Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-28

literary lamc ana ncr person, showed n
decided disposition to fall in love with
her, aud rcd haired and therefore ar
dent, naval officer il, under those crcum-
stances, q somewhat alarming parsonage.
But the time went on without anything
serious happening; and, at last, one morn
ing after breakfast a man came running
up with the information that tho mail
was i'll sight.
And so Augusta took an affcctonate
farewell of the golden haired CONSUL who
gazcd at her through his eycglass and
sighed when he thought of what might
have been in tho sweet by and by; and
the ships bell rang and tho screw began
to turn, leaving the consul still signing
on the horizon, and in duo course Augusta
and Mrs. Thomas found themselves stand
ing on tho quay at southampton, the
center of an adlniring and enthusiastic
crowd.
Tho captain had told the extraordinary
tnlc to the port officials when they boarded
tho vessel, and on getting ashore the port
officials had made taste to tell every liv-
ing soul they met the wonderful news
that two survivors of tho i'll fated Kan
Earoo-the history of whose tragic end
had sent thrill of horror through tho
English speaking world-wcrc safc and
sound ON board tho West India boat.
Thus, by the time that Augusta, Mrs.
Thomas and Dick were safe on shore,
their story, or rather sundry distorted
versions Of it, was flashing up the wires
to the various press agencies, and running
through Southampton like wildiire.
Scarcely wcrc their feet set upon tho
quay, when, with q rush and bound,
wild men, with note books in their hands,
sprung upon them, and beat them down
will :. rni n of on NO
it impossible 10 answer them all at once,
50 contenttl herself with saying yes"
Yes, 'Ics' to every thing, out Of which
nonoayll2blc she GtterwGrd found to her
surprise these fierce and active prcssmen
ContIiVed 10 make up Il sufficiently moving
tale.
However at last they found themselves
III first class carrie &c, ready to start, or
rather starting Tho interviewing gen
tlemen, two Of whom had their heads
jammed through the window, were forcibly
torn away-still asking questions-by the
officials Of the company.
Augusta sunk back with a sigh of relief.
On the scat opposite to her somebody had
,houghtfully laced 6 ',mIer of the days
papers. 81" joil w. n first that came
TO hand auo luccd it idly with the
Idea of try; t. pi. MP tho thread of
events. Her eyes fell instantly upon the
reports Of the probate divorce and admir-
ally division Of the high court The first
report ran thus
D BEFORE TIE RIGHT HONORABLE TIE
PRESIDENT, /, TIE MATli.H OF MEE-
son, DECEASED.
This was application arising out of the
loss Of the Il. NJ. :. Kangaroo on the 18th
of December last. 1t will be remembered
l,,+ o. Oh :
board that vessel the occupants of ono
boat only-twcnty-fiv people in all
were saved. Among the drowned was
Mr.. Mceson, the head of tho well known
Birmingham publishing company of Nee
son, Addison, Roscoe q Co. Qimited) who
was at the time on q visit to w Zealand
! and Australia in connection with the bust
ness of the company.
Mr. Fiddlcstick, Q. c., who with Mr..
Pearl appeared for the applicants land
who was somewhat impcrfectly hcard),
stated that the facts connected with the
sinking of the Kangaroo would probably
still be so fresh in his lordship's mind that
II would not be necessary for him to detail
them, although he had them upon affidavit
before him. His lordship would remcm-
Der that but ono boat load of people had
survived from this, perhaps the most ter
the drowned was Mr., Meeson; and this
application was on behalf OF the executors
Of his will for leave to presume his death.
The property which passed under the will
was very largo indeed; amounting in all,
/ Mr.. EiddlcStick understood, to about two
millions sterling, which, perhaps, might
incline his lordship to proceed very care
fully in allowing probate to issue.
Tho President-Well, the amount of the
property has got nothing to do with tho
principles on which the court acts with
regard to the presumption of death, Mr..
Fiddlcstick.
Quite so, my lord, and I think that in
this case your lordship will be satisfied
that there is no reason why probate should
not issue. II is, humanely speaking, i'm
possible that Mr.. Mceson can have escaped
the general destruction.
Tho Presdent-Havc YOU any affidavit
from anybody who saw Mr., Mecson in tho
water?
No, my lord; I have an affidavit from a
sailor named Okers, the only man who
was picked up in the water after the
Kangaroo foundered, which states that he
believes that he saw Mr.. Meeson spring
from the lip into the water but the
affidavit does not carry the matter further.
He cannot swear that il was Mr. Meeson
Tho Presldent-Well, | think that that
will do. The court is necessarily adverse
to allowing tho presumption Of death OK
'ccpt on evidence of tho most satisfactory
nature Still, considering that nearly four
months have now passed since tho found
cring of the Kangaroo under circum,
stances which mako it exceedingly i'm.
probable that there were any her sur.
vivors, think that it may fairly presume
that Mr.. Mccson shared the fate of the
other passengers.
Mir. liddlcatick-Th death to be pre-
sumed from the 18th of December?
The Prcsident-Yes, from tho 18th.
Mr.. Fiddlcstick If your lordship
pleascs.
Augusta put down the paper with a
gasp. There was she, safe and sound,
with tho true last win of Mr., Mccson
tGttoocd upon her own shoulders; and
probate had issue" whatever that
mysterious formula might mean-to
another will, not tho real last will. 1t
meant (as she in her ignorance supposed