Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-11-22

"I'm 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 around. Sudden
mourning and duty to your family
His name is in the Times obituary. He
must have been rather swell in his way
once, and your name as mourner at his
funeral will be in the papers to show 1T
was genuine business"
"It's away down in Devonshire."
"AIl the better. If it's anywhere
near my people run over and have half
days fishing
"Are your people all at home?"
eff you mean Maggie by all my peo-
pie, she's there; and if you don't take
care she'l hear of your picnic and the
Currey girls. She knows Blanche
| Smythe."
Later on that day Mr.. Mathew duly
regretted that the death of his relative,
Gen Mahew, and the necessity, etc,
caused the inevitable postponement OF
his proposed picnic. He had 1t lltho-
graphed on black-edged cards, and the
printer sent 15O-he uses them for
! bookmarkers still.
1t was a very fine morning when Mr..
/ Mahew started for Paddington by a
enhead looked so lovely he almost re-
GREETED his picnic. He recognized no
relations at Paddington, nor was there
any one at Exeter; but a carriage was
there to meet him, as he had written to
say he was coming; and as no one else
turned up he found himself figuring as
Chi Of mourner. His cousins elderly So
licitor came to him in the garden as he
was smoking a cigar after the funeral.
81 have found an envelope" he said,
'labeled will, and think as you are
going away | had better open it in your
presence"
81 suppose you had" said Frank Ma
hew, carelessly. "It's a pity no other
relations are present. Where are they
all ?" .......s
"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 lnvestlga-
ton whether the General had married
his housekeeper, Mrs. jenkins by
name She died few years ago, and
latterly they seem to have made some
advances 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 everyone whom he could dis
cover who was in any way related to him.
! wonder you did not get one
"Not worth it., | guess-if he ever
heard of me-" said Frank Mathew.
"Open that envelope, though; l want to
get away"
The solicitor opened it and read the
contents of half sheet of note paper.
81 must congratulate you, Mr..
Mahew," he exclaimed. 81 must con-
graduate you; this is, indeed, the fitting
reward of your affectionate reverence
for the deceased testator."
"What's that ?" said Frank. He had
been blowing cigar smoke at humble
bee and had not quite heard. els that
the will? Short and sweet, like a don
keys gallop, is it not? | must show
them how to do that at Lincoln's inn.
Who drew it"
81 did not, certainly" said the solicit
tor, with rueful eye.
$50 should imagine" said Frank to
himself, holding it at arms length.
cts his own handwriting by the sigma
ture, witnessed by the. cook and the
gardener"
"But read it, my dear sir'' said the
solicitor "Read it -
at is so very badly written | don't
think / can"
"My dear sir, allow me-" and the old
gentleman took the paper.
"'The last will of George Mathew. |
leave everything | have to leave to be
divided between those of my relations
who have the decency to attend my
funeral. Signed, ETC."
''That means about 100000 for you,
Mr.. Mathew, besides this house. If
YOU will allow me | will see to the
prop" Welman always said that his
friend had no sense of decency, and he
would have thought his opinion con-
frmed if he had seen him then seize
the gray haired old solicitor round the
waist and waltz him across the lawn
tennis court with a whoop like red In
dams. The undertaken was just start
ing to drive back to the Exeter with
the hearse and equipments; he had
seen grief manifest itself in many
forms, and was quite touched-it took
him back to his Irish home and his
fathers wake.
The solicitor looked rather rutf1ed
but being q prudent man he consoled
himself with the prospect of managing
the estate, though he did not for the
moment see how he could include dane
ing with the residuary devisee in his
bin of costs. No doubt Frank paid for
it eventually.
Good old JACKIE he said as he told
the history of the funeral to Welman on
Monday evening over an excellent din
ner. "Never forget to be dutiful to the
aged, and show respect to the dead
even at the expense of days pleasure
with the young and lovely"