Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-08-22


former wills by me made.
"In witness whereof | have hereunto
set my hand, this third day of Novem-
ber A. ID. 1877"
Il suppose you understand" 1 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,
the testator had her in his mind when
he made his will, and so far makes it
all the more binding.
"Exactlyr She spoke with anima-
ton. "lt's his wish-and | shall see
that you are well paid for your trouble
and counsel-the carriage will be here
very soon." And she was gone AS
quickly as she had come.
The remark about payment had en-
tered very threadbare coat, and had
struck right home.
''But it's too much, all the same, pay
or no pay | growled, "to cut that
girl off that way without a cent! But
it's the old story-I can't help it!' and
l sank back with philosophical smile
on my face.
Then-just in sport, in a fit of
malignant satisfaction-I took up
second sheet of legal cap, and scrib-
bled thereupon, with formal opening
and close, that this same Robert +.
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, sever
such, and what gulf, deep, impassa-
BILE, between what ought to be and
what is! How | should like to bridge
it over!" And l buttoned up my coat,
and walking to the window, imagined
| could see through the darkness
the coming of the carriage of Nine.
Cecil.
The time dragged slowly, very
slowly, and | never felt more genuine
relief than in hearing heavy wheels
grinding through the mud and slush,
and a knocking at the door to notify
me the carriage was ready.
| sprang into the carriage, and away
we dashed through such darkness that
| could not for the life of me discover
to what portion of the town we were
being driven. But in very short
we came to sudden halt, and the car
riage door opened. The coachman
conducted me up the brown stone
steps, where the open door was already
awaiting me, and l stepped into a
dimly-lighted hall
As | did so lady, whose figure and
| ha
Cecil, glided from a side room, and
with little plaintive smile bade me
follow at once. But in that instant [
read her face and, perhaps her charac-
ter. She might have been 80, only
she didn't look it, with those brilliant
black eyes, pearly teeth and elegant
manners; but behind all there | read
the positive force that, turned to good,
may save a country, but given over to
evil would sacrifice everything to sue
cess.
Noiselessly she glided over the heavy
carpets, and as silently | followed her.
She passed into the library-as | in
stinctively felt-into the chamber of
death; even elegant furniture and
costly paintings and embroidered
coyerlets are not to overawe our des-
tiny.
''Mr. Cecil, the lawyer has come,"
she shortly said, as she stopped over
the emaciated face of silver-haired
man.
"WhatP WhoP" as he started from
a seeming stupor, and looked Won
deringly at me from his sunken eyes.
"He will read it to you now. Mr..
Cecil" adding in a low tone: He is
sinking rapidly; l fear that you must
hasten.n
felt that must. l seated myself
at his bedside, and us | did so l saw
his lips tremble, and | believed they
were breathing Il name; imagined it
was, "Mabel."
Our boldest moves are born upon the
spur OF the moment.
Mrs. Cecil, may | trouble you for a
glass of waterP" l asked, and l took
out the will she had drawn.
"Quick, sir, quickP" said l, as l no.
ticed his sunken eyes watching her
Fastening footsteps. "Do you want
your daughter to have all your prop
erty, save what the law gives your
wifeP"
He started back from me as if he
could not trust his own senses, or was
doubling whether to put confidence in
me; but he seemed to feel the necessity
of doing so, and suddenly the dull eyes
frightened with a momentary CLEAN
of relief and joy as he clearly ans
wered:
Eyes, yesl And God bless your
And |, too, was thanking heaven for
the whim that had led me to write two
wills so very like in strength and APP
pearance, and it was only the work of
a moment to make the change, and
| just in time.
With Mrs. Cecil came the house
keeper and man servant, and in their
presence the dying man tremblingly
signed his name to the second will, and
they witnessed it.
They had gone, and / started to go,
when the old man pressed my hand,
nd | saw the tears gathering in his
eyes. AS | turned to 90 | involuntar-
lily felt that the black eyes of Madam
Cecil had witnessed all and suspected
everything.
81 should like to see that willp" she
said firmly, in low voice.
'Some other time. He's dying, Mrs.
Cecil"
$50 much the greater reason, sir!
Show it to me-"
| looked her one instant, calmly and
suggestively in the face, and then
started for the door.
"Stop!" she cried, and a tiny silver
mounted revolver CLEANED in her
hand.
My God! Mrs. Cecil, you have killed