Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-08-26

tftIJ WING lduy-kllIcT. w Hcu ue
discovered that the Lady Angelina
Fitzpowderpuff was the residuary lega-
tee under the will of her decrepit old
uncle, Lord Towzlepate, he had taken
immense pains to have her Laiyship
pointed out to him, and had ogled her
in the park for whole season. Va
rious instances of this kind might be
recorded of his enterprising nature,
but it would be depressing to chronicle
a series of dismal failures. Augustus
had borne his ill-luck with equanimity,
convinced that it was lack of oppor-
tunities alone which had prevented
him from making conquests.
In the case of Miss Smith, however,
no obstacles of an insurmountable kind
seemed to exist. Augustus, with his
native sanguineness, therefore regarded
her fortune as practically within his
grasp. That very evening, in fact, on
his return to his uncle's house in Cam
den town, he commenced to make dis
Greet inquiries about the Smith family.
Not word did he breathe of Mr..
Smith fortune, and he was the more
cautious because it seemed that the ex-
tent of it was not generally known,
But he learned sufficient to feel con-
WINGED that the old gentleman was a
wealthy miser He was described as a
taciturn and rather eccentric person,
who had resided many years in Hill
drop-crescent with his daughter and a
maiden sister. He was supposed to be
comfortably off, for he paid his way
and lived at his ease, but he was GER
tainly not suspected of being million
aire.
Augustus wisely determined to look
well before he leapt in this instance,
and he therefore set to work to ascer-
tain whether Mr.. Retainer knew any
thing about Mr.. Smith and his affairs.
Accordingly he laboriously prepared
the draft of Mr.. Smiths will himself,
and ventured to take it into MIR. Re-
tainer's sanctum. The learned con.
veyancer- struck, perhaps, by the un-
wonted zeal of his least promising pu,
il-good-naturedly put aside the pa
pers he was engaged upon. and in.
vited Augustus to stand by while he re.
vised the important document. This
method of instruction was particularly
CALLING to Augustus, for Mr.. Retainer
was accustomed to make mincemeat Of
his pupils youthful efforts, and was
cruelty frank in his criticism. On this
occasion, however, Augustus bore the
ordeal with edifying meekness, being
entirely preoccupied with the moment
Gus inquiries he desired to make
When Mr.. Retainer, after good dea
contemptuous "pishing' and "pshaw
ing" accompanied by vicious scratch
ings of his broad-nibbed pen, threw
the document aside, Augustus said
rather awkwardly:
"Do you think the will is all RICH
sir?"
"All right? No; of course not
requires to be entirely redrawn. You
might have saved your time ant
trouble, sir, as well as Miner re
turned Mr.. Retainer, quite savagely.
II mean, do you think it is a hoaxp'
continued Augustus, feeling very small
indeed.
"You know best, sir" exclaimed
Mr.. Retainer, glaring at him.
81 was referring to the instruc
tions," Augustus fastened to explain
pointing to the document.
"There is nothing the matter will
the instructionsI' exclaimed Mr.. Re
| tainer, staring at Augustus.
81 dare say not, as far as the solic
itors are concerned" Augusta
blurted out.
Zone of the oldest and most respect
able firms in London" interrupted
Mr.. Retainer, Indignantly What OF
earth are you driving at?'
"Well, l mean, do you think tina
the testator has all the property t,
leave that he speaks OFF" said Au
gustus, in desperation. 81 hav
heard of cases of a man making
sham will"
''Not through firm like Tape I
Parchment" cried Mr.. Retainer, quit
scandalized. What can have pu
such q notion into your headp"
Nothing, except that the testato
lives in Camden town - Hilldrop
crescent. know Hilldrop-crescen
slightly" added Augustus, hastily
"They are comparatively small houses
and the neighborhood is not fashion
able. "
Mr.. Retainer looked rather amused
He leaned back in his, chair momen
and regarded Augustus through hi
spectacles as though impressed by hi
shrewdness. Augustus did not bea
the scrutiny very well, for reasons ths
may be imagined.
"When you are older, Mr.. Nav, yo
will learn that it is not always safe t
judge by appearances. he said. with
smile.
Then you think, sir"
ado not alarm yourself" interrupt
ed Mr.. Retainer, turning inpatient
to his work. ''Mr. Tape explained t
me the circumstances of the case.
is all right"
Mr.. Retainer dismissed Augusta
with nod as he finished speaking, an
the enterprising student left the ROOF
with his doubts completely set at res
1t seemed that Mr.. Retainer had Or
vate reasons for knowing that the wi
was trustworthy, and he was not ma
given to testing or to speaking withor
proper means of knowledge. Augu
tus therefore resolved upon the spot [
obtain an introduction to Mr.. job
Smith without moments delay.
This did not prove more difficult tina
he had anticipated; in fact, the detail
of his conquest over the susceptib
heart of Miss Arabella Smith are to
commonplace to need describing. Su
flee it to say that Augustus fascinatin
manners, his fashionable attire an
. his performances upon the Germa
{ flute combined to render him irresis,
Bile.
: The Smiths turned out to be a r
/ spectacle family, without the least pr
tentions to gentility. 1t was evidel
5 that Augustus was the nearest approaC
: to gentleman they had ever been a
I quainted with, and their gratifcatic
, | ot he ,al,to 80.