, 1886-08-17

AiC VI liz AIlcuus JhIuc6 otdlOTu, VINO
was a solicitor practising In the city. To
this gentleman the doctor handed over the
will Of the dead man, In accordance with
his promise, and, having formally intro
duced the lawyer to HIS new client, he
left Mrs. Burton and Mr.. Seaford to DIS
cuss business details in private. This
was the last occasion that, to his knowl-
edge, Dr.. Wynyard ever set eyes on Mrs.
Burton. He called upon her once when
she happened to be out, and q few days
Later the widow went down to Hastings
Tor change OF air and scene Contrary to
her expressed intention, h never re-
turned to town again The lawyer super
intended the sale OF her husbands furni-
ture and effects, and, As soon as the busi-
ness connected with his decease had been
settled, Mrs. Burton had left Hastings,
and the doctor never heard afterward
what became OF her.
When the memory Of the amiable
widow vas beginning to fade from his
mind DIR. Wynyard seriously congratu-
lated himself upon the abrupt termina-
ton OF their acquaintance He was q
prudent young man, and he could not con-
ceal from himself that to have married q
lady ten years his senior would havc been
unwise. Yet such had been his admira-
tion for Mrs. Burton that he considered
such an event might have happened had
the lady shown . disposition to regard
him fsvorably. The recollection Of his
lnfatuation made him often wonder where
the widow was living, and what her cir
cumstances were; and n day, about a
year later, he dined with his friend Sea
ford. and asked for information
II haven't the slightest notion what has
become OF her" said the lawyer. aShe
left Hastings without giving me her new
ad~dress-and, indeed, there was no occa-
sion She paid my bill" he added, laugh
ing.
Did her husband leave her pretty well
off" inquired the doctor.
mo, poor thingi He left nothing but a
policy OF assurance for $4,000 and u small
amount OF furniture" said the lawyer.
slipping his wine.
Three years passed, and DIR. Wynyard
prospered. A neighboring practitioner
died. and the young surgeon profited con-
siderably by the sad event. He married
a wife who Possessed a comfortable in
come, and, in short, he was generally re-
garded by his professional friends as an
enviable individual.
1t CHANGED that his wife had relations in
America, one Of whom died intestate.
This was about the time when the doctor
wal contemplating his annual holiday,
and 1t was suggested that he should cross
over to New York, INT combine business
with pleasure by looking after the rights
Of his wife's family in regard to the estate
Of the deceased relative. The doctor read
lily undertook the mission for the sake of
the trip, and, his wife having a horror of
a sea voyage, he rel alone.
DIR. Vineyards proceedings in America
do not concern us in any way, with the
exception of one trihing incident which
happened to him He had occasion to
consult a New York lawyer, a DR.. Weston,
who invited him to a dinner party at his
house. There were several other guests,
and in the course of the evening, at a
small reception that Mrs. Weston held
after the dinner, his host came up to him
and proposed to introduce him to q COM
patriot who had just arrived.
II has been making a boom upon our
bourse lately" explained the lawyer. ut
is said that he gained q, 900. 900 by a single
transaction last week. He has only been
here a year or two. and yet he makes
some of the knowing ones sit up"
What is his manner" inquired DR.. Wynn
yard. ..
Ambrose Tucker. He will be a million
aire."
The doctor was duly presented to a
quietlooking middle-aged Englishman in
gold spectacles. He was a small man,
wearing a scanty beard and mustache, and
inclined to badness. His appearance,
upon the whole, however, was rather pre-
possessing, and the doctor felt more in
clined to fraternize than Englishmen who
meet abroad usually do.
Mr.. Tucker, however, though perfectly
civil, did not respond to DR.. Vineyards
friendly advances. After exchanging as
few words as possible, he made an excuse
to move ~ the other side of the room, and
shortly afterward he took his departure.
The door had no sooner closed behind
him than the doctor, whose face wore a
perturbed expression, suddenly bright
ened up, and he addressed himself to his
host.
Do you know anything about Nj. Tuck
er's familyi" he inquired. HAS he a sis
terra Mrs. Burtonf"
Nobody knows much about Mr.. Tuck
er's family" said the lawyer, with a hui
morous expression. "He has left them
over the pond"
~ wish had thought to ask him." said
DR.. Wynyard; q he must be a brother of a
lady l once knew. never saw such an
extraordinary resemblance in my life
face, voice, eyes, and n event 1 could
not at first think what made his features
appear 80 familiar to me; but Pve just re-
membered whom he reminds me Of"
Oddly enough DR.. Wynyard was des-
tined to be remined of Mrs. Burton the
first thing on his arrival in England, just
as she had been brought to his recoliec-
ton the last thing before he left Amer
lea On the day he reached his home his
wife informed him that his friend, Mr..
Seaford, the lawyer, had been making
particular inquiries as to the date of his
return, and that same evening the lawyer
called.
Sorry to bother you, old fellow, immedi-
ately Upon your return, but some very
queer facts nave come to light concerning
that Mrs Burton you introduced to me
a few years ago." said the lawyer.
what Is the matteryv inquired DR..
Wynyard, with natural curiosity.
II had a visit while you were away
from two brothers of the late Mr.. Bur
tom said Mr.. Seaford. "They have never
heard Of his death until recently, and had
com up from Nottingham They found
his will at the probate office, and, as my
name was upon 1t, they came to me-"
aWhat about" asked the doctor.
@Well, in the first place. they disputed
the signature" said the lawyer; "but l
pointed out that you had witnessed 1t,
and that the signature of a sick man fire.
quently differs from his ordinary hand
writing"
Al saw him sign it, said the doctor, IN
h~esitatingly.
"Quite so; but then they took q more
ser. Gus objection. They declare their
brother was q widower."
sc he may have been onc For all l
know. this Mrs Burton was his second
wife. l dare say she WAS"
$50 ! suggested" said MI. Seaford, land