Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-01-30
ard. al don't believe I undertand it


ard. II don't believe L mdertand it
very we'll"
Mr.. Toby again unrolls the parch-
ment, and, adjusting his psses, pro-
ceeds to read in monoto AZ tone:
And, lastly, /, Evelyn das, be-
ing of sound mind, and of 80 own de-
sire, hereby revoke all former wills
made by me and pronounce them null
and void. herewith give and be-
queath-on the conditions stated be-
low--to Captain Hazard and my grand
niece, Louisa Bolton, daughter Of
Frederic Bolton, all my bonds, stocks,
mortgages, plate, pictures, furniture,
the fifty thousand dollars in the Muir
rayville Bank, and the estate called
Bywater Park, to share and share alike,
subject to this condition, viz:
"That, within six months from the
date of my death, they marry each
other, and reside, Us / have done, at
Bywater Park.
However, if from any cause either
refuses to comply with this condition,
l revoke the bequest; and, instead, the
stocks and bonds, the mortgages,
plate, pictures, furniture, the fifty
thousand dollars in the Murrayville
Bank, with the estate called Bywater
Park, are bequeathed to the Govern
ment, to be applied in payment of the
national debt"
MIR. Toby clears his throat, and
Hazard takes advantage of the pause
and glances Mt his fair MS a Uis.
She looks stony.
The Captain is staggered.
Loo certainly doesn't seem to be al
over-ripe plum ready to drop ut the
first shaking of the tree. She rather
! looks as if she would enjoy throwing
over their chance of inheriting the
money and booming them both to pov-
erty.
The Captain has beggarly pension
and expensive habits, and Loo has the
expensive habits without the beggarly
pension. Without Madam's money they
are poor as church mice, and likely to
remain so.
"Well?" says the lawyer, inquiringly.
"Er-er-it seems a good deal like
crowding the mourners. Eli, Toby ?" re.
spends Hazard, helplessly.
Mr.. Toby coughs.
"Of course you can act your own
pleasure about complying with the
terms of the will"
"Not exactly" says Hazard, shaking
his head doubtfully. IL admit that SO
far as / am concerned nothing would
suit me better than to call Miss
Loo here my wife. But the young
Loo shoots the Captain an angry
glance. He hesitates-st stops.
If the young lady refuses she will
have the pleasure of knowing she has
thrown away fortune" MIR. Toby
blandly remarks.
Mr.. Toby has no patience with a
contumacious woman. Moreover, the
fat little lawyer is Democrat, with
an ardent desire to see that public
debt melt away entirely during Dem
ocratic administration. He rather hopes
his late clients heirs will adopt the
high-handed alternative, and let the
Government be the beneficiary.
Hazard hesitates for moment, then
he approaches Miss Bolton.
There is something in the Captains
eyes and in his manner that forces a
conviction in the lawyers mind unfa-
vorable to the Governments chances rs
heir at-law to the Dundas bequest.
"There is no great hurry about ar
irving at decision" says Mr.. Toby,
shortly. "Any time within six months
will be soon enough"
"There's no time like the prepent, I"
CALCULATES Mr.. Bolton, his hopes rising,
ph@nix-like, from the ashes Of his late
despair, Lets Give 'em q chauce IN
talk the matter over. It is best to
strike while the iron is hot, you know. :"
Mr.. Toby puts the parchment in a
tin box. Then ne takes up his hat, and
Bolton accompanies him to the door.
The door opens, closes, and Madam's
two heirs are alone together.