Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-20
THE TWO WILLS.
How a Lawyer Frustrated the
Plans Of Designing Woman.


been music in the drops If 1t had showed
we could have "hved over " the beautiful
poem, but it did neither, and now late in
the afternoon tho air was a thick, damp va
por, and the street ankle deep with slush
and mud that an unpaved Western town
supplies 50 beautifully and readily
Then again, the life OF young attorney is
not always one whirl of excitement and
pleasurable results. Not living soul ex-
cept bOotblack-tust as If we should ever
need bOotblacks again-had entered the door
that day In vain had l tried to give my
mind over TO the ordinary statutes, and
then IN despair sought the more inviting
stImuants OF Regina VS.. Reynolds; even
gossip Of great leading case failed 10 IN
spire me, and YEARLY | turned from my
books TO my thoughts, and from my thoughts
70 my gloom.
1t was Just then, before l had assembled
TO the realms Of suicidal purpose - for l
walk that way slowly that the door knob
hesitatingly, cautiously turned and Twas
again hard at work, pen in hand, with one
eye on the paper and the other on the door
l won't make diagnosis Of just how fast
my heart was beating, If peradventure the
door would open, and somebody that was
somebody would come in. l could endure
the suspense no longer and looked squarely
up. The door had opened, and, though the
evening shadows were gathered thick and
fast, l could see that my visitor was in
dress and manners a lady-the most signif-
cant WORD ID the greatest Of languages
Her vail concealed her face, but old or
young ugly or pretty, her thoughts proba
Oily were; Here's young man-very
young-he hasn't had much experience
don't think he ever did such work before
1t would help HIM, but that don't help me-
j had better lookn-
But interrupted my own forebodings by
springing TO my feet with Good evening,
madam. Step in; I'm through with matter
IN hand-a little pressed now, with term
time upon US, but have an hour to spare to-
day-such a dull day. Sit down." and my
first triumph was won, for she was seated
Then swept my books from me with an
air OF relief, as if any problem she might
agitate would be child's play compared TO
what had just passed through.
l had not yet so much as caught the color
OF her eyes, and couldn't but wonder why
she kept her vail drawn so closely-unless
she was meditating "a sudden flight to the
office of the bald-headed wretch across the
way, who had few grey hairs and more
experience, you know, but a bad attack of
rheumatism, too, thank heaven, which
devoutly trusted was keeping him on so bad
a day as this.
81 want you TO write will," she sudden
ly began, IN half-halting voice.
Certainly, madam" / answered, nobly
resolving to strengthen the faith within her
and pulled half quire of legal cap toward
me and thought Of the solemn opening
and the weighty iormalities of it's publica-
ton.
'It is to be my husbands WILL" she added.
"He dare not come out on such day as
this" and she shivered so prettily that
was reconclled with the weather for the
FIRST time that day.
Hadn't better cori9 to your housei"
ventured to suggest.
''Oh, no; not now" she answered with a
little sigh. 1T might excite him too much
But he may be better tonight, and L will
send the carriage for you then. 1t will not
make any difference, will it, about the will
being bindingp And something told me
she was peering anXiously at me.
"Of course, madam, If he then fully and
voluntarily adopts it as his, it is just the
same as if took it all down from his own
lips
"Well, we want-he wants-to leave all
his real and personal property to me, with
fun power as executrix-and 1 am to take
charge of his only child, and make for her
such allowance as l shall think wise"
''What IS your daughters nameg"
''She Is not my daughter" she answered,
with the slightest token OF gathering ami
nation in her voice.
"Ah, yes; just So" said l. nervousy
fumbling with the paper. 'She's your step
daughterl"
ayes, sir"
whats her namel You see must men
ton It,"
"Mabel Cecil she haltingly spoke.
"a deuced pretty namer' l remarked to
.fF ,l,,- e1,a a.,
stumble so over pronouncing iii" And
then tried to forget all about it as l took
up my pen and began:
"I-I-Ahl pardon me, madam, but
what's your husbands Names"
What fools men are when little excited,
especially young lawyers sitting up with an
early casel
Robert +. Cecil"
Il, Robert e. Cecil, of the county OF
Herkimer, State of -, do make and pub
nsh this my last will and testament.
- give, bequeath and devise TO my dearly
beloved wife,
"Ahl pardon, madam, but what's your
nameP
"Lucy L. Cecil"
ITO my dearly beloved wife, Lucy L.
Cecil, all my real and personal property oil
whatsoever kind ana nature, after the pay
ment Of all my lust debts; and hereby
commit to her guardianship my only child
Mabel Cecil, for whom there shall be made
such allowance and maintenance as TO my
beloved wife may seem mt.
"And hereby appoint Lucy L. Cecil my
sole executrix of tins my last will ana tesla
ment, hereby revolxing ali former wills b,
me made.
ain witness whereof have hereunto Sc
my hand, this third day Of November, A. ID
49,"
al suppose you understand" undertook
20 explain, "that this viii vests all you
husbands TRoperty IN you, and to leav'
your daughters allowances to your discre
tion is 10 leave, at law, nothing in her owl
right. The provision Is, in short, meaning
less. except that it shows that the testato
had her in his mind when he made his will
and so far makes it all the more binding"
"Exacuyl" She spoke with animation
'"Itis his wish-and shall see that you ar
well paid for your trouble and counsel-th
carriage will be here very soon" And sh
was gone as quickly as she had come
The remark about payment had entere
a very thread-bare coat, and had struc
right home.
s.But it's too much, all the same, pay o
no paw growled, "to cut that girl OF tina
way without cent? But it's the old stor
Il can't help tn and sank back with
philosophic smile on my face.
Thcn-just in sport, in fit Of malignan
satisfaction-l took up q second sheet @
legal cap, and scrubbed thereupon, with
formal opening and close, that this sam
Robert IL. Cecil gave all his property to hi
dearlv-beloved daughter, Mabel Cecil, an
left the lady OF the vail where thelaw foun
her.
uBut such is the history Of the worldl
I concluded, solemnly, sever such, an
what a gulf, deep, impossible, betwee
what ought 10 be and what is How
should like to bridge it overw And l but
toned MP my coat, aud walking TO the wiz
dow, imagined could see through the darl
ness the coming Of the carriage Of Nine
CaciL