Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-27

q hanson and was driven to the Office
of Messrs. Furness & Wapp, solicitors,
Lincoln's Inn Fields.
AS he burst into the Office a carefully
dressed old gentleman wearing a pair
of gold-rimmed glasses stepped forward
to greet him. This he did by nearly
shaking his arm off.
"Why, my dear George" he cried,
show glad l am to see you. We
have been advertising for you all
over the country. How is it you
haven't seen our advertisement be-
fore?'
81 have been at sea-" said the WIS.,
itor, with a smile, ''in a fishing
smack"
Establishing smackr gasped the
lawyer. You, George! Is it posi-
ble?"
In a few words the young man told
his tale. The old solicitor listened
with much interest; then his face grew
grave.
$50 you have not heard the news,
my boy" he said. Your uncle Is
dead"
Dead" repeated George Neal, sad
~. And we parted in anger merely
because l refused TO follow the profess
sion he had chosen for me-"
IF we thought oftener of the king
of terrors there would be fewer quar-
rols," said the lawyer, kindly; ''but he,
too. was sorry, George, though when
you hear tho rest you may think he
took rather an odd way of showing it.
"You know, of course, l was tho
person most trusted by your uncle.
Besides being his confidential adviser
l was also his friend. Well, as soon as
you left / was called in to draw up q
fresh will.
Eat first, my dear boy, he wavered
between leaving his money to a home
for cats and the founding of a colony
for reformed pickpockets. These mad
projects, however, soon evaporated,
and, subject to one condition, he made
his property over to you"
With a curious expression on his sun
burnt face the young man looked up
"And that condition." he said.
Excuse me a moment" said Mr..
Furness. looking at his watch. II ex-
pect n lady here presently; let US step
into my private room"
The lawyer led the way, and in the
! privacy of this apartment they both
sat down again.
And that condition." said George
Neal. firmly.
''Now, my dear boy" said the law
yer, don't fire up. You have had your
way; let the dead man have his. You
fession, but he would find you some
thing, so he found you a wife.
'-1n some little miserable seaport on
u 49, -N.A
nearly every successful man has now
adays-a poor relation 1t came to his
knowledge that this poor relation had
died and left a daughter. This was
quite enough for your uncle, and he
made it q requisite condition that you
marry her.
1.-THE lady's name is
''StopI' With his face expressing all
the bitterness he felt, the young man
| rose.
Before you continue" said Mr.. Fur
ness, hurriedly, "allow me to say 9
word. have confidence in you as 6
gentleman, George, but put you OF
your guard. The lady is here"
There was n knock and the door was
gently opened. The clerk came first
then the lawyer, with old-fashionec
courtesy, fastened forward to intercept
the visitor. He took her hand and lee
her over the threshold.
''Miss Kate Perry" he said; "anc
this, my dear young lady, Is Mr.. Georg,
Neal!''
All the blood that was in Meals bod
rushed to his face. He stood graspins
ut the back of his chair, unable to ut
ter a word.
Then the little hand that the lawye
held started tremblingso violently tina
it attracted Mr.. Furness' attention, an
he hastily led her to a chair. Next h
slyly examined the pair of them.
at is possible" he said, that m
introduction comes a trihe late. Am
wrong in this surmise?'
. IL - l." stammered Kate. "Mr
Smith," then she stopped, blushin
5 deeply.
"Smith?" said the lawyer, mystified
| Smith? 1t is a .well.known name
, but l cannot say that up to the presen
l have heard it in connection with thi
case
At last George Meals tongue was ur
tied. and he FASTENED to the rescue.
: II have met this young lady before,
he said, under very singular circuu
stances; we now meet under circun
stances stranger still. An explanatio
is due to her, and, if you will give me
' | little time to explain"
Certain ly, certainly" said Mr.. Flu
4 ness, rubbing his hands. Take all tn
time you require. am quite content
let Cupid take my place as mediator,
n and, with a beaming face, he bowe
himself out.
q If the old lawyers clerk had any d.
Y sire to look into that room after h
f master had left it, he was disappointed
Mr.. Furness' eye never left him for
:, moment.
4 When it seemed to the dcspairin
{" clerk that the best part of the day ha
n gone Mr.. Furncss went back to h
strangely met visitors. His eyes fc
d first on the dropping figure of Kate.
y May 1 hope" he said, gently, ''tht
the explanation has not been a tir
v some one?"
t, mo" said George, with glowir
- i ri.