The Washington critic., 1885-05-08

INQueftOn. Wnat, tuou, NC uu
The worthy Fox was bafiled for the mo-
ment, but after deep deliberstion he hit
upon 8 great idea which his chemical
studies suggested to him. Chuckling to
himself he went to chemists shop, pur.
chased several drugs and mixed and re-
mixed them till q magnificent black ink
was produced, which had the grand advant-
age that in about ten days after being conf
mitted to paper it would fade away, with
out leaving the slightest trace. Embold-
ened by the happy result of his expert
ments, he became at once the most tender
and Jealous correspondent any woman could
wish for. His letters, in fact, oyeraowed
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 IL was not sur
prising that the German waters speedily did
Mrs. johnson so much good that her careful
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 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 com planned bitterly that Miss Nelly had
induced her to undertake an unnecessary
and useless journey. and 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 existing will aud made
Mr.. James Fox sole heir to everything she
possessed. This decision seemed to have OK.
hausted her remaining energy, for she died
not many days after.
Mr.. Fox, who had been apprised Of the
.t.t &c Aas h,, a. h;s rfn nd f,i
almost lost his senses with Joy still his
excitement did not prevent him invest
ing some money in hatbands and Grape,
and looking as mournful as if the sorrow
of the whole world rested upon his shoul-
ders. Miss Nelly. too, almost melted away
in tears, and could only be comforted by
"her 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
she became more demonstrative he grew
less afiectionate. The afternoon before the
funeral Miss Nelly was extremely broken
hearted. and amid her sobs remarked how
comfortable and happy she had always been
with her late dear friend. To her astonish
ment Mr.. Fox attempted to comfort her by
saying with cool civlity, az hope you may
soon meet again with such 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 1T is
you whom / expect to make me this happy
home"
Dir. Fox, however, simply shrugged his
shoulders, saying: ~ do not deny that
may have once had such ideas; but of late
have grown wiser. Everything alters In
this world why then should our opinions
not do the same? That is what we call
progress"
Upon this he bowed and left Miss Nelly
crying and fsinting in an armchair.
He did not hear anything of her till 8
few days later, when gentleman called
upon him saying that he had been in
trusted with -Miss Nelly Browns affairs
and suggesting that perhaps Mr.. Fox, be
| fore they went further, would prefer max
| ing some private arrangement about hi
| breach of promise of marriage with hi
| client.
"And what proof of that promise ba
Miss Brown except her saying so p asked
Mr. Fox.
| "Oh," answered the young man, 81 hsv,
seen box full of letters from you
| "Have you read them" continued Mr.
Fox sarcastically.
mot YET replied the other; "but hsy
seen the box"
well, you had better 90 aud read then
first before you take any further steps an
if you can find single line from me t
Miss Brown am quite willing to let he
have ample damages without their bein
awarded by court of law"
There was something so diaboicsl abou
Mr.. Fox that the young defender of iuno
cence found it best to retire for the present
leaving his opponent to rub his hands trl
umphaptly and build castles in the al
about the country seat and the horses an
carriages he was going TO buy in order
dazzle Miss Laquerton, whom he felt just
tiedn seriously thinking about now.
Miss Nelly had meanwhile been informe
of the conversation at Mr.. Fox's office, anc
with an indignant exclamation about sue
incredible untruths," she went to fetch he
letter-box. There, sure enough, were tb
letters, all in little packets, neatly tied u
with blue and pink ribbons; but, straue
to say. she could not see an address an
oh, heavens when she undid the paoke
they contained nothing but paper-a
white paper, without single word on
The willy lawyer had evidently deceive
her by some demOniacal trick.
The shock was SO great to the poor Low
sick lady that she had scarcely the couraI
to show herself when the will was to
read but she rallied at last, hoping again
! hope that it might still be in her favO
when she could treat with scOrn and col
tempt her tathless lover and his paltl
dam3ges.
Mr., Fox, although he considered himse
already master of the house aud everythil
{ in it, felt considerably excited on the NOR
; ing of the day appointed for the reading
, the will, and when Mr.. Plumley, as chi
executor, sat down and slowly got
spectacles out his junior partner cat
) over 80 faint aud his heart fiuttered
such an extent that he fancied all
:, hopes and beautiful castles in the air we
? crumbling away as in a. dream. Why d
0 not his old friend at once read the doc
0 ment? Why did he make the suspense
4 unbesrably long Why did ne continue
4 stare first at the paper in his hand, th
Q at those around him, and then once INC
= al the paper without utteriug single wol
o and then at last when he did speak, WI
a did he stsmmer IL do not know; {
n nothing-in fact II is the sams pap
j. but
j. Gould il be Yes, sure enough, the
# was the paper on which the will had be
a made out, but there was nothing upon
:, now il was merely blank, white shst
3 "Good heavens With what ink did ,
9 write out that will p burst out at last
a Fox.
with what ink ~ repeated the old g,
0 tleman Indignantly with your ink A
II found the ink k.stand upstairs dry, and
Is old lady was 10 such D deadly hurry,
q rushed down myself to get some, aud 8
1t ing your bag in the hall, took from ID
o little ink-staud which you always ca
d about"
o Mr.. Fox turned deadly pale, aud WithC
p saving another word vanished, like,