The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-06-06
Mr.. TOmpkins' Will
Did the Spirits Gary Out the Wishes
of the Dying Mani

d OF the Lying Hanf 4
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Il never was what you may call SUI
perstitlous," said Il lawyer from the
country as he sat In the courtroom
awaiting the judge, but | had an ex-
perience once that has ever since in
duced me not TO scoG ut what is called
the supernatural. Mr.. Tompklns was
one of the first clients my father, who
WIS lawyer, ever had He was
wealthy and had, IA was supposed,
never been married He lived In an
old homestead not far from n well
known city up the state, and his wants
We're attended to by an elderly house
keeper and several servants, male and
female, After became n lawyer II
WAS my duty to see Mr.. Tompklns
quite frequently In relation TO his prop
erty and 50 forth. He was kindly
man, somewhat reserved, and, when l
first knew him, probably 60 years of
age. lie had strong personality both
rs to appearance and character. He
WIS over six feet and stout In proper
ton. Ills face WAS always clean shay
ed, and he wore his hnir long. When
| knew him, 1t had turned TO gray, but
was as abundant rs ever. His carriage
WAS erect, and his general appearance
was such as, If once observed. could
not well be forgotten
Mr. Tompkins was In the habit of
spending good deal of time away
frem home, and the impression of my
father and myself was that he WINS re-
euperatIng In Florida. He went and
returned without notice, and his do
mestlCs, being used to his ways, never
troubled themselves ut his absence
while ut the same time they We're cX-
ceedingly careful to have everything
ready for his reception whenever he
might return. Neither to me nor 10 my
father did he ever utter any cXplana-
ton of his absences from home or
make any allusion to them whatsoever
.One day Mr.. TVmpklus came Ia n..'
Office and asked fOr my father. lie
WAS not IN Just then. and Mr. Tomp-
klns sat down and talked with me. He
asked me how | had spent my time ut
college and about my associates and
my age and many other things. After
pnuse which lasted some moments
he sald
"'You hive reached that age when
you should marry. Tho best thing In
the world for you is to get n Wife as
soon MS you can take care of one. A
man Is safer when he marries early
-.I ~ window mud
my father coming toward the Office
My father Is coming, | said.
"Mr. Tompkins arose and glanced to-
ward the street Then he stepped to
one side aud appeared 10 me to be
brushing something Off his coat sleeve
The next instant lie wheeled right
round, staggered and fell. My father
entered just Mt the time, and both of
us FASTENED to raise Mr. Tompklns and
place him on n chair. We sent for his
physician right away, aud when he
came he said that Mr.. Tompltins was
suffering from nm attack of apOplexy.
lie was conveyed to his home, and the
best attendance was procured for him.
MY fathers impression was that his
NlltDt IlHAl tOlllt W STU nllll WI hphiN I'M
portant business, for he never visited
the office unless n matter IN which he
was deeply and anxlously Interested
impelled him TO do so, His usual GUS
tom was to send his carriage for my
father when he desired to consult him.
What the subject could be which in
duced Mr.. Tomnl,Ins to visit the office
70
could divine.
I'VE talked over the incident long
aud carefully, and IN the course Of the
conversation | mentioned TO my father
some facts which II had not struck me
before were Of sufficient importance to
mention. II was not often that at that
time IN my history visited New York.
In fact, up to the time Of which |
speak had been to the city only twice.
1t was circumstance which occurred
on my last visit that | mentioned to
my father The business that took me
to the city was In relation 10 some doc
uments affecting wooded lands up the
state In which client WAS Interested.
met mn old college friend, and one
day he and went down TO Long
Branch together. After taking in the
sights we were naturally hungry and
went 10 the best hotel we could select.
Seated at table near to Us was par
ty consisting Of an elderly gentleman
and lady aud several yonng people OF
both sexes. ranging from ; to ~ years.
The gentleman was seated with his
hack tu me and II struck me that |