The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-17

then relapsed into silence.
For about twenty minutes he re
manned opposite to me, sometime
with his eyes closed, sometimes will
| them fixed upon me in the most un
| pleasant manner. All l1ny endeavor
/ to draw him into conversation failed
and after some time | gave them W
and itlso relapsed into silence.
Suddenly he rose from his sea-
! and drew from inside Of his over
coat a long and pointed knife, which
flashed ominousiy in the lamplight
Jack Lawson, we must both o.
us die tonight" said he, calmly and
deliberately, without any excite
ment of manner. II feel that the
time has cornefor us both to quit
this vale OF tears"
''Yes, | quite agree with you, Tom
Raven" | replied-seeing what had
happened=-inas as calm a voice as his
own. u have long thought that life
was becoming very undesirable
and, to leave it in your company
with You ,smy oldest, and warmest
friend, wouldcbe theTmost agreeable
thing tbatrcould happen. But-you
are not married, Tom,
"Thanlt heaven, mop
HRemembeE am married; and,
had YOU given me notice of this
wish of yours before starting !
would have made arrangements and
have spoken to my wife to prepare
her. Have you made your will?"
"No | have not"
Good heaven, man, not made
your will! Tom, it is absolutely
necessary for both of us to make
our wills before we die. | have not
made mine, and should not like to
leave the world with the chances of
my wife and child going to the
workhouse or to be chargeable on
the parish after my death. You
wish to leave your money to some
one in PARTICULARS it not SOP"
"Of course l should like to leave
my money properly--of course--yes!
| never thought of making my will"
"You must also remember, Tom,
that it would never do to die delib-
erately, in the way we both wish to
die, without leaving to the world
our reason for the act. You would
not wish your name to be a by-word
and be a cause of derision to any
one, / am sure; and | am certain l
don't wish my own to be so. There
fore, we must draw out our reasons
for dying"
"Do you know, Jack | never
thought of that?"
"Well, then, first put your knife
down on the cushion there, and then
we will set to work. I've plenty of
paper in my bag, and plenty of lead
In my pencil, and we've the whole
night before us"
A tremble of my hand, quiver
in my voice, would have been fatal.
| Iopened the bag and drew forth the
writing paper. The knife was on the
cushion at my side.
"Now, Tom, let us first state our
reasons to the world for wishing to
die tonight by our own hands. If
you will dictate to me your reasons
! will write them down, and then
we will revise and correct them.
After that | will dictate my own to
you and you shall write them. We
shall be able to do our work well
and quickly"
"Quite right Jack, we ought to
give them our reasons. How odd
that never thought of that! Let
me see: if l kill you first might
write them out afterward."
"Ah, but who will write out mine?
Don't he selfish, there's a good
chap"
'To be sure! Well, are YOU
ready?"
He began debating long and flow
cry sentences. Now and again | |
interrupted his flow of language to
gain time. This kept him thor
oughly occupied and interested, |
while the train sped on at express
rate. He had nearly finished his
ong, rambling dictation, when to
NY inexpressible delight, l felt the
speed of the train slackening. II
inew my chance of delivery was
lear.
"Read over for yourself what /
nave written | said to him. "The
.arriage is very close-a little fresh
Iir will do us good. | will make
my corrections you may require"
sat on the knife and reached
'ver to lower the glass. A slight
neeessited my rising to
manage better, and the knife was in
ny left hand concealed nnder nv
oat. | turned aroud to look at nv