The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-30

| ton and WAS almost disappointed at find
ing none. However, nll's we'll that ends
well, and lie successfully accomplished his
purpose, for Polly's mother, true to her
word, made IL speedy exit from tho house.
AT first Jack and his wife missed tho old
lady greatly, for she had always been
much i'll evidence. In fact, so lonely and
solemn did the house now seem without
her THAT Jack sometimes almost wished she
hadn't gone, and as for Polly sho had
many Il good cry all 10 herself over tho af-
fair. AS her husband, however now
madc II point of spending less timc ut his
club and moro mt homo in her society. she
could not help becoming rcconcilcd to her
loss So, rs the lonely feeling gradually
wore off, and tho young couple got used to
tho new order of things Jack Hadloy at
length congratulated himself on having
done the right thing mt last.
Some three months later, when ,Jnck
was returning from business one day, he
was met by his wife, whose swollen Dyes
told of something amiss.
II have sad news to tell" sho said,
bursting into tears. "Mother has been
taken suddenly i'll and is dead. My Door
mothcr!"
Jack at once set about assuaging his
wifc's grief. When she had sufficiently IT,
covered, sho impaired another bit of news,
by far moro important from his point of
view.
"Thcy tell mo she has died rich. Worth
e3, 600, in fact"
in amazcmcnt. "Wcll, Pm blessed! Who'd
have thought it? Why, didn't know she
had 5000 pcncc"'
Nor L, added Polly.
"Thrce thousand poundsr' repeated
Jack thoughtfully. "And you're the only
child, earcn't you, Polly? You know" he
Went on, after u pause, 81 don't much like
that drawing room carpet of ours; do YOU!
It's faded pattern, and not nice one
We want u new one badly, and better
These curtains, too, are not at all up 10
the mark, to my way of thinking. And
there's the dining room suit. I'm sure it
begins to look quite shabby. Don't you
think so? And, oh, Polly, rs 1 was passing
Strcctcr's, the other day, l saw II lovely lit
tie diamond brooch, which l should GER
tainly have bought you had been able TO
afford 1t. It's only 10 guincas, and would
suit you admirably. Now, don't you fret
about your mother, dear. It's what we
must all cXpcct-whcn were old, YOU
know. And take care that all the funeral
arrangements are done dcccntly and in or
der. 1 would never have it rest on my
head that tho dear old creature wasn't
CpuiiotltiOlF Up lIc grave. lnrrG
Thousand pounds! And Polly's tho only
chld,''
The last sentence was not intended for
his wifc's cars, but sho heard it, and it
made her smile despite her grief.
When the funeral was over, Jack Hadlcy
found himself one Of very small company
gathered together in little room, the
most conspicuous object in which was "A
fussy lawyer, seated ut table with two
open documents spread out before him.
This, said the man of law, coming NJ
once to business and holding up one of the
papers, is the Inst will and testament of
the deceased Sarah Juliana Haslop, wild
ow. 1t bears date, April g. 1SS1"-
"A week before she left us, ~ murmurcd
Jack, under his breath.
land runs as follows" continued tho
lawyer. 81 hereby give and bcqucath to
my son-in-aw, John Hadley, and my
daughter Marianne, his wife, the sum OF
13, 600 sterling now standing to my credit
mt the Bank of England, with power to
use aud employ the Same for their mutual
benefit"
1.-The dear old soull" exclaimed Jack,
only restrained by an innate sense of pro-
pricty from shying his hat to the ceiling
And this, )" said tho representative of
rcd tape, taking up document No. ., sis IL
CuNiCii, cAcCulcu cAuCUly ii Uny5 later -
&C. week after she left us" gnspct Jack
1t is not of great length and runs rs
follows; L hereby cancel and revoke all
my former wills whatsoever and whcEcso-
ever made and substitute therefor this the
| final expression Of my intentions. To my
| daughter, Marianne Hadlcy, 1 give and
| bcqucath the sum of 910 sterling, to cna-
| bic her to buy suitable mourning to wear
| at my dcccasc; to my son-in-law, John
| lIndlcy, her husband, in consideration of
| his Kindness to me in turning me out of
| his house at IL time when 1 had thoughts
| OF leaving on my own account, | make IL
| present of Is III current coin of the realm,
and tho whole OF the residue of my proper
| ty, howsocvcr acquired, l bequcath to the
| governors OF Guys hospital, in London, TO
form fund to be- applied to the special
| care and treatment of afflicted mothers in
| law
"Ths spitcful old cat!" growlcd Jack,
between his teeth. May shc"- He
checked himself, and taking up his hat
( sorrowfully, walked homcward, q "sndder
and "a wiser man"
Years havo passed since then and Jack
Hadlcy, among other things has developed
an invctcratc and irrcmcdiablc taciturnity,
| but ii any one wishes to draw him cifec.
tuaIly for tho noncc, it is only necessary to
mention the subject of mothcrs-in-law in
general and his own in particular Lon
don Tu-Bits.
| He Complied.