The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-09-01

ana nan asked LOT ncT nuSDalu, VINO
happened to be out for the evening" On
hearing that the gentleman had inquired
if there was any anc else in the house
who could accompany him back next
door for a few minutes on d matter Of
business The landMdy was unable to
90 herself, the servant being out, but
as the gentleman seemed disappointed
she had takcn the liberty of suggest
ing that he should ask me- Would !,
at any rate, see him and then decide9
was only too glad to be of use to pco-
pie who appeared to be in great trouble,
| far from their friends in a seaside lodg
| ing house, and told the landlady to
show the gentleman in.
In another moment the tall, loose
| framed man whom l had seen so often
attending the doctor to his carriage
stood bowling in the doorway.
"Pray come in,' said, rising, " in
what way can l be of service to ~"
The stranger entered the room. His
eyes, which saw were weak, blinked in
the bright lamplight. He disregardcd
the motion | made toward a chair, and
answered me standing. He seemed nerv-
| ollsly anxious to conquer his shortsight-
edness in order to make out what manner
of man was In other words, he peered
at me somewhat rudcly.
''It is simply the small matter of wit
Messing the signature to will, he sad.
| ''If might trespass ON your kindness to
step in next door for that purpose L
should be greatly obliged. My uncle is
ILL., and though trust he is in no i'm
mediate danger he is anxious to aflix his
signature tonight"
81 shall be most happy" said, taking
up my hit, 81 will come with you at
| once"
81 must introduce myself" said the
stranger, as he led the way downstairs.
''My name is CASTOR Pierrepont; my
uncle whom you are about to see is Gen
cral Maitland, of Godney Park, North
| ampshre | brought him here in the
hopes that he might derive benefit from
| the sea air"
''With good results, trust" was the
| reply which politeness drew from me,
though the frequent visits of that ominous
| brougham led me to expect a negative
answer.
To my surprise Mr.. Pierrepoint replied
in the affirmative,
eyes" he said, ''my uncle is better,
| though still dangerously ILL.,"
BY this time we were out in the street
at the door of No. 13. He had already
inserted his latch key in the lock, when
he paused and looked at me.
''Thcre is one thing l must prepare
you for" he said, blinking his weak
eyes at me in the gloom; my uncle is
unable to speak. His complaint is nerv-
ous paralysis, you understand? Other
wise he is in full possession of his facul-
ties. The doctor is with him now, and
certifies to his fitness to sign"
merely bowed and followed him into
the house. No. 13 was a fac-simile of
No. IA, with the exception of some slight
differences in the furniture which
stamped it rs what it was-a second-r rate
seaside lodging house. Mr.. Pierrepont
conducted me upstairs to the first floor,
and stopping outside door on the land
ing knocked three times. There was u
slight pause and movement inside the
chamuer, and then voice said, "Come
in"
Grasping the door handle, Mr.. Pierre
pont turned to me hurriedly as if he had
forgotten something.
Il think" he said, sit might be as
well if | knew who was going to per-
form this service for us. Might | ask
stopped him by acceding to his very
reasonable request. took out my pock-
etbook and gave him one of my visiting
cards with my name-Angus Macdonald
and the address of my studio in st.
Johns Wood engraved thereon. He put
it close to his eyes, blinked at it, and said
in a tone which somehow or other sug-
gcsted relief:
"Ah! you live in London--not here
| see."
He opened the door, and | followed
him into the room. There was dim
light from shaded lamp which stood
on small table at the head of the bed,
but so disposed that the curtains pre-
vented its rays from falling on the sick
man. On the bed, half reclining, half
supported bya young man, with fair
hair and wearing spectacles, was an old
man whom, even in that dim light, saw
to be of stately presence and dignitied
mien.
his Scanty locks were SHOW WHlte, us
were the bushy eyebrows, which he kept
bent down toward the paper lying ON the
bed before him. But what surprised me
most was the ruddy glow of health in
General NIaitland's checks The latter
were sunken, it is true, but the faint
lamp light was strong enough to show me
pink and white color that would have
done no discredit to a maiden of SIX
teen
My conductor introduced me briefly.
The general merely acknowledged my
presence by courteous inclination OF the
head-a movement which he repeated
when Mr.. Pierrepoint asked him affec-
tionately if he was ready to go through
the usual formalities.
"Very well, then, / will fetch Mrs.
Buffers as second Witness" said the
nephew. "The doctor there would do.
but his attention must not be taken from
his patient"
"The doctor ~ | thought, wondering