The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-18
MIR. SMITHS WILL:
And How His Daughter Happened
to Get Married.


young gentleman that his friends ex-
pccted 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
scholarstic career, yet those who knew
him believed in him almost as much as
he believed in himself. He was q
brisk, busting little youth, with a high
falsetto voice and conseque ntial man
ner. He had worn an cyc-glass and
high shirt-collar from an early age, and
al seventeen he would have argued
theology with an Archbishop or dis.
cussed politics with Prime Minister
When the time arrived for choosing q
profession Augustus unhesitatingly de-
cidcd in favor of the bar He had no
prediction 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
ont 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 a 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 coniidcd to the care
of Mr.. Retainer, the celebrated equity
draugttsman and coDveyancer, whose
pupils. though depressing in social
sense, always learned to draw particu.
larly neat pleadings and to turn out
legal instruments calculated to mystfy
the most intelligent layman.
After brief experience Augustus
began to have dim idea that the goal
of his ambition was rather more diff
cult to reach than he anticipated. He
realized that plodding, hard work, per-
severance and ceaseless study were es-
scntial ingredients to the success of his
scheme. Now. Augustus was one of
those cnterprising youths-there are
many of them about-who are in too
great hurry to make fortune to be
able to give time to honest drudgery.
He did not exactly abandon the hope
of reaching the Woolsack, but he re-
solved not to frittcr away his abilities
in striving too much for it, He would
keep it in view rs something worth
contending for, but he felt that mean
while it would be as well not to lose
amy opportunity of advancement in
other directions
Augustus had been very much struck
by the fact that, in the course of bust
ness, the private affairs of n good many
people of wealth and distinction were
revealed. He was naturally of an in
quisitive disposition. and he reveled 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
ticed hands in preparing the rough
drafts of wills, marriage-settlemen
and deeds of various kinds. 1t was
quite tantalizingto Augustus to be be.
hind thescenes, as it were, and to observe
the secret disposition of so many thou
sands of pounds without proiiting
thereby. He did not see his way, how.
ever, to turn his experience to &C.
count; but the idea took possession OF
him that in this direction he might one
day make discovery which he could
utilize to his advantage.
Meanwhile, he grew utterly sick and
tired of the law long before the wished
for opportunity arrived. But at length
his. dropping spirits were revived by
what seemed to be genuine prospec,
of acquiring fortune. One day there
was handed into the pupils room a
paper of written instructions for the
will 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.
racted by two circumstanccs-one OF
which was, that this Mr.. John Smith
was a neighbor of his uncle's with
whom he resided; and the other, that
the testator had an only daughter, IL
whom he had bequeathed nearly the