The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-02-19

coolly answered, as he strobe rapidly
towards the house.
A heavy rap at the door, thrice
repeated, brought an old negress
from the dark recesses of the
kitchen, who unbarred the broken
portal that closed the entrance, and
shading her eyes with one hand
from the faint glare of the wick that
burned in a saucer of lard-in de-
fault of a more improved article of
illumination-which she carried in
the other, she peeped scrutinizingly
into the physicians face, as if to
recognize the intruder, then ex-
claimed joyously-
"Doctor, is dis you? Bless de
Lor', I'm glad you's come"
"This is I, Nima," he replied for
he seemed to be familiar with all
the household. "How's Mr.. OFFER
guson?"
"Go' bless de old man, he very
bad but | hope de Lor' spare him
dis time" the old negress answered,
as she lighted the doctor along the
damp, dark passage that led to the
stairway.
Up the stairs the physician
mounted to the chamber o the sick,
while the old negress retraced her
steps, muttcring as she went back
to her dark, sooty abode in the
kitchen. The doctor entered the
apartment of the invalid, and found
Mel Riley seated on his bed, be-
side the sick man, and Mrs. Darby,
his daughter, in broken arm chair
close by his side. The doughty
Davy, as usual, occupied position
in the back ground, with his broad
shoulders resting against the wall.
"L-o-rd how do you do, doctor?
For good night would be out of
place in this wild storm. We feared
Caesar would never be able to find
you. Father had a sudden relapse
after you left him, which concerned
us good deal but he has happily
revived again. said Mrs. Darby,
rising from an easy armchair, with
many professions of regard, and
shaking the physicians hand.
The doctor saluted the company
in his brief manner, and tried the
patients pulse-who was now re-
clining in a half-sitting, half-lying
position, with his head resting on a
pile of pillows-looked at his
tongue, asked a few questions, gave
a few directions respecting the
proper regimen, and saying he had
other calls, took leave of the comp
any, assuring the patient he would
soon be restored, and departed as
he had entered, like man who has
business to attend to, notwithstand-
ing Mrs. Darly's pressing solicita-
tiOns for him TO remain.
O'Ferguson, taking up the con-
versation where the Doctors en-
trance had broken it off, continued
eyes, Mel, it rests wholly ON you
and Davy to bring this business to
a happy issue"
"Never fear Davy and me-" re-
piled Mel "we'll make all as plain
to the court as old law books.
Davy, man, come forward. l fore
told your sleepy head would one day
be of great Importance in the coun-
ellis of the nation!"
The sober, silent Davy did as re-
quested, and shifting his position
from the wall, took one by the bed
side.
"And we may count on you and
Davy proving what the will doesn't
specify?" continued O'Ferguson.
"Certainly," returned Mel.
"May they not, Davy?"
The deliberate Davy looked
dubious, as if to inquire what it
might be he was to attest, and with
a Chem grumbled eyes" at IA
hazard.
"Well, how will you frame your
story to make it the most concise,
and put the best face ON the matter 20
O'FergusOn inquired.
"Ha! ha! nothing more easy"
replied Mel, laughing. "The will
was written when Tomlin was on
his death bed, and few hours be-
fore he breathed his last-yet his
mind was perfectly sane, as we can
attest with truth-bequeathed his
daughter the whole of his estate, to
be paid into her hands when she
attained the age of eighteen, but
not prior to that time. No other
disposition, however, is made of the
estate by that document, in case the
intended heiress should fall victim
to disease, or disappear in any other
way previous to its falling into her
hands. And now comes the part
through which we must help the
old gentleman-Lord bless his soul
through with. After the will
had been signed and closed in a
formal manner, Mr.. O'Ferguson re-
marked to Mr.. Tomlin that he
thought it very precarious dOcu-
ment in it's present state, inasmuch
as no human power had control
L 4