The Washington critic., 1885-08-25
MY YELLED CLIENT.

no very considerable practice, and
therefore not always so discreet as !
might have been had | been able to
pick and choose my clients. My bust
ness hours were ostonsibly from 10 to 3,
but the fact OF my house adjoining the
Office made me subservicnt to the wishes
of the public beyond the time stated on
the brass plate at my Office door. In
fact, it was generally after business
hours that my most profitable clients
came, and though can say | refused
many a time the agency of some
shady business, still | must confess
with regret that once or twice | found
myself unwittingly involved in trans
actions which | would have much
rather left alone. One of these | have
occasion TO remember too well, and !
can never think of it but thank Provi.
dcncc for saving me from becoming an
accomplish unwittingly in most auda
| cious piece of imposturc.
was interrupted one night ut tea by
the servant entering and saying that "A
| lady wished to see me. Hastily finish
ing the meal hurried into my business
room. AS | entered and bowed n lady
rose, made slight courtesy and re
manned standing. begged her to be
seated and asked Of what service |
could be to her. 1t was little time
before she answered, and then it was
in a nervous, frightened way, CHANGING
round the room rs If she were afraid
somebody else was present. | saw that
| although she was dressed in good style
| "a, ,,, Ia, ;, Of lnI,, I,,,t
she wore thick veil could not dis
tinguish her features, though | made
out gray hair here and there
81 suppose had better explain who
am and what | want, " she began. 81
am Miss Howard of Graham Square
and want you to make out my will"
| started voluntarily, for this elderly
person, though had never seen her
before, had been the subject of many
surmisc and many n gossip with the
neighbors. She was reported to be
very wealthy, but had apparently
abandoned the world, for, during the
last five years, she had shut herself up
in the house, seeing no one but her ser
wants. My curiosity was therefore
piqucd at the idea of making out this
old eccentric will. Taking up II pen,
| asked her to give me the particulars
of how she wished the property dis.
posed of.
THAT is very simple" she said. II
wish my whole property to go to Mr.
David Simpson of Stafford street, here.
| have never been married, and | want
the will framed SO rs to cut off any
heir who may claim relationship to me
| also wish you to act as my executor
in seeing my will carried into effect. +"
made note Of the instructions,
and asked when it would be convent
ent for her to call and sign the deed.
"lf you could have ii written out by
tomorrow night, could call then and
sign it. | would like if you could
arrange to have doctor present to be
Il witness to my signing-a young doc
tor, If possible"
Certainly, madam. Tomorrow
night at this time will suit, and will
arrange about doctor being present.
Is there nothing else you wish men
toned in the Will?
"No; nothing" she said, rising,
"but be sure you make it so rs to cut
off all relations.
| assured her everything would be as
Nuc utSlItN' anu ulltl uNolSsIlB ntI lulu
the cab which was waiting, noticing
the while that she had a slight limp in
her walk, retired to my study TO frame
the will in accordance with my in
structons. Next night, punctual to a
minute, she called, and as / had a doe
tor present the ceremony of signing
was soon over, the doctor signing as a
witness along with my clerk, and ap.
pending Il certificate of sanity, as de,
sired by my client; and the deed was
consigned to my safe,
The affair had almost completely
passed from my mind, when | was
startled one morning by receiving a
note from Mr.. Simpson, the lcgatcc in
the will, informing me that Miss How
ard was dead. | Immediately proceeded
to the house, performed the usual duties
dcvolying upon solicitor in such cir
cumstanccs, and made what arrange
mcuts were necessary After the flu
neral | had II meeting with Mr.
Simpson, and explained 10 him the pc
sition of anairs-that he was sole
legatcc, and that ! was executor, IL,
seemed to take the matter very coOlly
| thought but was anxious that every
thing should be realized rs soon rs pos
siblc. Our interview was very short
and | came away with strong feeling
Of dislike for the man, who, found
had acted rs sort of factor for the de
ceased lady.
Acting within the duties of my OK
cCutorship, aud also with desire t.
find out ii possible the relations the old
lady had been so anxious to cut oif,
inserted notice of her death in mos
of the leading newspapers in the king
dom. This had the desired effect fOl
in the course of few days | was waited
upon by n young gentleman, Edward
Howard, who informed me that hl
was a nephew of the late Miss How
ard and he had called upon me, hav
ing got my name and address from The
Office Of one of the newspapers /,
which ! had sent the advertisement
During my interview with Mr. Howard
was much impressed with his bear
ing on my telling him the position o.
affairs, as he was much more concern
cd nj his aunt's death than At the pUr
pose of her will. He told me that liz,
years ago he had married UTaiuS, hj.
Gunt's wishes she Ind refused to rec
ogniZc his wife, and though he In
written her several letters, he In.
never heard from her in reply. II
thanked me for my information, an,
said he would likely see me again, u
he was coming into town to situation
he had just been offered.
Some weeks after this, rs | was re
turning home in the evening from &
consultation, my attention was arre,te,
by the figure of IL woman in front o