Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-09-09

upon great idea which his chemica
studies suggested to him. Chuckling tt
himself, he went to a chemists shop, pur
chased several drugs, and mixed and re
mixed them till a magnificent black ink
was produced, which had the grand ad
vantage that in about ten days after being
committed to paper it would fade away,
without leaving the slightest trace. EN-
boldened by the happy result of his exper
lments, he became at once the most tender
and Jealous correspondent any woman
could wish for. His letters in fact over
flowed with promises of everlasting devo'
ton. Miss Nelly beamed with joy; fol
she was now convinced how true and un
selfish was the attachment of her admirer
Under such circumstances it was moi
surprising that German waters speedily die
Mrs. johnson so much good that her care
ful nurse considered that the cure could be
shortened, and accordingly the couple re.
turned to England much earlier than had
been expected.
Whether, however, the waters had real.
ly disagreed with the old lady, or some
thing else had upset her, was never quite
Gear, but soon after their return to Eng
land her health and strength began seri
ously to fail. She complained bitterly thai
Miss Nelly had induced her to undertake
an unnecessary and useless journey, anG
that ever since she had neglected her alto
gether. The end of it was that one day,
in the height of her anger, she burnt the
then existing will, and made Mr.. Fox hel
sole heir to everything she possessed. This
decision seemed to have exhausted her re-
naming energy, for she died not many
days after
Mr.. Fox, who had been apprised of the
state of affairs by his partner and friend
almost 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 'hel
jamie" as she now called Mr.. Fox. But
the latter seemed to have turned quite dull
with grief. He did not appear to under.
stand her at all, and day by day as she be.
came more demonstrative he grew less af.
fectionate. The afternoon before the fu-
neral Miss Nelly was extremely broken
hearted, and amid her sobs remarked how
comfortable and happy she had been with
her late dear friend. To her astonishment
Mr.. Fox attempted to comfort her by say
ing with cool civility, ST hope you may
soon meet again with such a happy home
as you have had here till now."
On hearing this Miss Nelly's tears sud-
denly dried up, and with eyes dilated with
astonishment and anger, she cried:
SIT is you whom expect to make me
this happy homep'
Mr.. Fox, however, simply shrugged his
shoulders: 81 do not deny that I may have
once had such ideas, but of late I have
grown wiser. Everything in this world
alters; why then should not our opinions
do the same? That is what we call prog
ress.
Upon this he bowed and left Miss Nellie
crying and fainting in an arm chair.
He did not hear anything of her until a
few days later, when gentleman called on
him saying that he had been entrusted with
Miss Nellie Browns affairs, and suggesting
that perhaps Mr.. Fox, before matters went
further, would prefer making some ar
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," answers the young man, 'I have
seen box full of letters from you.''
''Have you read them?" continued Mr..
Fox, sarcastically.
'sNot yet," replied the other, "but 1
have seen the box"
"Well, you had better go and read them
first before you take any further steps, and
if you can find a single line from me to
Miss Brown 1 am willing to let her have
ample damages without their being award
ed 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
triumphantly 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 Gus-
titled in seriously thinking about.
Miss Nellie had meanwhile been inform
ed of the conversation in Mr.. Fox's office,
and with an indignant exclamation about
"such incredible untruths," she went to
fetch her letter box. There, sure enough,
were the letters, all in little packets, neat
ly tied up with blue and pink ribbons; but,
strange to say, she could not see any adj
dress; and, oh, heavens! when she undid
the packets they contained nothing but pa
per-all white paper without single word
upon it. The willy lawyer had evidently
deceived 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 it might still be in her favor,
when she could treat with scorn and con-
tempt her faithless lover and his paltry
damages.
Mr.. Fox, although he considered himself
already master of the house and everything
in it, felt considerably excited On the morn
ing 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 became
so faint and his heart fluttered to such an
extent that he fancied all his hopes and
beautiful castles in the air were crumbling
away as in 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 single word; and
then at last when he did speak, why did
he stammer: ''I-I do not know; see
fact, in the same paper, but"
Could it 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!
stGood heavens! with what ink did you
write out that with?" burst out at last Mr..
Fox.
''With what ink?" repeated the old gem
tleman, Indignantly, with your ink. As I
found the inkstand up stairs dry, and the
old lady was in such dreadful hurry,
rushed down myself to get some, and see
ing your bag in the hall, took from it the
little inkstand which you always carry
about
Mr.. Fox turned deadly pale, and with
out saying another word vanished like his
ink, before anybody had time to ask for an
explanation. When the rest of the COM
pany had composed themselves again, Mr..
Plumley said:
81 know that the testatrix has destroyed
all former wills, so that there is none at all
in existence, and, by law, therefore, the
will go to the next kin. I know,
also, that Mrs. johnson had no relatives
whatever except Miss Lizzie Roberts. She
is consequently sole heiress. .'-London
Truth.
Keep sweet your breath-if maid or wife,
Or old or young, or large or small.
If you have any hope in life,-