The Forrest City times., 1899-10-20


 "The Frenchman was willing to set tie on her all the property that her father might leave her, so that he was act after her fortune.
 He's a fine man, too, Hamilton,' sSid the old merchant, rubbing his hands; comes of one of the old fam lilies, and has plenty of money. I think we shall make good thing of it if Marcia marries him.
 "'Well, suppose she will, of course, if you demand it, said I, knowing how strong was his control over her, and wondering whether she had given the young doctor up. What does she say"
 "The old fellows face sobered.
 ""That girls the apple of my eye, as you know; but she's as stubborn as her old daddy. She refuses, unless I can produce what she calls proof of the high standing of Dupray, and he has sent to France for the papers,
 "I thought for moment and then said:
 "'Was the wedding to have been at once, before she made this demand?
 "'That's it. I wanted her to have him, and he wanted her at once, for we were to go to the continent together and make the wedding trip a sort of business trip, too. But-confound it. you know the girl, and she has simply backed out until the papers come. It's all right, though, and in two weeks the matter will be arranged
 "I cogitated little and then said:
 Better have the settlement drawn while you are waiting. I suppose you intend to give Marcia everything, and you might make the will and then have Dupray sign the settlement, or at least have it all drawn up so that it can be signed when the time comes. am free to tell you that I want to draw that paper. for while your foreign son-in- law may be the best fellow in the world, and willing to promise everything now. 1 am going to put British law about his neck, so that he will have to keep his promise by-and-by if he should want to change his mind.'
 1.-The old man laughed.
 II know you were always in favor of that young doctor. and he's good enough fellow, but now that a better man has come along and wants my girl, and she is willing, he's going to have her. But it's right that every thing should be done in proper form, and I'll bring Dupray down in a day or two and we'll fix the things up.'
 "Three days later, one afternoon, Le- roy and the Frenchman came into the office. Dupray was as polite as one could ask, and yielded a quick consent to all the suggestions l made with re- lation to the papers to be executed; but, somehow, as I began to write, I felt that he was not friendly with me, and that he laid it al my door that these papers were being brought to a head so certainly before the marriage.
 "You may be sure that when that idea took possession of my mind, I was stubborn enough to determine that the papers should be drawn and signed that day; and when Leroy proposed that they should leave me to my writing, while they went and had smoke, said:
 "'No, smoke here; and then when I want you to sign I shall not have to run after you
 And they sat down again.
 Leroy took out some cigars, and of fered one to the Frenchman and one to me. I declined, as I do not like to smoke and work, and the Frenchman declined, saying that he preferred a pipe, produced from his inside pocket handsome meerschaum, and proceed ed to fill and light it.
 Remember that this was more than five years since my brother-in-law had told me of his foreign experience, and l doubt if I had thought of it even for half that time.
 Well, the two men smoked and I wrote, but all the time with that un- easy feeling that sometimes comes when you are not in accord with your surroundings, and it was with satis- faction that after an hour completed the first draft of the paper and laid down my pen to read it to the high con- tracing parties.
 "As l turned in my chair with the agreement in my hand, Leroy threw away the stub of his third cigar, while the Frenchman removed his pipe from his lips and drew nearer to me to listen carefully to the legal bars that he knew l was preparing to keep him out of the money. felt pleased to think that it was so, and perhaps my face showed a trace too much of that pleasure.
 "As I began to read, the man re- placed his pipe in his mouth, and from time to time blew clouds of soft, aro- matic smoke in my face; but as was a smoker myself, determined not to allow this to disconcert me, as I had no doubt he intended it to do, but read steadily on. When an agreement had been covered, I would pause and look at Leroy for his approval, then con- tinue to read.
 "At one of these pauses, for no known reason, my eyes turned upon the pipe held loosely in the Frenchman's hand as he sat listening at my side, and my