News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-11-18


COL. TREMAYNE'S WILL.
Mr.. Bold, the solicitor, found among
the correspondence on his office desk
one morning, letter bearing an Egyp
tian postmark 1t turned out to b. {
communicat on from a stranger, inform
ing him of the death in the Soudan of 6
Colonel Ernest Tremayne, ana remind
ing the lawyer that the will of the de-
ceased was in his possession.
'Ahai" exclaimed Mr. Bold, glancing
at the inscription. ''Will of Mr.. Ernest
Tremayne, Ell! Dated sixteen years ago.
Executor, Mr.. J. Rosseter."
cap ain Rosseter, l know the man, -
exclaimed Mr. Bold. az forgot what
I've heard of him, but fancy his repu-
tatiOn is little tarrished. So he is the
executor, is he2 Oh! a very doubtful
character-quite an adventurer, in
fact" said Mir Bold, looking more and
more scandalized. Il wonder what the
will says, " he added.
Under the circumstances he felt no
scruple about opening the envelope and
unfolding the will And glancing at its
contents, he said aloud:
''He appoints his friend, James Ros-
setter, executor, and trustee and guard
ian OF his infant daughter. Everything
to the child"
Not much of an executor and trus-
tee, observed Mr. Bold's clerk, Whit
taker, disparagingly. ga nice sort of
guardian for young lady,"
I'm afraid this is very serious. Whit
taker." said Mr. Bold, looking per
turbed- 81 had entirely forgotten about
this will, or would certainly have sug-
gested to the testator to make another
He made it when quite a young mani
recollect now his telling me his wife
was just dead without sufficient reiec-
tion as to the character of his friend. In
those days l dare say there was nothing
against this young Mr. Rosseter."
Mr.. Bold was one of those old fash
ioned, fussy, self important practitioners
who are a. t to assume sort of paternal
authority over their clients. But he
was extremely honest and conscientious,
and his main IDEA was to promote the
welfare of those who consulted HIM.
He had for some years past, heard ru-
mors concerning Captain Rosseter, which
he now considered he ought clearly to
have brought to the testator's knowledge.
1t was true that he was not personally
acquainted with the captain, and could
not vouch for the accuracy of the scan
dals that had come to his ears. But he
knew Captain Rosseter TO be an impe-
Cunious gentleman, addicted to betting
and gambling, club lounger, without
visible means of subsistence; a loud
voiced, jovial, easy-going, dissipated
person, of type regarded by grave
men of business with horror and dis
trust.
The old lawyer fidgetted a good deal
during the day, nor was his uneasiness
allayed by the report of his clerk of his
interview with Messrs. Overland & Co.,
the army agents. From these gentle
men he had learned that Colonel re-
mayne had contrived to amass a con-
siderable fortune during his exile and
had remitted home for investment from
time to time sums amounting in the ag
grega;e to nearly 600, 600. Whitaker
could obtain no information regarding
the daughter of the deceased man. Col
onel ] 1remayne's agents reCollected that
they used at one time to pay for the
child's schoolin Z at Brighton, but this
was many years ago, and, at the present
moment, they knew nothing whatever
about the young lady.
''She can't be of age yet," remarked
Mr.. Bold. 'My recollection is that when
the will was made the child was baby.
That was the impression l gathered at
the time"
'The young lady may have died."
suggested Whitaker. 1T doesn't fol-
low that she is still alive because the
testator did not alt er his will"
''There is one thing quite certain"
said Mr.. Bold, with emphasis: Captain
Rossiter must not be allowed to have
the handling of eco, 900. He must re-
nounce, and the money must be paid in
to court, which will appoint a proper
guardian. Did you find out his ad-
dress2'
''Blenheim Club" responded Whit
taker.
''Humphl" snorted Mr.. Bold, seizing
bis pen.
However, he wrote polite note to the
captain, informing him of Colonel Ire
mayne's ceath, and requesting him to
call on the following morning with re-
ference to the will.
Mr.. Bold was very determined to have
his own way, and he felt very lit G
doubt that he would succeed. Conse-
quently, when Captain Rossetter called
the next day, he received him with an
air of calm assurance and superiority
which was calculated to lend weight to
his counsels.
Captain Rosseter," he said little
stiffiy, as his visitor seated himself in
the clients chair, 81 want to have
chat with you about our poor friends
will. Had you heard of his death, by
the way2"
eyes" said the captain, who seemed
somewhat subdued and ill at ease in the
presence of the lawyer.
''Ahl What was it2 That dreadful
climate, suppose2" inquired Mr. Bold,
quietly taking stock of his companion.
"Now this is very unsatisfactory doc
ument," he added, in a confidential
tone. ''To begin with, it is sixteen
years old. Extraordinary that the tes-
tator should not have changed his views
in sixteen years"
Mr. Bold glanced up at Captain Ros-
setter as he spoke; but the latter either
had nothing to say or else did not choose
10 COMMIT himself 10 an Oplnion. hS
remained silent, and Mr.. Bold instinc-
lively mistrusted him the more on &C
co mt of his reticence.
'By his will, made sixteen years ago."
said the lawyer. meanIngly, "the tesla
tor left everything he possessed to his
daughter, and appointed you sole ex-
ecutor and trustee and guardian of his
child"
The lawyer looked keenly at his com
panion as he made this announcement,
and felt puzzled at his demeanor. The
captain hung bis head for a moment and
then blew his nose violently. One would |
almost have imagined that he was sen
tmentaliy affected by the news. But |
the lawyer, being in suspicious mood, |
was chiefly struck by the fact that Cap