Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-01-02
Continued.

be present at this mummery, to have
for my share hundred pounds to buy
mourning, and l vow I'll spend it in
Chinese mourning, and wear yellow
instead of black. Why don't these
men come up, instead of sitting
smoking in that dining-room and
leaving us alone in this mausoleum
of place. Here, ring, and send
for them; I'm getting nervous, too. I'm
catching it from you-weak little
baby that you are"
At that moment the door opened and
the two young men entered to go UP
to them, both speaking to Lydia and
then drawing their chairs nearer to
Katrine.
Are you nearly ready for the play,
Mr.. Capel?" she said, after time.
''The play!" he exclaimed.
YES; the curtain will rise directly.
How do you feel, Gerard?"
ooh, don't know. I want to hear
how many chips the old boy has left
me. Doosid glad to get out of this
tomb l say, would you mind me
lighting a cigar?'
"I don't mind" said Katrine,
lightly.
Would you mind, Miss Lawrence?"
sMind-your smoking-here?" said
Lydia, hastily. ct don't think |
should, but"
mo, no" said Capel, cit is impos-
sible. For Heavens sake, pay a lit
tie respect to the ladies, if you can not
to the dead
Artis started to his feet.
Look here, Paul Capel" he cried,
angrily, you have taken upon your
self, several times since have been
locked up here with you, to use con-
foundedly offensive language to me.
How dare you speak to me like that?"
"Dare!" cried Capel, rising. "Pooh!'
he calculated, throwing himself back,
and glancing at Katrine, whose eyes
seemed to flash with eager pleasure,
while Lydia half rose, with extended
hands; II am forgetting myself.
Lydia sunk back with sigh, while
Katrine's eyes flashed and her lip
eurled.
Forgetting yourself!" cried Arts.
by Jove, sir, you've done nothing
else! I suppose you expect to have all
the old mans money; but we shall
see
Don't be alarmed, Miss Lawrence :
said Capel smiling. II am not going
to quarrel. All, here is Mr.. Critic"
The door opened, and Charles en-
Wit iohf aan nd
one in each hand, preceding Mr..
Critic, who came in bearing a large tin
deed-box This he slowly proceeded
to place upon the carpet beside small
table on which Charles deposited the
candlesticks.
81 think / am punctual,' said the
lawyer, taking his old gold watch
from his fob and replacing it with a
nod. eyes, nearly half past eleven.
Charles, will you summon all the
servants? I think every one is men
toned in the will" he added, as
Charles left the room. "You will ex-
cuse all formalities. I am strictly
aheying instructions as to time and
place."
The old gentleman took jingling
bunch of keys from his pocket, bent
down and opened the tin box, from
which he took out square folded
parchment, crossed with broad green
ribbons and bearing great seal. This
he laid upon the table before him, and
sinking back in his chair proceeded to
deliberately take snuff.
A dead silence reigned, and, in spite
of himself, Paul Capel felt agitated,
and sought from time to time to
catch Katrine's eye; while Lydia
looked from one to the other, sadly
and Gerard Arts lay back in his
chair.
The door once more opened, and
the servants filed in, led by Preen-
ham, the butler, Ramo coming last, to
stand with his arms folded and his
head bent down upon his chest.
BE seated said Mr.. Critic, and his
voice sounded solemn and strange.
There was rustling as the SER
wants sat down in row near the
door, Ramo doubling his legs beneath
him and crouching on the floor.
"The last will and testament of John
Arthur Capel, late Colonel in the
Honorable East India Company's serv-
ice, Special Commissioner with her
Highness the Rance of Illahad; Resi-
dent at the court of her Highness the
Begun of Rahahbad."
So read the confidential solicitor
and friend of the deceased, in a husky
voice, his gold-rimmed glasses helping
him to decipher the brown writing or
Endorsement of the yellow parchment
Then he continued:
IT have followed out the instructions
of the deceased to the letter, so far;
and now, in continuance of these in
structions. in your presence, proceed
to break this SEAL"
CHA PTER "