New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-10
CHAPTER VI.
MISS LEES DECISION.

CHAPTER VI
MISS LEES DECISION.
The following day Mr. Burton and ], in the
presence OF Mr.. and Mrs Higgins as well rs OF two
other witnesses whom ! had brought with me.
broke the seals and examined into Mr.. Lee Affairs.
In n small iron box we found 81 500 Bank Of
Enaland notes and sovereigns, with roll OF parch-
ncut which was written as follows:
" l. George III. lee, request DIR. Dunbrook. OF -
Highest, liilchestcr TO that my body Is Gre
mated when | die, or, il he finds that Impossible.
that IL is properly embamcd. II he sees that my
body is crcmated. | bequcath him 81 900 sterling
Of the money which | leave behind NE. IL 10
canno, be crcmatcd and he sees that il is properly
cmbalmed. | bequcath him $500 sterling. What
ever money IL left after this bcqucst 10 DR.. Dun
brook desire 10 be given TO my daughter. Con
stance Louisa Lee now goveness IN the family OF
Mr.. Henderson, III Cad0gan St, chichester
desire. further. that this box and It's contents
lie committed TO the care of DR.. Dunbrook already
mentioned. IN whom have the fullest confidence.
and who will, | have no doubt, take care that the
executed. GEORGE IL. LEE
There was no date and no signatures of wit
ucs-cS 50 that the document had no legal validity
whatever The deceased had evidently meant il 10
he his final will aud testament; but had put OH
TIL too late the disagreeablc formaIitieS which
were neccSsl ~ 10 render II effective.
Well. Or. Dunbrook, what do you propose
doing now 20 asked Mr. Burton afterward, our
cab ratified through the streets toward his hotel.
81 can propose nothing tall | see Miss Lee
answered.
And then suppose you will propose marriage. y
lie SAID laughing.
'" Wait ti We reach the hotel: the cab makes
such a COMPOUNDED noise that We cannot hear cach
other speak, my reply.
Il had heard what be had said well enough;
but | did not just then feel in the humor to
listen 70 any light badinage about my feelings or
intentions toward Miss Lee.
DR. Dunbrook.7 said the lawyer 10 me, as soon
~ we were alone in the sitting room which he had
engaged IN the hotel. q" | fancied that the little
Joke which ! made just now about your propos-
lng TO Miss Lee was not quite acceptable to your
feelings. II 50, | regret II. let me now speak
~ YOU upon the subject with all due serious
ness A. matters stand Mt present am IN sense
Mis- Lees guardian; at all events her trustee,
believe. IN the world. Since | learned from your
own lips that YOU aspired 10 her hand, havc-es
| think under the circumstances had a right 10
do-madc inquiries about your anteccdcntS and
character and, | am glad 70 say, with the most
satisfactory results. If, therefore. you now, or
at any future time propose marriage TO her ana
happiness and | shall look upon snch an event
~ happy denoucment 10 this mysterious anu
wholly cleared up vllany. My advice 10 you IL
10 say nothing about the mans confession, upon
which shall also keep silent. II II were Ia get
wind. Heaven only knows what legal difficulties
and complications might spring up 10 bar Miss
Lee from her rightful inheritance There. there,
don't answer me-: | know the ways OF the law
and / am acting entirely in your interests. will
now go 10 see Miss Lee, 10 whom will say every
thing that would be likely Ia dispose her in your
favor-without. Of course. limiting at your feel
nes-and then bring her here. The rest leave
10 vtu' GOod-by,' and of he went without even
giving me the opportunity 10 make reply. The
cab which had brought Us had, in obedience to
his orders waited for him at the door of the
hotel. In that he went and in that in less than
twenty minutes he returned with Miss Lee by
his side had accompanied him TO thu outer
door Of the hotel. and walking backward
and forward Just outside when the cab reappcared.
We all three walked into the private sitting
room already mentioned. We had no sooner en-
tered and sat down than Mr.. Burton requested me
TO explain all matters to Miss Ice IN his absence
az ne had 90 ont, and should not he back within
half an hour N least. To this. ]. OF course,
offered no opposition. Miss zee seemed about
TO say something. but before she could get it out
the lawyer was gone. | understood the motive
Of his action perfectly. and blessed him IN my
heart for it. Half an hour was a short space of
time for the delicate task before me- but II might
prove sufficient if ! turned II 10 good account.
j told her briefly las ! wanted To come quickly 10
other matters that the deceased had only left
CT 500 / then gave her his will TO read, inform
ing her that it WAS the only written paper
had found, and that IL had no legal value.
This she glanced over hurrcdlY and carelessly,
ard then handed back Ia me
It's pretty much no J had expected, she said,
with smile which did not betray shade Of
disappointment; the mighty fortune which was
to inherit il nonresident
This will. az | have told you. is valucless and
even if It were otherwise, have no moral claim
to the money which il bcqucaths 10 me. Every
farthing Of it. belongs rightfully TO YOU
That may be so or not, she replied. but
| will accept nothing Till you have received your
Then. Miss Ice, YOU must accept all Even
if fhc will were valid, ] could only claim the
sum beuucathcd to me on certain conditions:
and those conditions | am longer bound to
fulfil"
You mean about the crematng."
Yes When | made that promise TO him |
believed him to I've an upright and honorable man,
and vour father 4 promise obtained under false
prcicnccs is no longer hndiIg. Let the wretch
he buried and put out Of sight AS possible
As you like | do not care how you dispose
of him: hnt of the money left more than half
ia rightfully yours and you must take it,"
well, we will about that aftcrward. Mr..
Burton, when he comes, may have something 10
say In the matter. ] now wish to talk 10 you
about something else.
She looked up into my face inquiringly. She
evidently had not the rcmotest suspicion of what
was coming This rather disconnected me.
Something quite different from what we have
been talking about | added, feeling my way
cautiously. and with a nervous tremor in my
voice, which had not at all calculated upon
Her quick ear detected this, and her womanly
Instinct took instant alarm: The dark lustrous
eyes fixed upon me quvercd little. but she did
not Withdraw them.
am afraid | shall oifend you-or, at any
rate, pain you,7 | said
know You would not willingly do either,
DR.. Dunbrook "
The tone was soft and gentle, and not without
emotion. This encouraged me.
understood you 20 say, Miss Lee. that You
had no relatives alive
Distant ones whom have never seen, and
VINO are nothing to me, Mr.. Burton, who Is no