Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-05-01
THE HIDDEN WILL.

MAALAA NAZ AAthAAa IA AAAl a AAAAANARANNANt
and Germantown railroad cross that
thoroughfare, stands a ruined mansion
house that halls a century ago was brave
with piliared porticos and quantity
carved doors and window frames. It Is
today n cheap tonomeut house, inhabited
by a half dozen families, and the work
OF improvement has lef5 the entrance
door several feet below the sidewalk In
its halcyon days this old mansion was as
many feet above its surrounding garden
as it is now below the asphalt paved
street. It was the home of Jabez Fields,
a hard, stern old man, proud MS a prince
and as reserved and unsocial as he was
naughty His ouly living relatives were
a grandniece, Alice Fields, and Il grand
nephew, John Wilcox.
John Wilcox was a prosperous Arch
street merchant, with a comfortable
bank account and a landed and bond
and stock estate that made him one
Of the Quaker City's richest men. He
was not on good terms with his aristo-
cratic old granduncle, who despised
trade and everybody who labored for a
living. 1t is therefore not strange that
lAE AdAlEl IOAAlAN AanHAfA Ills hAulAAAltANkNf
pretty Alice Fields, who was as poor rs
a church mouse and a school teacher by
occupation. John Wilcox was as ayari
cious as he was wealthy, and whea word
was sent to him one day that old Jabez
Fields had died suddenly he FASTENED at
once to the dead mans picturesque nan
sion and lockips himself in the library
began to search for his g%randuncle's
will. To his JOY, in a lin box in which
old Jabez used to keep valuable papers,
he found the document for which Le
was hunting. With trembling hands he
unfolded the crisp parchment, ran his
eyes over the closely written lines and a
cry Of joy escaped him. He had been
made sole heir TO the dead mans estate.
Much chagrinel was he. therefore,
when a letter from Jabez Fields lawyer,
James Dunnet, addressed to Mary Smith
the old mans housekeepcr, was shown
him. There was a later will, and on the
day of the funeral the lawyer would
come to the old mansion to read it.
Hes probably left a good slice t.
some charity, soliloquizcd Wilcox, after
the housekecper had left the room, and
still confident that what was left would
come to him ne nodded pityingly to his
school teacher cousin when they met at
the funeral and mentally resolved tc
make her a present of ten dollars to buy
new lat, gloves and shoes, all Of which
articles Of apparel were very shabby.
1t was Il misty lowering day and the
old mansion seemed moro than ordinari.
ly duh and gloomy when the cousins re-
turned to it after all that.remained Of
their granduncle had been laid at rest.
In patience they awaited the coming Of
the lawyer, but when 10 o'clock arrived
and he did not put in an appearance the
housekeeper showed them to their rooms
and proceeded, with the assistance of the
butler, to lock up the house. These two
were fixing the fastenings to the big
front door when the sound Of carriage
wheels crunching the graveled drive was
heard, and when Mary Smith opened the
door Lawyer Dunnet confronted her.
Il have been detained, Mary Smith, g
he said, "and wont read the will until
tomorrow. Have a fire lighted in my
bedroom, for this mist has penetrated to
the skin; and by the way, Mary, send
me up some hot water and a bottle OF
the old mans whisky. / think u punch
will do me good"
The housekeeper assured him that his
wants should De attended to, and the in
fuence Of the warm punch and the fire
speedily made the lawyer very drowsy.
Before Eetifihg he took the win from his
pocket and laid it ON the antique ma
hogany table which stood in the middle
of the room. He was an early riser, and
when he lcaped ont of bed the next morn
ing his eyes turned instinctively to thg
table. He started back with a gasp Of
astonishment. The will was gone.
"Har' he cried, rubbing his eyes
"That's stranger And, without stop
ping to dress, he extnin8d the fastening
Of the doors and windows. They were
all secure, and, although he searched thu
room thoroughly, the missing will coult
not be found.
After breakfast the servants, Mar,
Smith and the two cousins, assembled il
the library and the lawyer took a posi-
tiOn in the center of the room.
when l reached LIZ aast night" h
began, with his eyes on John Wilcox
face, u had the last win and testamen
Of my old friend. Jabez Fields, in my pos
session. and then he told Of its mysteri
Gus disappe rance. He kept his eye
fixed on John Wilcox'a face, and the LAT
ter shifted nncasily and changed color.
''DO you mean 10 say that l had any
thing TO do with AS djsapEearance;' h
blurted outat last.
II accuse no one, answered the law
yer quietly, and then he asked for IN
will which had been found among th
dead maii's papers by His granddaughter
When Wilcox produced 10 tho lawyo
adjusted his sIectuclts, and with q loo
Of commiseration directed toward Alic
Fields said: "Unfortuu .tely the two wit
nesses TO the missing VIII IRE dead, bu
/ think we can prove is existence am
its contents. If Miss Held wishes"+
'No, nor protested Alice quickly
mot for tho world, - and when Lawye
Dnnnet began To read She slipped qui0tl
from the room. There were tears ia he
eyes as she groied her way from ia