The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-01-18

yoking all former wills by me made.
SIN witness whereof / have hereun-
to set my hand, this third day OF
November, A. d., 49,"
81 suppose you understand un-
dertook to explain. that this will
vests all your husbands property in
you, and to leave your daughters
allowances to your discretion is to
leave at law nothing in her own
right. The provision is, in short,
meaningless, except that it shows
the testatorhad her in his mind when
he made his will, and SO far makes it
all the more binding"
Exactly" She spoke with anima-
ton. cts his wish-and / shall see
that you r well paid for your troub-
lie and counsel-the carriage viii be
here very SOON" And she had gone
as quickly as she had come.
That remark about payment had
entered a very threadbare coat, and
had struck right home.
"But it's too mean, all the same,
pay pay" | growled, ''tc cut
that girl off that way withouta cent!
But it's the old story-I can't help
it'll" and sank back with a philo-
sophical smile on my face.
Then-iust in sport, in a fit of NAL
ignant satisfation-I took up a sec
ond sheet of legal cap, and scrubbed
~thereupon, with a formal opening
and close, thai this same Robert E.
Cecil gave all his property to his
dearly beloved daughter, Mabel Cecil,
and left the lady of the veil where the
law found her.
But such is the history of the
world" concluded solemnly, ''ever
such; and what a gulf, deep, impassa-
BILE, between what ought to be and
what is! HowIshould like to bridge
it over!' And | buttoned up my
coat, and walking to the window,
imagined Icould see throughthe dark
ness the coming of the carriage of
Madam Cecil.
The time dragged slowly, very
slowly, and l never felt more genuine
relief than in hearing heavy wheels
grinding through the mud and slush.
and aknocking at the door to notify
me the carriage was ready.
| sprang into the carriage, and
away we dashed through such dark
ness that l could not for the life of
me discover to what portion of the
town We were being driven. But in q
very short time we came to a sud-
den halt, and the carriage door
opened. The coachman conducted me
up the brown stone steps, where the
open door was already awaiting me.
and | stepped into the dimly lighted
hall.
AS l did SO alady, whose figure and
manners told me she was Madam
Cecil, glided from a side room, and
with a little plaintive smile babe me
follow her at once. But in that in
slant 1 read her face and perhaps
her character. She might have been
35, only she didn't look it with those
brilliant black eyes, pearly teeth and
elegant manners; but behind allthese
j read the positive force that turned
to good may save Il country, but
given over to evil would sacrifice
everything to success.
Noiselessly she glided over the
heavy carpets, and us silently | fol-
lowed her. She passed into the Ii
brary, and from thence-as instinc-
lively felt-into the chamber of
death; even elegant furniture and
costly paintings and embroidered
c~Overlets are not to overawe our des-
tiny.
"Mr. Cecil, the lawyer has come"
she said, as she stopped over the
emanciated face of a silver haired
man..
"What? Who'll" as he stared from
a seeming stupor, and looked won
sleringly attn ne from his sunken eyes.
HE will read it to you now, Mr..
Cecil" adding in a low tone: "He is
sinking rapidly; 1 fear you must
hasten"
felt that 1 must. l seated myself
at his bedside, as | did 81 | saw his
lips tremble, and [ believed they we're
breathing a name; | imagined it was
Mabel"
Our boldest moves are born upon
the spur of the moment.
"Mrs. Cecil, may l trouble you for
a glass of water?" l asked, as l took
out the will she had drawn.
"Quick, sir, quick!' said I, as l no.
ticed his sunken eyes watching her
fastening footsteps. $40 you want
your daughter to have all your prop
erty, save what the law gives your
wife,"
He started back from me as if he
could not trust his own senses, Or
doubling whether to put conf
dence in mt; but he seemed to feel the
necessity OF doing so, and suddenly
the dull eyes frightened with a no
mentary CLEAN of relief and joy as
he clearly answered.:
Eyes, yes! And God bless you'll"
And /, too, was thanking heaven
for the whim that had led me to write
Two wills so very like in strength and
appearance, and it was only the work
of a moment to make the change, and
just in time.
With Mrs. Cecil came the mousse
keeper and q man servant, and in
their presence the dying man tremb-
signed his name to the second
will, and they witnessed it.
They had gone, and l started to
go, when the old man pressed my
and I saw tears gathering in
his eyes. AS l turned TO go l invol-
unfairly felt that the black eyes of
Madam Cecil had witnessed all and
suspected everything.