The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-26
s.When IL the funeralp''

man! don't call 1t that; we'll make II
lively somehow"
Tho funeral. my gentle ass! !
mean the funeral - your deceased
cousiu'sp"
''rm not going to it. / never saw
the old fool; besides it is on Saturday -
THE very thing, my dear fellow.
If you really want to cut this picnic
write your regrets all round. Sudden
mourning and duty to your family
His name is in the Times obituary.
He must have been rather a swell in
his way once. and your name as q
mourner at his funeral will be in the
papers to show it was q genuine busi-
ness"
'.It's away down in Devonshire.
''All the better. If it's anywhere
near my people run over and have
half days fishing"
.Are your people all at home?''
If you mean Maggie by all my peo-
pie, she's there; and If you don't take
care she'll hear of your picnic and the
Currey girl. She knows Blanche
Smythe."
Later on that day Mr.. Mathew duly
regretted that the sudden death of his
relative. Gen. Mathew, and the neces-
sity, ETC.. caused the postponement of
his proposed picnic. He had it litho-
graphed on black edged cards, and
the printer sent in one hundred and
fifty-he uses them for book markers
still.
It was a very fine morning when Mr..
Mathew started from Paddington by a
very early train, and the river at
Maidenhead looked so lovely he
almost regretted his picnic. He re-
cognized no relations at Paddington,
nor was there any one Exeter; but a
carriage was there to meet him, as ne
had written to say he was coming;
and as no one else turned up he found
himself figuring as chief mourner. His
cousins elderly solicitor came to him
in the garden as he was smoking a
cigar after the funeral.
Il have found an envelope" he
said, Labeled WILL and I think as
you are going away had better open
it in your presence"
II suppose you had" said Frank
Mathew, carelessly. ats a pity no
other relations are present. Where
are they allP'
well, you see." said the solicitor,
"they never came near the general of
late years, except when an uncle of
yours came down to make an investi-
cation whether the general had mar
ried his housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins
by name: She died few years ago,
and latterly they seem to have made
some advance toward him. He would
have nothing to say to them, but had
some circulars printed of more or
less abusive character, insinuating
that they had designs on his fortune,
and sent them to every one whom he
could discover who was in any way
related to him. wonder you did not
get one"
''Net worth it, guess-if he ever
heard of NO." said Frank Mathew.
Open THAI envelop, though; I want to
get away"
The solicitor opened it and read the
contents of half a sheet of note paper
Unjust congratulate you, Mr.. Mahew,"
he exclaimed. Il must congratulate
you; this is, indeed, the fitting reward
of your affectionate reverence for the
deceased teetator.''
whats that?" said Frank. He had
been blowing cigar smoke at a humble
bee and had not quite heard. "Is
that the willp Short and sweet, like
donkey's gallop, is it not? I must
show them how to do that at Lincoln's
inn. Who drew it?''
Il did not, certainly" said the soli-
citor with rueful eye.
$50 l should imagine" said Frank
to himself, holding it at arms length.
''It's in his own writing by the sigma
ture witnessed by the cook and the
gardener"
but read it, my dear sir!" said the
solicitor. Read it!''
lit is SO very badly written I don't
think I can"
''My dear sir, allow me-" and the
old gentleman took the paper.
1.-The last will of Mr.. George Mahew.
leave everything have to leave to
be divided between those of my rela-
tions who have the decency to attend
my funeral Signed etc."
THAT means about 10000 pounds
for you. Mr.. Mathew, besides this
house. If you will allow me will see
to the prop" Wellman always said
that his friend had no sense of decency,
and he would have thought his opinion