Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-25

| the important document. This method
Of instruction was particularly CALLING
10 Augustus, for Mr.. Retainer was 90.
customed to make mincs-mest Of hii
pupils youthful efforts, and was cruel
| IL frank in his criticisms. On this co.
casion, however, Augustus bore the
ordeal with edifying meoknoss, being
entirely preoccupied with the momsn.
tous inquiries he desired to make.
When Mr.. Retainer, after . good deal
Of "pishing" and "pshawing," &C.
companied by vicious scratchings Of
his broad-nibbed pen, threw the docu'
ment aside, Augustus said, rather
awkwsrdly:
"Do you think the will is all right,
sir?"
"All right? No; Of course not.
II requires TO be entirely redrawn. You
might have saved your time and trou'
BILE, sir, as we'll as mine" returned Mr..
Retainer, quite savagely.
81 mean, do you think 1t q hoax "
continued Augustus, feeling very small
indeed.
"You know best, sir " exclaimed
Mr.. Retainer, glsring at him.
"Iwas referring TO the instructions"
Augustus fastened to explain, pointing
TO the document,
"There is nothing the matter with
the instructions " exclaimed Mr.. Re-
tainer, staring ut Augustus.
81 daresay not, as far as the So
licitors are concerned" Augustus
blurted out.
"ODe of the Oldest and most re-
spectacle 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 be speaks OFF" said Angus
tus, in desperation. 81 have heard Of
cases Of q man making sham will"
"Not through firm like Tape &
Parchment" cried Mr.. Retainer, quite.
scandalized. What can have put
such an idea into your head?"
Nothing, except that the testator
lives in Camden Town-lIilldrop- Cres-
cent. know Hillsdrop- Crescent slight
Iy," added Augustus hastily. "They
are comparatively small houses, and
the neighborhood is not fashionable"
Mr.. Retainer looked rather amused.
lie 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 you are older, Mr.. Nav, you
will learn that it is not always safe to
judge by appearances, he said, with
smile.
"Then you think, sir?
"Do not alarm YOURSELF" interrupt
cd Mr.. Retainer, turning impatiently to
his work. "Mr. Tape explained to me
the circumstances Of the case. 1t is all
right"
Mr.. Retainer dismissed Augustus
with nod as he finished speaking, aud
the enterpIising student left the room
with his doubts completely Sc. at rest.
1t seemed that Mr.. Retainer had private
reasons for knowing that the will was
trustworthy, and he was not man given
TO testing, nor to speaking without pro-
per means Of knowledge. Augustus
therefore resolved upon the spot to OBJ
tain an introduction to Mr.. John Smith
without moments delay.
This did not prove more difficult than
he had anticipated (; 10 fact, the details
Of his conquest over the susceptible
heart Of Miss Arabella Smith are too
commonplace to need describing. Suf-
fee it to say that Augustus's 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-
tension to gentility. Ii was evident
that Augustus was the nearest approach
to a gentleman they had ever been &C.
qusinted 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
courtsbip. Old Mr.. Smith from the
outset seemed content with the pros
pect Of securing him for son-in-law
and when Augustus, after compare
lively short acquaintance, avowed his
passion for Miss Arabella Smith, her
father gave his consent to the engage
ment without hesitation.
Augustus was naturally elated by
his success, though the naive vulgaritY
Of Miss Arabella rather distressed him.
But she seemed q good, honeet sort of
girl--not beautiful certainly, yet fairly
prosentable. Compared with the solid
fact that she was an heiress, her trihing
defects weighed very lightly with Au-
gustus. The crumpled rose-leaf which
disturbed his happiness was due to the
ominous behavior Of a rival, Mr.. TheO-
dore Brittlebone, whose attentions until
Augustus had appeared upon the scene
seemed to have been favorably received
by Miss Arabella.
Mr.. Theodore Brittlebone was gaunt
and gloomy youth, whose avocation
was something in the hardware line.
Bitter enmity not unnaturally arose be-
tween him and Augustus, which re-
suited in Mr.. BriLtlebone being re-
quested by old Mr.. Smith to discon-
,inue his visits when Mss Arabella's
engagement was announced. AIR. Brit
tlebone accordingly withdrew his So
ciety, but he haunted the house like a
shadow. lie waylaid Augustus in the
streets, sccosting him with mock polite.
ness, and accusing him Of triiling with
Miss Arabella'S affections. Occasionally
his conduct became violent, and he once
actually challenged Augustus to fight it
out like a man beneath lamp.post.
This unruly behavior and persistent
persecution began to prey upon the
nerves Of Augustus, who, in addition
to being little man, was not addicted
to pugilism. He was psinfully con-
scious that he was no match for the
bellicose Mr.. Brittlebone, and he was
seriously apprehensive for his personal
safety. But what worried him even
more was that his rival cast doubts
| aapap Tho axiStaNca nf old NJ Saith a