Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06


priety SO well known to Ballynoggin.
Then followed queer scene. We all got
as close under the tower as We could.
Some one sent us up more lanterns and a
clothes basket, into which the contents of
poor Congo's treasure house were flung, he
meanwhile lamenting piteously or grimac-
ing with impotent wrath from the top of
the tower: First the sugar tongs, also the
crown of the missing pineapple; next my
fathers gold eyeglsss, missing since the
funeral. and one of Parker's shoes, also a
handful of livery buttons. apparently
wrenched off. That seemed the total of his
recent offerings, but under a layer of rub
bish came a collection evidently dating
from his earlier days at Brockwood; a fad
| with satin and beads: gold-topped smell
| ing bottle, a set of kitchen skewers. a
prayer book and an evil-smelling mass,
| which, on investigation, proved to have
frilled with lace paper. We got quite ex-
cited at first, but it began to feel chilly and
we made movement toward friendly
attic window opened for our descent.
stop, please" implored the major, "only
| a moment longer!' His voice was husky
and queer and his hand, laid on my arm,
| trembled violently.
Hurry, men! Is that alp
Every bit, sir, except some torn papers
| and litter
Send it down.
Down came an armful Of rubbish. Alton
| by kicked 1t over as 1t lay at his feet In
and he picked up a tin flour dredger. bat
| tered and rusty. Whats this inside?" A
| big envelope full of papers was doubled UT
and crushed into it.
Family letters! That is my affair." said
Jonathan. Hold the lanterns, some ONE
| They were damp and discclored, but the
| envelope, linen-lined. still hung together
| Blew looked over his shoulder.
Last Will and Testament Of" he
| read; Il think, Mr.. Mariiiier, I had better
take charge of that" and he drew it with.
out ceremony from Jonathan's hand. Sup.
pose we go down and look this over, gen.
tlemen."
We left Congo and his tormentors to ad.
just their differences. and descended. Such
a set of dirty, disreputable figures as the
drawing room mirrors reflected, If any one
had had time to think of 1t.
My father started from quiet nap, and
stared in amazement at our appearance
but stared more when he beheld our plum
der. 1t proved to be- as we all guessed
one of Miss Corbett's numerous wills, and
wonder of wonders! in favor of Gustavus
Adolphus Marillier of H. MS 10th regi-
ment Royal Manx Fusileers)!
L gave q cheer-I couldn't help it-so did
Allonby; and we rushed at him to con.
graduate him, before we remembered JON
athan's presence. He ragged, stormed, talk
ed or conspiracy, and vowed he'd fight II
out; but Blew assured him he had nc
| chance-the document was all right and
| regular. and l think he was sharp enough
| to see that the major was too good fellow
not TO make him some compensa ton for his
DISAPPOINTMENT. If he gave in decently.
At last. about midnight, We quieted down
and let Mariiiier tell us his story
MY good cousin. the late Miss Corbett
ouarreled with me in due course" he said
the very week after the will was made
Never mind how the dispute came about
The new will and the new favorite-a very
distant cousin-were both on the premises
and was ready to go, when this precious
document was missed Nothing could con
vince Miss Corbett that l had not purloinot
II. Why I should do so ] can't conceive
However. left. I had had some experience
of Congo's doings, and the idea struck me
that some day might have the chance OF
hunting him down and eonvicting him al
the theft Ny chief object was to Justify
myself with Miss Corbett. of course ana
to that straw of hope l have chung till bel
death seemed to have rendered it useless
When l found she had died intestate then
you may guess that / thought the chance
too valuable to miss, and kept Carmody on
the alert ever since my arrival here"
So the mystery was cleared. and my story
ends. Peope who like to hear the very In 3,
of everything may care to know that rhe
major now colonel of militia) has left The
service. and is FORMING himself into the
realized ideal of the English squire and
county member. The said characters be,n.
in their perfection inconsistent with old
bachelorhnod. and Freda's unpaid Iegecv
have a strong idea that he intends to dis
charge all his obligations with one graceful
act. and prevail on her IN accept Brock
wood-plus the master. / hone SO. at least
Anv more? The little black prince-nat
much converted. I'm afraid-shivered m'ser-
ably through few months more of Ing
land and then at his own eame7t petition
was dispatched in care Of party Of mis-
sionaries from Liverpool back to his own
sunny Africa, and-took Congo with him.