Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-16

twill" found herself in n large and lofty
room, ut the top of which, with his back
10 the light, sat q most agreeable-looking
middle-aged gentleman, who, as they adj
yanced, rose with a pOliteness that one
does not generally expect from officials on
a fixed salary, and, bowling, asked them to
be seated.
"Well, what can I do for your Mr.-ah!
Mr."-snd he put on MS eyeglasses 4 re-
ferred TO his notes-"Mr. Short-you wish
10 file a will, l understand. and there are
peculiar circumstances Of some sort IN the
case!"
Eyes, sir; there are" said Mr.. John
Short, with much meaning. THE will
TO be fled 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 allowed
TO be presumed, and probate has been ak
en- out. AS a matter of fact, however, the
said Jonathan Meeson, persisted in ker-
guelen Land some days after the ship
wreck, and before he died he duly executed
a fresh will in favsr of his nephew, Eus-
tace II. Meeson, the gentleman before you.
Miss Augusta Smithers-'
What said the learned Registrar, "is
this Miss Smithers, whom we have been
reading so much about ~lately-the Ker-
guelen Land heroine;"
Eyes; / am Miss Smithers,'' she said,
with a little blush, "and this is Lady
Holmhurst, whose husband'-and she
checked herself.
st gives me much pleasure to make
your acquaintance, Miss Smithers," said
the learned Doctor, c~ourteously shaking
hands, and bowling to Lady Holmhurst-
proceedings which Eustace watched with
the jaundice'i eye Of suspicion. Hes be-
| ginning already, the old viper" said
that ardent lover 10 himself. II knew
hosy it would be. Trust my Gus into his
custody.-never. / had rather be commit
ted for contempt"
1.-The best thing that | caa do, sir" went
on John Short. impatiently, fo-, 70 his
severe eye, these interruptions were not
seemly, will be 20 at nee offer you in
spection of the document, which, / may
state, is Of an unusual character" and he
looked at Augusta, who, poor girl, colored
70 the eyes.
quite ~so--quite So" said the learned
Registrar. "Well, has Miss Smithers got
the will? Perhaps she will produce it"
Miss Smithers is the will" said Mr..
John Short.
"Oh-I am afraid that I do not quite IN
derstand."
ITO be more precise, sir, the will is tat
tooed on Miss Smithers."
"WhdtT' almost shouted the learned
Doctor, literally bounding from his chair.
THE will is tattooed upon Miss Smith
ers back, - continued Mr.. John Short, in a
perfectly unmoyed tone; and it is now
my duty TO offer you inspection Of the
document. and { take your instructions
as to how you propose to file it in the Reg
istry-"
inspection Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of the document" gaSped the astonished
Doctor; Good Heavens! Sir, l am a
family man, with a reputation TO main
tain
Reputation thought Eustace to him,
self. after prscticing for twenty years in
the Divorce Court he has the impudenc'
10 say that he has a reputation! Wha
next, / v onder"
II must leave il TO yop, sir" said MI
John Short. regarding the learned Regis
trar's shrinking form with contempt no
unmixed with pity. The will is OIL the
lady's back, and |, on behalf Of the plain
tiff, mean 10 get a grant with the docu
ment annexed"
Il say, Lady Holmhurst," said the Doc
tor. aside to Lady Holmhurst. who wa
nearest to him, forgive me for asking
such a que stion, but-hum-ha-is II yer!
low DOWN."
Not very" said Lady Holmhurst, sol
EMMY; though she was, as a matter o
fact, almost bursting with laughter, fol
ANYTHING more absurd than this learned
gentleman looked, intrenched as he wa
behind his Office chair, with perrfexit!
written on his face, it would be impossibl,
TO imagine.
We'll" he said at length, 81 suppoS'
that / must come TO a decision. 1t is
painful matter, very, TO a person Of modes
temperament. However, l cannot shrinl
from duty, and must face it."
"Old hypocrite,'' said Eustace 10 him
self, with a snarl.
Therefore" he ven on. with an air o
judicial sternness-"therefore Miss Smith
ers, | must trouble you 20 show me you
back. There Is a cupboard there" and b
pointed TO the corner of the room, "wher
you can make-um-make the neceSSar
preparations"
Augusta win a sign, as she began TO re
move her jacket.
Dear me-" he said, observing her move
ment with alarm, Il had better lock thu
door. I suppose she is hardened" he con
tinued 10 himself as he did SO, but | DARE
say that one gets used to this sort Of thing
upon desert islands"
Meanwhile, poor Augusta had got he
jacket of. She was dressed in q rathe
low evening dress. and had q white sill
scarf over her shoulders. This she re
moved rs the learned Registrar returned
"Oh," he said. II sec-fn evening dress.
Well, OF course, that Is quite a different
matter. Ladies need never wear anything
TO speak Of in the evening. And 50 tina
is the will-well, I have had some expert
ence, but / never saw or heard OF any
thing like 1t before. Signed and attested
hut not dated. Ait unless" he added
"the date is lower down"
NO" said Augusta, there Is no date
I could not stand any more tattooing. i
vas all done ut one sitting, and / go
faint"
II don't wonder att, / am sure. Ithinl
1t is the bravest thing / ever heard Of. 4" a n
he bowed with much grace.
"Ah!' muttered Eustace, "he's begin
ming to pay compliments now, insidiou
old rufianl''
ssuvou xx., - a.. uuo~~ - -;