The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-08-13
MR.. SMITHS WILL:
Ard How His Daughter Happened
to Get Married

to Get Married
Mr.. Augustus Nav was such smart
young gentleman that his friends ex-
pected great things Of him. There are
some persons who possess the knack Of
inspiring confidence without doing any
thing to warrant il Augustus had
failed to distinguish himself during his
scholaristic career. yet those who knew
him believed in him almost As much IS
he believed in himself. He was .
brisk. busting little youth, with high
falsetto voice and conscque ntial man
ner. He had worn an eye-glass and
high shirt-collar from an early age. and
at seventeen he would have argued
theology with an Archbishop or dis.
cussed politics with Prime Minister.
When the time arrived for choosing =
profession Augustus unhesitatingly de-
cided in favor Of the bar. He had no
prediction for the law. but the career
Of barrister had the great attraction
Of leading to the Woolsack. Augustus
aimed high. but his ambition was not
out of proportion to his opinion Of his
abilities. He was allured by the pros
pect Of becoming Lord Chancellor and
Keeper OF the Queens Conscience.
Augustus had inherited from his par
ents small fortune. which he would
be entitled to receive upon attaining
twenty There was no difficulty,
therefore, about raising the premium
which was necessary to enable him to
have the run Of the chambers OF some
successful counsel. Accordingly the
aspiring youth was confidcd to the care
OF Mr.. Retainer. the celebrated equity
draughtsman and conveyanccr. whose
pupils. though depressing in a social
sense, always learned to draw particu.
larry neat pleadings and to turn out
legal instruments calculated TO mystify
the most intelligent layman.
After brief experience Augustus
began to have dim idea that the goal
Of his ambition was rather more diff
cult to reach than he anticipated. He
realized that plodding, hard work. per-
scverence and ceaseless study were es-
sential ingredients to the success Of his
scheme. Now. Augustus was one Of
those enterprising youths--there are
many Of them about-who are in toe
great hurry to make fortune to BIZ
able to give time to honest drudgcry.
He did not exactly abandon the hope
Of reaching the Woolsack. but he re.
solved not to fritter away his abilities
in striving too much for It. He would
keep Il in view as something worth
contending for, but he felt that mean
while II would be rs well not TO lose
any opportunity Of advancement II
other directions
Augustus had been very much struck
by the fact that, in the course Of bust
ness, the private affairs Off good many
people OF wealth and distinction werg
revealed. He was naturally Of an in
quisitive disposition, and he revcled in
the surreptitious knowledge he acquired
In this manner. Mr.. Retainer had I
large connection among solicitors d
old standing with rich and aristocratis
clients. and. according to custom, hi
pupils were permitted to try their prem
ticed hands in preparing the rough
drafts Of wills, marriagc-settlemcnt'
and deeds Of various kinds. II VA
quite tantalizingto Augustus to be be
hind the scenes. as u wcre, and to observe
the secret disposition Of 90 many thou
sands Of pounds without profitino
thereby. He did not see his way, how
ever. to turn his experience TO &C
count; but the idea took possession o
him that In this direction he might ONT
day make discovery which he coul(
utilize TO his advantage.
Meanwhile. he grew utterly sick ant
tired Of the law long before the wished
for opportunity arrived. But It length
his dropping spirits were revived b.
what seemed TO be genuine prospec
Of acquiring fortune. One day their
was handed into the pupils room
paper Of written instructions for th'
will Of Mr.. John Smith. Of Hilidrop
crescent. Camden town. who was rep
resented BY wcll-known firm o
solicitors. Mr.. Smith appeared 70 BE-
gentleman % considerable wealth. 10
he owned whole terraces Of houses Il
London, broad acres IN the country
and Stock Exchange Investment
galore. Augustus' attention w. q
orncted by two circumstances enc .
which was, that this Mr.. John OmitI
was . ncighbor % his uncless viii
whom be resided; and tho other, cha
che tostator had an only daughter, y
whom b had bcqueatkod nearly 81