Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-19

Mrs Johnson's property on the other hand,
IL he played the part of lover he commit
ted himself and gave her the materials for
breach. OF promise case should the good lady
die when his name only figured in her will,
and should he then turn his attention to Miss
Laquerton.
What, then, could he do2
The worthy Fox was bafied for the mo.
ment, but aftnr deep delberalion, he bit up
on a great idea which his chemical studies
suggested to him. Chuckling to himself, he
went 10 a chemists shop, purchased several
drugs, and mixed and remixed them till a
magnificent black ink was produced, which
had the grand advantage that in about ten
days after being committed to paper, it would
fade away, without leaving the slightest
trace.
Emboldened by the happy result Of his ex-
periments he became at once the most ten
der and Jealous correspondent any woman
could wish for. His letters, in fact, over
flowed with promises OF everlasting devotion.
Miss Nelly beamed with Joy for she was
now convinced how true and unsel6sh was
the attachment Of her admirer
Under such circumstances, it was not sur
prising that the German waters speedily did
Mrs. johnson 30 much good that her careful
nurse considered that the cure could be
shortened, and accordingly the couple re-
turned 10 England much earlier than had
been expected.
Whether, however, the waters had really
disagreed with the old lady, or something
else had upset her, was never quite clear, but
soon after their return to England, her health
and strength began seriously to fail. She
complained bitterly that Miss Nelly had in
duced her to undertake an unnecessary and
useless journey, and that ever since she had
neglected her altogether
The end OF it was, that one day, in the
height of her anger. she burnt the then ex-
istng will, and made Mr.. James Fox her sole
heir to everything she possessed. This de-
cision seemed to have exhausted her remain
ing energy, for she died not many days af-
ter.
Mr.. Fox, who had been appTsed of the
state of affairs by his partner aud friend, al
most lost his senses with Joy still his ex-
citement did not prevent his investing some
money in hatbands and Grape, and looking
as mournful as if the sorrows of the whole
world rested upon his shoulders.
Miss Nelly, too almost melted away in
tears, and could only be comforted by cher
jamie, as she now called Mr.. Fox. But
the latter seemed to have turned quite dull
with grief. He did not appear to understand
her at ALL and day by day as she became
more demonstrative, he grew less affection.
| ate.
The afternoon before the funeral, Miss
| Nelly was extremely broken hearted, and
amid her sObs, remarked how comfortable
and happy she bad always been with her late
| dear friend. To her astonishment Mr.. Fox
attempted TO comfort her by 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 Nelly's tears sudden
| ly dried up, and with eyes dilated with aston
ishment and anger, she cried at 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 such ideas but of late, l have grown
wiser. Everything alters in this world why
| then should not our opinions do the same
That is what We call progress.
Upon this he bowed and left Miss Nelly
crying and fainting in an armchair.
He did not hear any thing of her till few
days later, when a gentleman called upon
him, saying that he bad been intrusted with
Miss Nelly Browns affairs, and suggesting
that perhaps Mr.. Fox, before matters went
further, would prefer making some private
| arrangement about his breach of promise of
marriage with his client
And what proof of that promise has Miss
Brown, except her saying so 2" asked Mr..
| Fox.
"Ob," answered the young man, 81 have
seen q box full of letters from you"
"Have you read them ?" continued Mr.
Fox, sarcasticslly.
Not yet, replied the other "but have
seen the box"
"Well, you had better go and read them
first, before you take any further steps, and
if you can find single line from me to Miss
Brown / am willing to let her have ample
damages, without their being awarded by a
court of law"
There was something so diAbolicAl about
Mr.. Fox that the young defender of inno-
| cence found it best to retire for the present,
| leaving his opponent to rub his hands tri-
umphanily and build castles 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 serious
| ly thinking about
Miss Nelly had meanwhile been informed
of the conversation at Mr.. Fo1's office, and
with an indignant exclamation about ''such
incredible untruths," she went to fetch her
letter-bOx. There, sure enough, we're the
| letters all in little 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 pa
per without a single word on it, The willy
lawyer had evidently deceived her by some
demonacal 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 10 be read
but she rallied at last, hoping against hope
that it might still bs in her favor when she
could treat with scorn and contempt her
faithless lover and his paltry damages.
Mr.. Fox, although he considered himself
| already master of the house and everything
in 1t, felt considerably excited on the morn
ing of the day appointed for the reading of
the will, and when Mr.. Plumley, as chief ex-
ecutor, sat down and slowly got his specta-
| cles out, his junior partner became so faint
and his heart huttered to such an extent that
he fancied all bis 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 sus
pense so unbeArably long? Why did he con-
tnue to stare fret at the paper in his hand,
then at those around him, and then once
more at the paper without uttering a single
word aud then at last when he did speak,
why did he stammer, IL do not know |
see nothing-in fact, in this same paper,
| but"
| Gould ii 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, a white sheet
Good heavens With what ink did you
write out that will ?" burst out at last Mr..
| Fox
with what ink 2" repeated the old gem
tleman Indignantly, with your ink. As 1
found the inkstand up stairs dry, and the old
lady was in such a deadly hurry, rushed
down myself to get some, and seeing your
bag in the hall, 1 took from it the little ink.
stand which you always carry about"
Mr.. Fox turned deadly pale, and without
saying another word, vanished like his ink,
before any body had found time to ask for an
explanation. When the rest of the company
had composed themselves again, Mr.. Plum
ley said
~ know that the testatrx has destroyed
all former wills, 30 that there is none at all
in existence, and, by law, therefore, the
property will go to the next of kin. know,
also, that Mrs. johnson had no relatives
whatever except Miss Lizzie Roberts. She
is consequently sole heiress - London Truth.
|
| The best men, doing their best
| Know, peradVenture, least Of what they do.
| I've known the pregnant thinkers OF the time,
And stood by, breathless, hanging on their lips,
| When some chromatic sequence Of me thought
| Il mOdulatiOu