The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-06

III OiiC ItloS VI MISS OlllibIi, UOWeY6I,
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 q 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-
vineed 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 yentured to take il into Mr.. Re-
tainer's sanctum. The learned CON
veyancer-struck, perhaps, by the I'M
wonted zeal of his least promising pu-
pil-g ood-naturedly put aside the pa
pers he was engaged upon. and in
yited Augustus to stand by while here
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, how ever, Augustus bore the
ordeal with edifying meekness, being
entirely preoccupied with the moment
Gus inquiries he desired to make.
When Mr.. Retainer, after good deal
contemptuous "pishing" and "pshaw-
ing" accompanied by vicious scratch
ings of his broai-nibbed pen, threw
the document aside, Augustus said,
rather awkwardly:
'Do you think the will is all right
sir?"
"All right? No; of course not. 1t
requires to be entirely redrawn. You
might have saved your time and
trouble, sir, as well as miner re
turned Mr.. Retainer, quite sayagely.
Il mean, do you think it is a hoax?"
continued Augustus, feeling very small
indeed
tsYou Lnou host s;.,,, oxo1o;,,,oJ
Mr.. Retainer, glazing at him.
81 was referring to the instruc-
tons, Augustus fastened to explain,
pointing to the document.
There is nothing the matter with
the instructions!' exclaimed Mr. Re-
tainer, staring at Augustus.
Il dare say not, as far as the solic-
itors are concerned" Augustus
blurted out
Zone of the oldest and most respect
able firms in London" interrupted
Mr. Retainer, indignantly. ''What on
earth are you driving at?''
''Well, | mean, do YOU think that
the testator has all the property to
leave that he speaks OPP said Au-
gustus, in desperation. 81 have
heard of cases of a man making a
sham will. y
'.Not through a firm like Tape &
Parchment cried Mr.. Retainer, quite
scandalized "What can have put
such a notion into your head?n
Nothing, except that the testator
lives in Camden town = Hilldrop-
crescent. 1 know Ailldrop-crescent
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 moment
and regarded Augustus through his
spectacles as though impressed by his
shrewdness. Augustus did not bear
the scrutiny very well, for reasons that
may be imagined.
'When youare older, Mr.. Nav, you
will learn that it is not always safe to
judge by appearances. he said, with a
smile.
Then you think, sir"
"Do not alarm yourself" interrupts
ed Mr. Retainer, turning impatientlv
to his work. ''Mr. Tape explained to
me the circumstances of the case. It
is all right
Mr.. Retainer dismissed Augustus
with nod us he finished speaking, and
the enterprising student left the room
with his doubts completely set at rest
1t seemed that Mr.. Retainer had Dri-
vate reasons for knowing that the will
was trustworthy, and he was not man
given to testing or to speaking without
proper means of knowledge. Angus
tus therefore resolved upon the spot to
obtain an Introduction to Mr.. John
Smith without moments delay.
Thisdid not prove more difficult than
he had anticipated; in fact, the details
of his conquest over the susceptible
heart of Miss Arabella Smith are too
commonplace to need describing. Suf-
flee it to say that Augustus fascinating
manners, his fashionable attire and
his performances upon the German
flute combined to render him irresisti-
BILE.
The Smiths turned out to be a re-
spectacle family, without the least pre-
tentions to gentility. 1t was evident
that Augustus was thenearest approach
to a gentleman they had ever been ac-
quainted with, and their qualification
at his polite attentions was undis-
.guised. No doubt the fact that he
very much exaggerated the amount of
his small fortune assisted to facilitate
his courtship. Old Mr.. Smith, from
the outset, seemed content with the
prospect of securing him for son-ia-
law; and when Augustus, after a COM
paratively short acquaintance, avowed
his passion for Miss Arabella
Smith, her father gave his consent
to the engagement without hesitation.
Augustus Was naturally elated by his
success, though the naive vulgarity
of Miss Arabella rather distressed
him. But she seemed a good, honest
sort of girl-not beautiful, certainly,
yet fairly epresentable. Compared
with the solid fact that she was an
heireSs, her trifiing defects weighed
very lightly with Augustus. The
crumpled rose-leaf which disturbed
his happiness was due to the ominous
behaviour of q rival Mr. Thaodara