The Atlanta constitution., 1900-10-29

Anu WHAT Is 10 ndppeIi IL h"ii :" "O"NA'
or so of rival claimants turn up!
Then the one who puts In his ciaim
| first must be my successor MY dear MT.
Burke, that is an unlikely contingency
| remember the fruitless efforts / have al
ready made
Eyes, indeed, 1 must say, my good iady'
I think all these arrangements waists
| of ink and parchment which Will nave ho
result whatever, except to make every
one uncomfortable What the-ahem! L
mean, what on earth do you want Win
another heir? Haven't l found you one
the most charming girl In all ireianu'
| and an O'Neill every inch OF her!
"Mr Burke, you forgot that thougn
nv blood runs in her veins. 1T is mixed
with heaven knows what compound oe-
rived from a variety of low-borr ances-
tors: I'm n word, she belongs to the de-
generate branch of the O'Neills-a fact
which ] should be willing to overlook IL
she were a man. but she isn't
well so much the better. madam. so
much the better: isn't she much mora
likely to carry out your plans than any
great hulking hobblc-de-hoy!
MOLLY is certainly a dea> child sign
ed the old lady regretfully. but she has
no head for business. She would never
keep the people In order-and as for un-
derstanding the management of large
estate-Nr. Burke. she doesn't know
turnip from a mangold.
But she can learn. then: III engage
she'll learn fast enough. or she can take
n husband to look after 1t for her
Just so."-trumphantly. ''As you see.
7 have provided for her in that way.
You may shake your head. but / tell you
I have a conviction that some day or
other my dream will be realized. and
hat v,ilI NJ s.
tie. with Molly at his side"
"Of all the extraordinary, inexplicable.
mad" began Mr.. Burke. whose self pos
session was fast desertng him. lie
checked himself. however. and then went
on more calmly: 'NIiss O'Neill. ] think,
on reflection, you will see that your pro-
visions are not only strange. but UNJUST
If Molly happens to he already married
before the advent of the suppositious
claimant If the latter have a wife, or
chance to be a woman himself'-Mr.
Burke was getting rather confused in
his excitement-"everythi is to be made
over to the said claimant, who may be
all that is vile and abominable for aught
you know. and this good. clever, pretty
girl to be turned out with a beggarly
G5,o00r'
wen. considering that she does not
at this moment possess five thousand
pence" returned the lady, blandly. II
don't see that 1t is altogether unhand-
some of me-.
Mr. Burke was worsted for the moment.
and shifted his ground TO n new point of
attack.
Again. do you mean to tell me Sc
riously that under any circumstances, a
compulsory marriage could be brought
about in THESE dayS?'
THE conditions must be put very plain
ly; no marriage, no money" said Miss
O'Neill, nodding emphatcally. Il have
purposely made them stringent"
well, l call it a crying shame" shout
ed Mr.. Burke, quite forgetting himself.
1T simply means beggary for Molly.
That's what 1t means"
But what" retorted Miss ONeill, ''is
to prevent Molly from falling in love with
my heir. when he appears?-and he, l am
quite sure, will not be able to help falling
in love with her. The terms of my WILL
If a little stringent. will be the more like
ly To make them think of the matter Sc
riously. Now, Mr.. Burke, there is no need
for further discussion; have quite made
up my mind. and If you were to talk from
this till Doomsday / should not alter it.
Please draw out the documents straight
way In due form"
Very well. Miss ONeill, L have made
my protest and have no more to say. But
/ must remark" proceeding. as is usual,
after such a preamble to say a good deal
that you are preparing nice future for
your heirs. whoever they may be, and
employment for the lawyers of Ireland
for some years to come. Most of the
property will go to them, | should think;
and Molly and the claimant will be hand
ed the proverbial oystershells. The
claimant, indeed; the Tichborne case Is
n joke to this"
"I wonder you should excite yourself
so. Mr. Burke; I thought you considered
these provisions of mine mere waste OF
ink and parchment. and looked on my
heir as n purely hypothetical person
age"
well, so I do" returned the other de-
family. II think SO still But L don't
say that there won't be litigation over
your will, for | am sure there will be
confound-I mean n very great deal L
don't suppose any one ever made such
will before. i wonder how many spurious
O'Neills will appear. and how many false
stories will be trumped up. and documents
forged 1t will simply invite litigation.
madam"
Then It will be your fault II IT does.
said the OLD lady. WITH uchSH'iui ii'c""-
sequence. You should see to that. you
know. My goodness, if lawyer can't
draw up a will which won't admit of liti-
cation, he is, with every respect to you.
not worth his salt. That is my opinion"
aha! beaten on every point. ex-
claimed Miss O'Neill. Confess now, you
are no match for me. Am not first
rate logician?'
"I see II is useless TO argue with you."
said Mr.. Burke, nettled at this incursion
into professional grounds.
'Mamam,' growled Mr.. Burke, you
are woman
CHAPTER TX.
CHANGES.
Molly obtained another situation with
out much difficulty, and after some weeks
i.i-.l. LIZ ~x.....