Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-09

saying with cool civility, 81 hope you
may soon meet again with such happy
home as you have had here till now."
On hearing this Miss Nellie's tears
suddenly dried up, and with eyes dila-
ted with astonishment and anger, she
cried, 'It is you whom l expect to make
me this happy home!'
Mr. Fox, however, simply shrugged
his shoulders, saying, 81 do not deny
that may have once had some ideas;
but of late have grown wiser. Every
thing alters in this world; why then
should our opinions not do the sameg
That is what we call progress"
Upon this he bowed, and left Miss
Nelly crying and fainting in an arm
chair.
He did not near anything of her rill
few days later, when gentleman called
upon him, saying that he had been en-
trusted with Miss Nelly Browns affairs,
and suggesting that perhaps Mr.. Fox,
before matters went further, would pre-
fer making some private arrangements
about his breach of promise of marriage
with his client.
"And what proof Of that promise has
Miss Brown, except her saying so:"
asked Mr.. Fox.
"Oh," answered the young man, Il
have seen box full of letters from
you"
"Have you read thems" continued
Mr.. Fox, sarcastically.
"Not yet," replied the other; "but |
have seen the box"
"Well, you had better go aud read
them first before you take any further
steps, aud if you can find single line
from ME to Miss Brown am quite will
ing to let her have ample damages with
out them being awarded by court OF
law"
There was something so diabolical
about Mr.. Fox that the young defender
of innocence found it best to retire for
the present, leaving his opponent to rub
his hands triumphantly and build cas-
ties in the air about the country seat,
and the horses and carriages, he was
going to buy in order to dazzle Miss
Laquerton, whom he felt justified in
seriously thinking about now.
Miss Nellie had meanwhile been in
formed of the conversation at Mr.. Fox's
office, and, with an indignant exclama-
ton about "such incredible untruths,"
she went to fetch her letter box. There,
sure enough, were the letters, all in lit
tie packets, neatly tied up with blue and
pink ribbons; but, strange to say, she
could not see an address, and, oh,
heavens! when she undid the packets
they contained nothing but paper-all
white paper, without a single word on
it. The willy lawyer had evidently de-
ceived her by some demoniacal trick.
The shock was so great to the poor
love-sick lady that she had scarcely the
courage to show herself when the Will
was to be read; but she rallied at last,
hoping against hope that II might still
be in her favor, when she could treat
with scorn and contempt her faithless
lover and his paltry damages.
Mr.. Fox, although he considered him
self already master Of the house and ev-
erything in it, felt considerably excited
on the morning of the day appointed for
the reading of the will, and when Mr..
Plumley, as chief executor, sat down
and slowly got his spectacles out, his
junior partner came over so faint aud
his heart futtered TO such an extent that
he fancied all his hopes and beautiful
castles In the air were crumbling away
as in a dream. Why did not his old
friend at once read the document? Why
did he make the suspense so unbearably
long? Why did he continue to stare first
at the paper in his hand, then at those
around him, and then once more at the
paper, without uttering a single word;
and then at last, when he did speak,
why did he stammer, "I-I-I do not
know; / see nothing-in fact, IL is the
same paper, but"
Could 1t be? Yes, sure enough, there
was the paper on which the will had
been made out, but there was nothing
upon it now; it was merely blank,
white sheet!
GOOD heavens With what ink did
you write out the will?" burst out at
last Mr.. Fox.
"with what ink?" repeated the old
gentleman, Indignantly. "with your
ink. As 1 found the inkstand upstairs
dry, and the old lady was In such
deadly hurry, / rushed down myself TO
get some, and seeing your bag In the
hall, took from IL the little inkstand
which you always carry about"
Mr.. Fox turned deadly pale, and,
without saying another word, vanished,
like his ink, before anybody had time TO
ask for an explanation. When the rest
Of the company had composed them
felves again, Mr. Plumley said:
81 know that the testatrix has de-
stroyed all former will, 50 that there is
none at all in existence, and, by law,
therefore, the property wills go to the
uext of kin. / know, also, that Mrs.
johnson had no relative whatever, ex-
cept Miss Lizzie Roberts. She Is con-
sequently sole heiress."
Asking a Little Too Much.