The herald., 1897-09-26
FRANK r. STOCKTON.

Copyright. 1897. by Bachelor Syndicate.
PART 1.
When / opened my ONCE in the lit
tie county town Of Camborough, was
lust twenty-five years old. 1 made 1t
point to begin my legal career with
my second quarter of a century. When
my twenty-sixth birthday arrived, and
no client had yet come to me, felt a
little low in spirits, although I knew
very well that there was no good rea-
son that should be SO; but as hoping
without reason is q mental occupation
SO common to the human race, I felt
that had as good right as any 9TH
er Of my fellow beings to indulge in 1t.
In the meantime, while waiting for
~sents. studied; I sedulously attend
Hs-ts; and fell in love.
l- s iof "a $ last mentioned af-
~ ni ed in any way
VIA ,G4 thout reason,
could not say, but I still fol-
lowed the example of the human
race, and loved with the earnestness
and steadfastness which should have
been glad to put into law business, II
/ had had the opportunity.
Natalie Kefford was the eldest
daughter of Mr.. Archibald Kefford, one
of the leading citizens of Camborough.
She was beautiful woman, with
soul-so far as could .discover-in
thorough harmony with my own. l
had become acquainted with the family
when first came to the town as law
student, and thus had learned to
know them all well, and to love Ma
talie. She was not engaged to me, but
considered that was engaged to her.
It was a solemn compact made with
myself.
Feeling as did toward the Kefford
family, it is not surprising that
should have derived an unmistakable
satisfaction, 1 may say pleasure, in the
news Of the death of Nicholas Kefford,
an uncle Of Natalie's father.
This old gentleman had been a farm
er residing near the village of Satbury
about flve miles from Camborough.
His agricultural operations and his
success in speculations Of various kinds
had given him very fair property,
and he was generally considered one
Of the rich men of the county. He was
unmarried, and his only natural heirs
were Mr.. Archibald Kefford and his
sister, Mrs. Crown, a widow with sew
eral children, living near Baltimore.
As the old man had always been on
very friendly terms with his nephew
and his niece, it was natural to expect
that the whole or part of his proper
ty would be divided between them.
Neither of them was rich, for although
Mr.. Kefford's business-he was real
estate agent-was fairly good. his fam
fly was growing more expensive each
year. Mrs. Crown possessed but linn
tied income, and she had probably
built high hopes upon her uncle's in
evitable demise.
did not blame myself for my graft
Acation at the news of the death of
Nicholas Kefford; If had known Mrs.
Crown, should not have blamed her
for any pleasure she might have shown
on account of the event, and although
Mr.. Archibald Kefford, who had always
lived so near his uncle and had been on
terms of more intimacy with him,
showed genuine sorrow when he died,
I should have found no fault with any
quiet illumination of his inner SOUL if
I could have looked into those recesses
To die for the benefit of others after
q man has lived long for his own bene-
At, may be considered a most COM
mendable close to a successful life. But
when Mr.. Nicholas Kefford's will was
opened, it was discovered that the
property was not left to his nephew
and his niece. The will, which was
found in the old gentleman's desk, was
dated about year back, and in it the
testator left all his property, without
reservation, to charity and more than
this, he left it to a single charity:
"The Satbury Institution for the Cure
Of Nervous Diseases"
The announcement of the contents
Of the will occasioned surprise and in
dignation throughout Camborough and
the vicinity. 1t was almost impossible
to understand such depravity in one
who for so many years had been con-
sidered an estimable citizen. Old Kef-
ford apparently never had any nerves
himself, and why should he suddenly
evince such an interest in the nerves of
other people?
The Institution to which this most
2IudZluS DeQueSL Hdu Deen IIldQe, con-
sisted at that time, of large house
standing in an open field. 1t contained
a few officers and attendants. a very
few patients-all from a distance-and
was presided over. directed and man
aged by Spencer Latimer, NJ. D., also
from a distance. This gentleman had
come to the salubrious region of Sat
bury about three years before, had
bought some land of Nicholas Kefford,
and had erected his institution. The
Camborough people had never cared
for Doctor Latimer, and although there
were persons in the town who, to my
certain knowledge, were afflicted with
nervous disorders,-Such for instance,
as an unreasoning distrust of attor-
neys and barristers who might happen
to be at the beginning of their career
none of them ever patronized the In
stitution, and although it was known
that old Nicholas Kefford did show
certain interest in the establishment it
was supposed that he held mortgages
upon said property and was looking out
for the moment when it would be ad-
visable for him to foreclose. He was
sagacious speculator and exceeding
ly skillful in the art of calculating the