Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-08-20

claims, on concluding Just the thing!
Hand me that pen," he adds, drawing
his chair closer to the table.
"Bus, General" interposes the
lawyer, still retaining the pen and look
ing into his clients face with an air OF
humble inquisitiveness.
"But what?" demands the General.
"Well, sir, l was going to say some
thing, and would, only have fear of
offending you. Certainly its no affair
of mine, but"
"But what?" again asks the old SOL
der Speak out, Mr.. Violet. You
need have no fear that anything you
say Will annoy me. I'm not so sensi-
tive You may make your mind easy
about that
"Well, General, since you've given
me your permission, l will speak out.
What 1 would say is, that the world
may think it strange"
Think what stranger"
"Your bequeathing the bulk of your
property-indeed, may say all OF it
to your eldest son, and disinheriting
the younger; for by the terms OF the
document I've drawn it amounts to
that"
In emitting this mild protest Mr.
Woolet is not so disinterested as 1t
might seem. He is thinking of cou-
pie of hundred pounds he has lent Mrs.
Mainwaring, on but little better Sc
curity than her own note at hand; and
he knows, or prophetically suspects,
who is the most likely person he will
some day have to call upon for repay
mcnt of that loan, with the compC una
interest accruing. Indeed, this client,
the Colonels widow, has as good as
told him whoa family secret contiGed
to her family solicitor. He fancies
he knows even more than the testator
himself-that the Generals youngest
son will one day, not distant, be the
husband of Mrs. Mainwaring's daugh-
ter. Hence his interest in General
Harding's affairs, and the solicitude he
shows that fair play be done to both
the legatees mentioned in the will he
has been directed to draw.
This pause, required for explanation,
does not occur in the action; not so
much as a moment. In instant rejoin-
der to the lawyers protest, General
Harding breaks out:
Hang the world! What do I care
what it says one way or the other? l
suppose my estate is my own, and l
can do what 1 please with it,"
"Oh, of course, sir; of course you
CANT
well, that's what l please doing
about it. And what l intend, too. I've
good reasons for making this DISPOSE
ton of my property. However, that's
nobody's business, and certainly not
yours, Mr.. Violet"
Certainly not General l hope you
will pardon me for speaking as I've
done. l only"
mo apology needed, sir. I feel no
offense, as l promised you l shouldn't.
But now let us finish this affair. Give
me the pen. You say it's ready for
signing?"
Its but a rough copy, General
Won't you wait till have it engrossed?
My clerk will do that in a few minutes.
mo; / don't want anything better
than this. Besides, Mr.. Woole:, | may
as we'll say to youth confidence-that
l don't wish this matter mentioned out
of doors. l can trust you to keep Sc
cret, l suppose?"
General! the secrets of a solicitors
office-I mean respectable solicitor
are as safe as those of the confessional
You need have no fear of word of this
ever reaching the ear of the public"
I'm trust you" laconically rejoins
the General, STOPPING to the table and
appending his name to the document
which the lawyer has headed: Last
Will and Testiment of General Hard
ing of Beechwoods Park, Bucks"
AS the testator makes the flourish
under his name, a curious expression
pervades his countenance-a smile
half-cunning, half-quzzical; so slight,
however, as to escape the solicitors
observation sharp as he is, and astute
as he supposes himself.
This needs witness?" says the Gen
eraI after signing.
1.-TWO are required to make it legal
document: that is the statute"
Il suppose you can be one yourself,
Mr.. Violet. Have you any objection?"
Not the slightest l shall be most
happy-feel honoured
About the other. My footman or
coachman-shall 1 have one of them
in?"
No necessity for that. My clerk
will do just as well.
"Oh, thank you. So he will"
"Jenners. Mr.. Jenners!" calls the
lawyer.
AS a ghost from the grave, the ca
daverous face of the clerk, prompt upon