The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-09-23
SELECTED.
MY YELLED CLIENT.

very considerable practice, and therefore
not always so discreet as | might hav,
been had been able to pick and chooS,
my clients. My business hours were os
tcnsibly from ten to five; but the fact o
my house adjoining the Office made M
subseryicnt to the wishes Of the publ,
beyond the time stated ON the brass plat
at my Office door, In fact, 1t was gener
ally after business hours that my profit
able clients came; and though can say
refused many time the agency of som,
shady business, still must confess will
regret that once or twice found mysel
unwittingly involved In transactions
which would have much rather lief
alone. One of these | have occasion t,
remember too well, and | can never thinl
of it but thank Providence for savin.
me from becoming an accomplish unwit
timgly in Il most audaciouS piece of i'm
posture.
WAS interrupted one night at tea b,
the servant entering and saying that {
lady wished to see me. Hastily tlnishin.
the meal | hurried into my business
room. As entered and bowed, lady
rose, made a slight courtesy, and remain
ed standing. begged her to be seated
and asked of what service could be tt
Htl. II Wis Iillt iliiit Itlbit Siit
swered, and then it was in nervous
frightened way, glancing round the room
as if she were afraid somebody else was
present saw that, although she was
dressed in good style, She had not the nil
of lady. but as she wore thick veil,
could not distinguish her features, though
made out a gray hair here and there.
Il suppose had better explain who
am and what | want" she began. II an
Miss Howard of Graham Square and
want you to make out my will
started involuntarily, for this elderly
person, though had never seen her be-
fore, had been the subject of many Il sur
mise and many Il gossip with the neigh
bors. 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 her house. see
ing no one but her servants. My curiosi'
ty was therefore piqucd at the idea OF
making out this old eccentric's will
Taking up pen, asked her to give me
the particulars of how she wished the
property disposed Of
That is very simple" she said. IL
wish my whole property to 20 to Mr.. Da'
vid Simpson of Stafford Street here.
have never been married Nnd want the
will framed so as to cut off any heir who
might claim relationship to me. | also
wish you to act as my executor in seeing
my will carried into effect"
| made n note of the instructions, and
asked when it would be convenient for
her to call and sign the deed.
"If you could have it written out by to-
morrow night, could call then and sign
it, | would like if you could arrange to
have a doctor present to be witness to
my sgning-a young doctor, If possible
"Certanly, madam. Tomorrow night
at this time will snit, and ! will arrange
about the doctor present. Is there moth
ing else you wish to mentioned in the
will
NO; nothing" She said; rising. ''But
be sure You make it so as to cut off all re-
lations."
assured her everything would be a>
she desired and after assisting her into
the cab which was waiting, noticing the
while that she had n slight limp in hci
walk, retired to my study to frame the
will in accordance with my instructions
Next night, punctual to a minute, she cal
led, and, as had doctor present, the
ceremony of signing was soon over, tho
doctor signing as witness along witt
my clerk and appending certificate OF
sanity, as desired by my client; and the
deed was consigned to my safe.
The affair had almost completely passet
from my mind, when l was startled ON,
morning by receiving Il note from Mr.
Simpson, the lcgatee i'll the will, inform
ing me that Miss Howard was dead.
Immediately proceeded to the house, per
formed the usual duties devolving upon
solicitor in such circumstances, ant
made what arrangements were necessary
After the funeral. | had 4 meeting will
Mr.. Simpson, and explained to him thu
position of atiairs-that he was sole lega
tee, and that | was executor. lie seemed
TO take the matter very coolly, | thought
but was anxious that everything should
be realized as soon a. possible our IN
teryiew was very short and came ava.
with strong feeling of dislike for tn
man. who found, had acted as sort o
factor for the deceased lady.
Acting within the duties of my cXecu
tionship. and also with II desire To iin'
out if possible the relations the old lad
had been so anxious to cut off, | inserted
notice of her death in most of the lead
ing papers in the Kingdom, This had tn
desired effect; for in the course of fey
DAYS | was waited upon by a young gen
tlcman. Edward Howard, who INFORMED
me he was nephew of the late Mis-
Howard. and had called upon me, haNin!
rot nv name and address from the ONO
of one of the newspapers to which ha
sent the advertisement. During my III
tcryjcw with Mr.. Howard, | was muc
IMPRESSED with his bearing on my telling
him the position of affairs, as he wa
much more concerned at his aunt'S deaf
than at the purpose of her will. lie toll
me that five years ago he had marrlc
against his aunt's wishes; she had refuN
ed to recognize his wife; and though h
had written her several letters, he ha
never heard from her in reply. He thank
ed me for my information, and said h
would likely see me again, as he was CON
| ing into town to II situation he had jus
been offered.
Some weeks after this, as was return
ing home in the evening from a consut'
ton, nv attention was arrested by tn
figure of woman in front of me. Sl
was hurrying along as If trying to escap
observation; but there was something
her style and the limp which she had, this
struck me as familiar, though | could NJ
remember where l had seen her. just q
she was passing lighted part of the stree
she happened to look round and the fac
saw at once explained to me Il
familiarity Of her figure-both face al
figure being an exact counterpart Of II
late clients, Miss Howard SOuohow