Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-01-05
Qontinued.

be present at this mummery, to have
for my SHARE hundred pounds to BUY
mournl{Ag, and I vow I'll spend It IN
Chin2fsse mourning, and wear yellow
INST cad OF black. Why don't these
fen come up, instead OF sitting
r. smoking in that dining-room and
leaving us alone In this mausoleum
OF a place. Here, ring, and send
for them; I'm getting nervous. too. I'm
catching 1t 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
Katrlne.
Are you nearly ready for the play,
Mr.. Capel?" che said, after time.
"The play" he exclaimed.
Yes; the curtain will rise directly.
How do you feel, Gerard?"
"oh, don't know. want to hear
how many chips the old boy has left
me. Doosid glad to get out OF this
tomb. say. would you mind me
lighting clgar?"
II don't mind" said Katrine,
lightly.
Would you mind. Miss Lawrence?'
"Mind--your smoking--here?" said
Lydia. hastily. II don't think l
should. but"
mo, no." said Capel, at is impos-
sible. For Heavens sake. pay lit
tie respect to the ladies, II you can not
70 the dead"
Artls started TO his feet.
Look here, Paul Capel," he cried.
angrlly, "you have taken upon your
self. several times since I have been
locked UP here with you, to use con-
foundedly offensive language to me.
How dare you speak to me like thatT
"Darel' cried Capel. rising. "Pooh!"
he calculated, throwing himself back,
and glanelng at KatrIne. whose eyes
seemed to fash with eager pleasure,
while Lydia half rose. with extended
hands; II am forgetting myself.
Lydia sunk back with a sigh, while
Katrine's eyes flashed and her lip
curled.
Forgetting YOURSELF" cried Arts.
by Joye, sir, you've done nothing
else! 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 IL Mr. Critic"
Tho door opened, and Charles en-
.xttt tutn luh nnn1Inty
one In each hand, preceding Mr..
Critic. who came In bearing large tin
deed-box. This he slowly proceeded
to place upon the carpet beside small
table on which Charles deposited the
candlestloks,
II think am punctual," said the
lawyer, taking his old gold watch
from his fob and replacing Il with n
nod. eyes. nearly half past eleven.
Charles, will you summon all the
servants? think every one Is men,
toned in the WILL" he added. as
Charles left the room. "You will ex-
cuse all formalitles. am strlttly
pbeying instructions as to time and
place."
The old gentleman took a jlngling
bunch of keys from his pocket. bent
down and opened the tin box from
which he took out "a square folded
parchment. crossed with broad green
ribbons and bearing a great seal. This
he laid upon the table before him. and
sinking back in his chair proceeded to
deliberately take snuii.
A dead silence relgned. and, In spite
of himself, Paul Capel felt agltated
and sought from time to time to
catch Katrine's eye; while Lydia
looked from one to the other, sadly
and Gerard Artls lay back in his
chair.
Tho 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 rustlng as the ser.
wants sat down in a 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 scrv.
Ice, Special Commissioner with hel
Highness the Rance OF 1llahad. Resi-.
dent at the court OF her Hlghness the
Begun OF Rahahbad."
So read the confidential solicito,
and friend Of the deceased. in husk,
voice, his gold-rimmed glasses helplns
him to decipher the brown writing o,
Endorsement or the yellow parchment
Then he continued:
Il have followed out the instruction,
of the deceased to the letter, SO far
and now, In continuance OF these In
structlons, in your presence, proceed
TO break this seal"
CHAPTER V.
NJ. II