Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-12

Starbright stood at his elbow. The two ex' changed glances, the lawyer nodded, and then the Captain stepped aside.
 'tNow, as to the terms of this will [" questioned Seekmore Gripes.
 ''Is it necessary to enumerate the prop erty 2"
 'Not unless you wish to bequeath part" 'sIt all goes to my granddaughter, to the last farthing. told you that before,' re- torted the old man, in a veXed tone. every good. Ahem-it seems to me that in a certain contingency some other pro vision ought to be made," suggested the lawyer, still holding hls pen suspended, glancing under his spectacles at the old man on the bed.
 "Some other contingency Confound it, sir, if you can't write out the document to suit me you may go. I'll employ man next tune of some sense, / Twill" "Very good" answered Gripes, not the least disconcerted by the rude language of ! the invalid. "It shall be as you say, only, should any thing happen"
 "Happen! Confound it, sir, what do you expect to happena" "Nothing out of nature, yet you must re- member that it is sometimes the unexpected that does happen. It is customary Tn will ing property to provide for such con- tingency For instance, should this young lady, your respected granddaughter, die before this will is probated the property would then revert to the legal heirs if any existed, which might be contrary to the wishes of the testator." Then Mir. Seelzmone Gripes dropped his | pen to the paper once more for the purpose of continuing his writing. "Stop! you're right,'' erred Vandible, in a husky voice, his face growing suddenly pale. "The ungrateful Martha shall never inherit one cent, never cent, say. Put in another name in case of the contingency you mentioned; put one in, Mir. Gripes." "Welll"
 "Have you got it in!"
 ''I am waiting to hear the name"
 "Eh! Well, that's a fact" ! Morgan Vandible contracted his brows as if in deep thought. Just then Captain i Starbright stepped into his vision This move at once gave the old man an idea
 "Yes yes, that's it." he whispered, seem- ing to grow weak suddenly. Put in his name, the Captains, he's good friend to
 me, good friend"
 ''Thank you, sir" said the Captain, with his hand on his heart, 'you do me exceed ing honor"
 Scratch, scratch, scratch.
 The pen of Scckmore Gripes was once , more at work. In little time the impor tant paper that was to convey more than Q million dollars was completed. 1t was Q business like document-thc lawyer had | i all tho Vandlble property, real and personal, to the testator's beloved granddaughter, | Grace Pcnroy. In case the girl should die before coming of age, yet two years away, { then the property was to go to his we'll esteemed friend, Clinton StarbrIght, of | Stonetield. Tho reading seemed to suit ; Vandibe There was one clause in the wlll that the lawyer had neglected to read, a most important clause. It was that Grace Penroy was to forfeit the property if she did not marry Captain Starbrlght.
 A look from the Captain gave Mir Seek
 moro Gripes his cue. The two had talked
 matters over before the present, and the
 schcming Captain had his plot well laid He
 believed Morgan Vandible was too nearly blind to note the truth, even should he
 glance over the written page, and so he
 felt comparatively safe. Two executors
 were named, the Captain and Lawyer
 Gripcs
 After every thing was in readiness for the
 old mllllonaire's signature the will was laid
 on a book, Vandible propped up with pillows
 and the document placed before hlm to
 sign.
 "Place your name right there, sir," di
 rectcd Mir. Grlpes, glibly, touching the de-
 sired spot with his bony forefnger.
 The old mans hand tremblcd so that il
 was with difficulty that he held the pen.
 'I-Im not just sure The witncsscs-'
 ''Yes, yes, I will call them the moment
 you sign. The Captain will do for one
 Sign quickly,lts all right" declared Lawyer
 Gripes, in his smooth, glib way.
 II suppose so. I feel bad, very bad," de- clared the old man, huskily. "Glve mt
 something Quickr' . Lawyer GripeS reached back and snatched
 the glass into which the Captain had poured ? a liquid some time before, and at once con veyed it to the lips of the old man. Ht ! swallowed the contents at gulp, then re stunned his pen. He seemed strong, and his
 hand ceased to shake. , Ut all goes to Grace, all,' he muttered the ghastly look deepening on his shrunken ) old face
 "Yes, yes, but sgn," urged MT. Gripes. The old millionaire carried his pen to thu
 paper, but his hand did not move to form tho ' signature. Instead he jerked it ava. suddenly, as though new thought haC
 entered his brain. t "No; will not sign. Y)u must make t new will"
 l. This announcement came like q thunder bolt to the strained senses of Captain Star I bright.
 Q "You are beside yourself, MT. Vandible, !. said the Captain, stepping quickly to tn 2 bedside. Would you deprive Grace of al
 happiness by"
 'tNo, no; you don't understand inter
 rupted the aged man. "Way back in Cali
 fornia is man that love. He may be liy n ing. Reports are not reliable. loved tha 0 boy, though he almost broke my heart" '. But he is dead" f "You do not know it, Captain"
 "I am willing to swear that such is tn fact l saw him die.' :. "I know; but you may have been mis o taken in the man. Karl must not be forgo Q ten. Half my fortune IS his" d But this is nonsense" declared the Cal 8 tain, in a vexed tone.
 Put his name in there in place of your ?. and I'll sign, not otherwlse," declared tn d sick man, seeming to take on new perverst
 ness with growing weakness of body. ,t "Tll fix it; it's but the work of moment,
 said MT. Gripes. Giving the Captain a know o ing glance, the lawyer removed the pape 7" and pretended to make some alteration.