let loose upon us. One person
in the room, can safely assert feels on the
rack and Miss Chillng's fan never stands
but fiutters, now slowly, now with sudden
impetus. Aud no wonder, her fortune of
$4,000 is swept away by stroke of the
pen, and miserable $4,000 all that is given
her instead. OF the residue, after payment
of certain legacies to the servants, clerks
and Others, the whole is given to Miss
Greathead. When be ceased, the woman at
the fire rose grandly to her full height.
"This is not the final arrangement cur
friend intended to make; so much l know
it is a sad lesson of the danger of procrasti-
nation even in the wisest of u.s." Thus Mr.
Ford. said in a low apologize tone, busy
with the paper.
''Oh, Edith, l am very sorryr' Miss
Greathead had risen, too and put her hand
upon the elder woman's shoulder The SER
wants were filing out, Miss Chilling pushed
the other rside, not cruelty, but as if she
were in the way.
1.-The will! show me the willr' 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 win
dow and examined it carefully. Wonderful
as under the circumstances was her self
command, one could hear the paper rustic
in her shaking hands. In moment she
faced us.
'sYou did not draw this wil?''
"No;' Mr.. Ford answered nervously, she
took, suppose. other advice. The. attesting
witnesses are Mr.. Warrington, who, you
may be aware, has chambers-had, should
say-with the SERGEANT, and the laundress,
who died some months ago. So it is evident
that it was made at chambers"
There was an uncomfortable silence for a
moment. Then Miss Chilling crossed the
room and rang the bell.
is Mr.. Humphreys still here?" 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 glance at the servant
and then at his unprepossesing follower.
NO" said Miss Chilling, imperatively.
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
1t were. ''please to examine this signature,
and tell me if it is your late master's.''
He 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 steadily into the fire. / fan
cy he saw there short law report, headed
SIN the matter of Charles Henry Ford, gen
tleman, one, etc., or it might be more
shortly, "In the matter of solicitor" As
for his clerk, l can answer for it, that no
heart in the room was going pit-a-pat like
his. How long Humphreys was porting over
it, At last he spoke, and then with tortur-
ing slowness.
s'Ah, that's his writing sure enough. God
bless him.
Then two of US drew such a sigh of re-
lief, as. well am at a loss for sufficiently
strong metaphor, but at any rate it was a
very deep sigh.
Mr.. Ford murmured few words of con-
dolence to the one lady and congratulations
to the other; and he and his clerk got them
selves 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
fnttering fan.
Upon my honor" Ford whispered to his
confidential clerk, as the door closed behind
them, 81 am almost afraid to leave them to-
gether."
will.n
'Why? what! you don't think she-?''
He stood still.
"The SERGEANT? No, 1 don't. I've seen
his doctor. She was first on the scene, that's
all; couple of hours before any one else, l
expect"
"What if our plan doesn't work? Fl ow
long are we to keep it up?'
A week wont do us harm; then if moth
ing turns up we must find out something
wrong with our previous document. But
don't think she is inclined to fight" And
the confidential clerk of Ford, Ford & Bittle
linked his arm with that of sour Mr.. Ford
with 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" I was greatly
surprised.
s'Show her in. Good graciousi How do
you do? Please to take seat, miss-ah,
yes, Miss Greathead. Very sad things have
happened since l saw you last" It was my
former visitor, the Serjeant's niece.
Yes, indeed; they are too fresh to be
spoken OF. have called to ask you ques-
ton, Mr.. Warrington, and am sure I may
trust to your discretion"
Absolutely l assented WARMLY
"Please do not think it an odd one. l
have reason. Do you remember witness
ing my uncle's signature about a year ago?"
"WellsI remember this much, that / did
SO, but don't think can tell you much
about II; as far as / can recall the matter,
Mrs. Coil was there. No one else, think.
If can help you any further, will think it
OUT
N'Thank you," she said, with half audi
BILE sigh, drumming softly on my table with
her gioved fingers. ''That is all, / think.
that l want to ask. Now / am here, |
should like to see my uncle's room for-for
the last time, Mr.. Warrington, if you
please
'Most certainly. Nothing has been dis
turbed since you were here" / led the way
into the room; she stood in the middle, and
looked round with a steady scrutinizing
gaze re-r
81 will leave you for moment,p said |.
considerably, and half closing the door,
stepped into my own room, and sat down.
to finish the Statement of Claim in Davey v.
Davey9-nothing of the kind, but executed
upon my hesrthrug a silent dance of trl-
umph that would have gained for me luc-
rative engagement at the Aquarium. After
i've minutes of this, | composed nv face
and went back to the old gentleman's room,
stumbling careessly over the mat as did SO.
She was still apparently standing exactly
where left her. 1t cost me all my self
command to avoid glancing round the ROOM
"Thank you, "-she said, sweetly. 81 am
SO much obligedto you. am very glad
came. You will not mention my visit?''
4 GU may depend upon my reticence," L
said, with bow, in which | fatter myself
that sincere personal devotion and an
oVerhowing appreciation of her affection for
for her uncle appeared to mngle. The mo
ment, however, that had got her ont of the
chambers, and the door closed behind her 7
sent Thomas off with a note and darted
back into the Serjeant's room. There stood
in the middle, where my visitor had stood.
and looked around me. There was melan-
choly tidiness everywhere. Quickly 1 open.
ed the drawers, cast my eye over them, felt
behind them; as expected, nothing. Then
procured chair and candle, and with a
minu.eness that wonld have done credit to
a Gouche, i looked along the top of row af-
ter row of the half-bound books, that on
three sides concealed the walls from floor to
ceiling. Two sides mad been examined be-
fore found what l had expected. Low
down between the fireplace and one of the
windows it was, almost within reach of the
writing table. Then sat down on the floor,
put the candle beside me, and took out my
watch.
Seven minutes passed before Thomas re-
turned, and some with him. | did not
move, but sung out:
Ford! here l am; come 10, and shut the
door,"