The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17

Not allowing himself one instant for rehec-
ton, he rose and crossed the room quickly to
the fireplace. The fame was still burning in
willingly. By its light he read the writing on
the back of the envelope, to make himself GER
tain that it was the one containing the will,
then thrust both envelope and contents into
the heart OF the fire. With gittering eyes he
watched the creeping flames speedily devour
them. For some seconds the whole room was
brilliantly illuminated and then came dark
ness. The incubus was removed; the will was
gone forever!
Mr.. Monkton's funeral was over. Dust had
been consigned to dust, to await the final res
direction. The next act in the drama was the
reading of the dead mans will, an event
usually anxiously looked forward to by eager
prospective legatees.
In the drawing room after the funeral were
assembled Mrs. Crawford, Miss Ashley, Henry
MonlSton, Sir Andrew Dawson, Mrs. CrawfOrd's
son Peter, who was clerk in the city, and Mr..
Barnett Several of the principal servants
were also present. Henry Monkton, in spite
of his best efforts could not wholly conceal his
agitation Miss Ashley appeared calm and
composed. She was thinking more of the kind
guardian she had lost than of what he had left
behind him. Mr. Barnett, who had the will in
his pocket, now rose to speak.
Abu bii hhoW' vi COuIob ~ is CubbDIldTJ iOT
the will of deceased person to be read immedi-
ately after tho funeral" he began, fixing his
eyes on Henry MoDkton, who quailed under
their keen glance. " But before / say more
wish to know, supposng the principal will be
not at hand, if | may be allowed to read from
the draft which have here? Draft and prin-
cipal are precisely alike in substance"
No one spoke for some seconds. No one, in
deed had any interest to speak save Henry
Monkton. Miss Ashley was no relation to the
deceased, and Mrs. Crawford and her son were
but distant connections.
Mr.. Barnett was about to resume, when
Henry MonktOn interrupted him.
What is the good of reading from the
draft2" said he. "We must have tho win it
self Where is itr Why have you not got it?"
" These inquiries, Mr.. Monkton, you are
probably in a better condition to answer than
myself. Have you no idea where your broth
cr's will s2"
The question was put so direct that Henry
Monkton lost his temper.
E" What do you mean ," he said in an angry
tone. How should | know anything about
1t? It is not likely shall gain anything by
it, You would take care Of that whilo franz
ing it, I'll bet"
Mr.. Barnett, without taking notice of this
innncndo simply said:
Then you know nothing of the willH You
have not seen it2"
NO; / have not seen IL, If that will satisfy
you and now, kindly proceed. | suppose the
upshot of all this Is that there is no will! :"
"Oh, no. You are mistaken; the will Is
here all right enough" Mr.. Barnett said, pro-
ducing 1t. But have to thank you for its
restoration, as well as for its disappearance;
only got it last ight."
Henry Monkton amazed and COMPOUNDED at
the production of viii, which he could only
conclude to be later one than that which he
had burned, had not word TO say. He was,
however, at n loss TO understand the last SEN
fences uttered by Mr.. Barnett al do not un-
derstaud you" he said at length. 81 have no
connection with the will whatever. If it was
ever lost, it is evidently found again. Be kind
enough to leave me out of tho matter alto
gether ] know nothing about it."
My friends, said Mr.. Barnett, look at this
man. He came down here pretending regret for
the brother nc has lost. and with lying story on
his lips that his brother and no, who for a very
long time had not spoken to each other. had
become friends again week to-day-three
days before that brothers death. He finds his
brothers will in the library, reads IT, and seeing
that he himself is left almost nothing and that
this innocent girl here inherits everything re-
solves either to destroy or conceal it. In his
policy he does not assume the mastcrship here
he intertoros with nothing, knowing well that
he can hide his time; and this for the purpose
that he neither expects nor desires anything by
| tho death OF his brother. He intended. no doubt
| 20 counterfeit surprise when no will was found
This will which hold in my hand is the ono
taken from tho library by that man. Up till
/ last night at IL o'clock it was in his possession
| Mt which time it found its way into my own"
| Not one Of the hearers was half SO muct
| astonished at hearing this speech as was Henry
| Moukton. Believing that no had burned the
will which he had found, he was amazed al
what he heard. But he thought he saw al
| opening 10 prove the falsity of some part a
| least of the solicitors statement.
"You will all observe" said he, rising anC
! gaining courage, " that this gentleman accuse!
mo first of stealing my brothers will. then
| apparently. of restoring it again. This restora
| ti0n, according TO his story, would seem TO have
taken place last night at midnight. At tina
| time was in bed and asleep; he. Tor aught
! know, was the same. | did not see him afte
dinner yesterday. The whole tale is bas
| fabrication"
1T is true. have a witness here-Mrs
| Crawford. will you kindly tell what we boil
saw last night2 Perhaps you will convjnc,
! him"
"'Dccd, I'll soon tell, and no be backwar,
either" said Mrs Crawford, and she proceed,
TO relate in detail what she had seen: TIN
| white hgure entering the library her terro
when she saw. ms she thought, the apparition o
her dead relative; the packet which it carriet
| in its hand; how the figure Turned out after al
to be Henry Monkton himself walking il
his sleep, and how Mr. Barnett had succeeded
in substituting the one will for the other
The company heard the relation of the stor,
with amazemcnt. As for Monkton, he wa
simply stricken dumb. Everyone in the room
turned to look at him; he was pale as death
Aware that he occasionally walked in his sleep
he had no doubt ofthe truth of what Mrs
| Crawford had just narrated, or of the fact tina
not speak. Fooled by himself. by his owl
unconscious act, he skunk out of the room, an,
shortly after left the house. Chdmbers's Jour
nal.
| Consumption Surely Cur.d