The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-14
CHAPTER XVII.
now AUGUSTA WAS FILED.

| TO Lady llolmhurst house IN hanover
SQUARE. to tell his dear Augusta that she
must attend on the following morning TO
be fled ia the registry at Somerset House.
As NAV be imagined, though willing to 60
any reasonable length TO obligc her new
found lover. Augusta not unnaturauy re-
sisted this course violently, and was sup
ported in her resistance by her friend
LADY Holmhurst who, however, presently
left the room, leaving them TO settle it as
they liked.
Il do think that is little hard, said
Augusta, with a stamp Of her foot, that,
after all that | have gone through, |
should be taken off to have my unf0rtu-
nate back stared at by doctor some one
or other, and then be shut up with lot
of musty old wills in q registry"
"Well, my dearest girl, said Eustace,
"either Z must be done or else the whole
thing mast be given up. Mr.. John Short
declares that il is absolutely necessary
that the document should be placed in the
custody Of the officer of the court.
But how am going to live in a cup
board or in I'll iron safe with lot OF
willsf' asked Augusta, feeling very cross
Il don't know, am sure, said Eustace;
"Mr John Short says that that is mat
ter which the learned doctor will have to
settle. His own opinion is that the learned
doctor-confOund himl-will order that
you should accompany him about wher-
over he goes till the trial comes off, for,
you see. in that way you would never be
out of the custody of an officer Of the
court. But, went on Eustace, gloomily,
all | can tell him. if he makes that
order, is, that if he takes You about with
/ him he will have TO take me- too"
why said Augusta.
"Why2 Because | don't trust him
that's why. Oldl oh, yes; dare say he
IS old. And besides, just think, this
learned gentleman has practiced for
/ twenty years in the divorce court Now,
/ | ask you what can you expect from 4
/ gentleman, h0wev.r learned. who has
practiced for twenty years in the divorce
court? ! know him, went on Eustace,
vindictiyoly-"I know him. He will fall
! in love with YOU himself. Why, he would
/ be an old duifcr if he didn't
Really" said Augusta, bursting out
laughing; you are too ridiculous, Eus-
! tscc"
Il don't know about being ridiculous,
/ Augusta; but if you think / am going 10
let you be marched about by that learned
doctor without my being there 10 look
after YOU, you are mistaken Why, Of
course lie would fall in love with you; no
/ body could be near YOU Tor couple Of
days without doing 20.
DO You think sO,' said Augusta look
! ing at him 50 sweetly that a wave of hap
piness passed Though him.
Yes. do, lie answered, and thus the
conversation cane to an end and was not
resumed till d.nner time.
On the following morning at II o'clock
I Fustacc, who mad managed 20 get few
days leave from his employers, arrived
with Mr. John Short 10 take Augusta and
/ Lady Misunderstanding was going 70 cha
peron her-to Somerset House, whittier,
notwithstanding her objections Of the
previous day. she had a. last consented
to go.
Mr.. Short was introduced, and much
| impressed both tho ladies by the extraor-
binary air Of learning and command
which was stamped upon his countcnanco.
/ He wanted TO inspect the will at once;
but Augusta struck at this saying that u
would be quite enough TO have her shout
! ders stared ut once that day. Nitha sign
and q shake Of the head at her unrea-
sonableness Mr.. John Short submitted,
and then the carriage came round and
they were all driven of 10 Somerset
House. Presently they were there, and
after threading innumerable chilly pas
sages reached dismal room with an al
manac. q dirty deal table and few chairs
in il. wherein were congregated several
solicitors clerks. waiting their turn to
appear before the registrar.
Presently, J1weyer, somebody pokec
/ his head thtsiugh the door. which he
opened Just wide enough TO admit II, and
] bawling out
"Short, re Meeson,' vanished as alb.
ruptly as hc had come. .,
Now, Lady Holmhurst, If you please,
said Mr. John Short, allow me to show
the way, if. you will kindly follow with
the will-this way, please
In another minute the unfortunate
will" found herself in large and lofty
room, at the top Of which. with his back
% the light, sat most agreeable looking
middle aged gentleman, who, as they ad
vanced. rose with politeness that one
does not generally expect from officials
on n fixed salary. and, bowling, asked
them to be seated.
We'll. what can DO for you? Mr.
all Mr.. and he put on his eyeglasses
and referred to his notes" Mr.. short
YOU wish TO file will, understand; anG
/ there are peculiar circumstances of some
sort in the casel'
Yes, sir; there are said Mr.. John
Short. with much meaning. The will to
/ be filed in the registry is the last true
will Of Jonathan Meeson OF Pompadour
Hall. in the county Of Warwick, and the
property concerned amounts TO about two
millions. Upon last motion day the death
Of Jonathan Meeson, who was supposed
to have sunk in the Kangaroo, was al
lowed to be presumed, and probate has
been taken out As a matter Of fact,
however, the said Jonathan Meeson per
ished in Kerguelen Land some days after
the shipwreck, and before he died he duly
executed a fresh will in favor of his
nephew, Eustace H. Meeson, the gentle
man before you. Miss Augusta Smith
ers"-
What" said the learned registrar, us
this Miss Smithers, whom we have been
reading SO much about lately-the Ker-
guelen Land heroiney"
Yes | am Miss Smithers," she said,