Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-08-12
MR.. SMITHS WILL:
Aud How His Daughter Happened
to Get Married.

to Get Married.
Mr.. Augustus Nav was such a 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 it. Augustus had
failed to distinguish himself during his
scholaristic career, yet those who knew
him believed in him almost as much as
he believed in himself. He was a
brisk, bustling little youth, with high
falsetto voice and consequential man
ner. He had worn an eye-glass and
high shirt-collar from an early age, and
Mt seventeen he would have argued
theology with an Archbishop or dis.
cussed politics with Prime Minister.
When the time arrived for choosing a
profession Augustus unhcsitatingly de-
cided in favor of the bar. He had no
prcdllection for the law, but the career
of barristcr 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-Five. 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 coniided to The care
of Mr.. Retainer. the celebrated equity
draughtsman and conveyancer, whose
pupils. though depressing in n social
sense, always learned to draw particu.
larry neat pleadings and to turn out
legal instruments calculated to mvstify
the most intelligent layman.
Alter brief experience Augustus
began 10 hare dim idea that the goal
of his ambition was rather more diff
cult 10 reach than he anticipated. lie
reali@cd that plodding, hard work, per-
severence and ceaseloss study were es-
sentiai ingredients to the success of hi,
scheme. Now. Augustus was one of
those enterprising youths-there arc
many OF them about-who are In too
great hurry TO make n fortune TO be
able to give time to honest drudgerv.
lie did not exactly abandon the hone
oil reaching the Woolsack, but he re-
solved not to frittcr away his abilities
IN striving too much for II. He would
Keep II IN view as something worth
contending for, but ho felt that mean
while 1t would be as well not to lose
any opportunity Of advancement In
other directions.
Augustus had been very much struck
by the fact that, in the course of bnsi.
ness, the private affairs of "A GOOD many
people of wealth and distinction were
revealed. He was naturally of an m.
luisitive disposition, and he reyoled in
the surreptitious knowledge he acquired
IN this manner. Mr. Retainer had a
large connection among solicitors of
old standing with rich and aristocratic
clients. and, according TO custom, his
pupils were permitted to try their prem
uced hands in preparing the rough
uraits oil wills, marriage-settlements
aod deeds OF various Kinds. IL was
quite tantalizingto Augustus to be be-
hindthescenes, as IL were, aud to observe
the secret disposition of so many thou
sands OF pounds without profitinp
thereby. He did not see his way. how.
ever, to turn his experience 10 ac-
count; but the idea took possession of
him that in this direction he might ono
uay make discovery which he could
utilize TO his advantage.
Meanwhile, he grew utterly sick and
tired Of the law long before the wished
Tor opportunity arrived. But at length
ms urooping spirits were revived by
wat seemed to be a genuine prospect
Of acquiring fortune. One day there
was handed into the pupils room a
paper OF written instructions for the
VIII OF Mr.. John Smith. Of Hilldrop-
crescent, Camden town, who was rep
resented by well-known firm Of |
solicitors. Mr.. Smith appeared to be a |
gentleman of considerable wealth. for |
he owned whole terraces OF houses In
London. broad acres in the country, |
and Stock Exchange investments
galore. Augustus attention was at
tracted by two circumstances one of |
which was, that this Mr.. John Smith /
was neighbOr Of his uncle's with 1
whom he resided; and the other, that
the testator had an only daughter, TO
whom he had bequeathed nearly the
whole OF his wealth. From the fact
that Mr. John Smith resided in the un-
assuming locality Of Camden town IL
seemed probable that he was person
OF quiet tastes and habits, b whom il
would be easy To obtain an introduc-
tlon. This done, thought Augustus.
nothing would be simpler than TO in
gratiate himself with the old gentle
man. TO win The affections Of his
aud TO gain both her hand
and her fortune.
To tell the truth. this was not the l
first time that Augustus had cherished
dcsigN Of marrying heiresses whose
prosl ects he had learned in similar
INF, rtunatcly, in previous
rases the ladies had been Of exalted
rank and station, which rendered them
Disparity OF station
bad not prevented him, however from
making discreet advances. Like all |
snub noscd little men,
Augustus considered himself above
arery thing a lady-killer. When he
discovered that the Lady Angelina
tiixpowderpuff was the residuary lega-
lee under the viii Of her decrepit old
uncle. Lord Towzlepate. he had taken
immense pains 10 have her Ladyship
pointed ont 10 him, and had ogled her
b the park for whole season. Va
Tlous instances Of this Kind might bo
recorded ol hia cnlerprislng nature.