Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-27

low DOWN."
Not very" said Lady Holmhurst sol
EMMY; though she was, as a matter of
fact, almost bursting with laughter, for
anything more absurd than this learned
gentleman looked, intrenched as he was
behind his office chair, with perplexity
written on his face, it would be impossible
to imagine.
well he said at length, 81 suppose
that l must come to a decision. It is a
painful matter, very, to a person of modest
temperament. However, | cannot shrink
from duty, and must face it. :"
"Old hypocrite,' said Eustace to him
self, with snarL
therefore, he went on. with an air of
| judicial sternness- therefore, Miss Smith
ers, I must trouble you to show me your
| back There is a cupboard there" and he
| pointed to the corner of the room, ''where
You can make-um-make the necessary
| preparations"
"OA. ii isn't quite SO bad as that" said
Augusta with a sigh, as she began to re-
move her jacket.
"Dear me- he said, observing her move
ment with alarm, Il had better lock the
door. / suppose she is hardened" he con-
tinued to himself as he did so, "but 1 dare
say that one gets used to this sort of thing
upon desert Islands,
Meanwhile, poor Augusta had got her
jacket off. She was dressed in a rather
low evening dress, and had white silk
scarf over her shoulders. This she re-
moved as the learned Registrar returned.
oh he said, Il see-in evening dress.
Well, of course, that is quite a different
mattex. Ladies need never wear anything
to speak of in tie evening. And so that
is the will-weu, have had some expert
ence, but I never saw or heard of any
thing like it before. Signed and attested,
but not dated. All! unless" he added.
''the date is lower down.
NO. said Augusta, ''there is no date;
l could not stand any more tattooing. 1t
was all done at one sitting, and l got
faint"
II don't wonder at it, am sure. think
it is the bravest thing ever heard Of, )" and
he bowed with much grace.
'Ahl' muttered Eustace, "he's begin
ming to pay compliments now, insidious
old ruffiann'
We'll" went on the innocent and emil
nently respectable object OF his suspicious,
''of course the absence of date does not
invalidate WILT is matter for proof,
that is all. But there, | am not in a posi-
ton to give any opinion about the case; it
is quite beyond me, and, besides, that is
not my business. But now, Miss Smith
ers, as you have once put yourself in the
custody of the Registry in the capacity OF
will, might | ask if you have any sug-
gestiOn to make as to how you are to be
dealt with? Obviously, you cannot be
| locked up with the other wills, and equal
ly obviously it is against the rules to allow
anvil to go out of the custody of the Court,
! unless by especial permission of the Court.
Also, it is clear that l cannot put any re-
straint upon the liberty of the subject and
order you to remain with me. Indeed,
doubt if it would be possible to do so by
any means short of an Act of Parliament.
Under these circumstances L am, [ con-
fess, little confused as to what course
should taken with reference to this inn
portant WILL
"What / have to suggest, SIR" said Mr..
Short, ''is that a certified copy of the will
should be filed, and that there should be a
special paragraph inserted in the affidavit
of scripts detailing the circumstances.
"Ah!" said the learned Doctor, polishing
his eyeglasses, Eyou have given me an
idea. With Miss Smithers' consent we
will file something better than a certified
copy of the will-we will file a photograph
ic copy. The inconvenience to Miss Smith
ers Will be trifiing, and it may prevent
! questions being raised hereafter"
''Have you any objections to that, my
| dear?" asked Lady Holmhurst.
''Oh, no, I suppose not" said Augusta,
mournfu1ly. - seem to be public proper
| ty now"
every well, then, excuse me for a mo-
ment," said the learned Doctor. There
is photographer close by whom I have
had occasion to employ officially. I will
write and see if he can come round"
In few minutes an answer came back
from the photographer that he would be
happy to wait upon DR.. Probate at three
o'clock, up to which hour he was engaged.
"Well" said the Doctor, sit is clear that
| / cannot let Miss Snithers out of the Gus
| tody of the court till the photograph is
| taken. Let me see, think that yours was
| my last appointment this morning. Now,
| what do you say to the idea of something
to eat? We are not five minutes drive
| from Simpsons, and shall feel delighted
| if you will make measure Of a necessity"
| Lady Hounnurst, who was getting very
| hungry, said that she should be most
! pleased, and, accordingly, they all-with
the exception OF zir. Jonn SNORT, who de-
/ parted about some business, saying that
| he would return at three oclock-drove
| off in Lady Holmhurst's carriage to the
/ restaurant, where this delightful specimen
| of the genus Registrar stood them most
| sunS)tuOuS champagne lunch, and made
| himself so agreeable that both the ladies
nearly fell in love with him. and even
| Eustace was constrained TO admit TO him
self that good things can come out of the
Divorce Court Finally, the Doctor wound
up the proceedings, which were of a most
| lively order, and included an account OF
Augustus adventures, with Q toast.
Il hear from Lady Holmhurst," he said,
"that you two young people are going to
take the preliminary step-um-tOward a
possible future appearance in that Court
| with which | had for many years the hon
or of being connected-that is, that you
| are going to get married. Nov, matri-
! mony is, according to my somewhat eX.
tended experience, an undertaking of q
| ventureSOn-e order, though cases occasion,
ally come under ones observation where
the results have proved to be in every way
satisfactory; and l must say that, if | may
form an opinion from the facts as they are
before me, never knew an engagement
| entered into unQer more promising OF
more romantic auspices. Here the young
gentleman quarreIs with his uncle III tax
ing the part of the young lady, and there
| by is disinherited of vast wealth. Then the
| young lady, under the most terrible circum
stances, takes steps of nature that not ont
woman in five hundred would have don.
to restore to him that wealth. Wheth
er or no those steps will ultimately prove
successful do not know, and, if | did
| 10 T oh r