Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-08-11
CHAPTER I.

III
was, like you, incredulous at first; but
I heard the will read, and I assure you
that Mrs. Hardman has left me six thou
sand pounds"
II cannot believe It, Darcy. Zee how
nv hands tremble! I have hardly the
strength to speak. It Is impossible. Blk
thousand pounds! oh, Darcy, II there
should be any mistake, let me Know II at
once, before I begin to found any hopes
upon such good fortune-before ! take
II into my heart of hearts rs truth.
"Niy dear Kate, there Is no mistake
there can he no mistake. The money Is
our own, and will be paid to us when the
estate Is settled"
..six thousand pounds! Why, Darcy.
that means three hundred year, does u
notT' a.,
certainly" replied Darcy Lonsdale--
"properly invested"
"And three hundred a year means free,
dom from anxiety, from the constan' VI.
of trying to make both ends meet ~
means larger and better house, gov.
erness for the children. On. Darey' ho"
can we be thankful enoughT
"Ny dear Kate" said the lawyer SIM
My, IL assure you that for some time
after I Ind heard II did not know how
I felt, The most pleasant part OF 1t was
coming home to tell you. l knew how
delighted you would be-
"Haye you told Felix?" asked the anx'
ious wife.
mo. I have not seen him yet. cap
take him into partnership now. We have
had a hard struggle together, Kate, but
II il almost over. Yesterday felt that
the world was my master, to-day ! feei
that I have mastered the world.
I'VE must take Vale House;s it's to DC
let" remarked Mrs. Lonsdale. IT IL
iust such n house a. ! have always long.
ed for; II il no large, 80 convenient, and
has A much better drawing room than
that OF the Mertons. What do you think,
ayes: I think we might take Vale
House. I will 70 out to-day and inquire
about the rent, rates and taxes"
"yNhat will Mrs. Merton sayf' unused
Mrs. Lonsdalc. =,
"Never mind about that" replied the
LAWYER. IAN that we have to do In to en-
joy our good fortune. Kiss mo. Kate,
and we will not forget to thank heaven
together"
The sneakers were Darcy Lonsdnle and
his wife. Darcy Lonsdale was the prin-
cipal lawyer In the clean and well'buiit
town of Iilfofd In LOomshire--a man
who had had hard hand.to.hand strug'
Gle with the world. He had been twice
married. His first wife died In her TWEEN.
tieth year, leaving an only son, Felix; and
ten years afterward the lawyer married
again, His second wife was a blithe.
bonny, rosy girl who loved him with all
her heart, and thought NO one In the
wide world 70 clever, 30 great or 90 GOOD
For his sake she took little Felix to mel
heart, and loved the dark.haired, hand
some boy 40 much a. she did her own
children. Darcy L0nsdale was . very
happy man: he had q charming wife
beautiful children, good practice. and
he liked work. The one pride OF bis life
was his tall, handsome son Felix, 10
whom the honest. simple-heartcd lawyer
had concentrated all bis hopes and am
Billions. The "small army" Of children
were all under twelve, 30 that he COULD
not build any hopes on them at present.
Among his clients was an eccentric
widow named Martha Hartman, and
Darcy Lonsdale had for twenty year
been her faithful friend. adviser ant
Sulde, She said to him laughingly one
"You win have something to thank mi
for when I am dead"
"How can thank you when you arr
deadf" he asked.
"You will see," she replied. "You hav'
done everything for me since you begai
to practice; but ! shall not let you max
my will. Tell me whom you would I'D
40 do
Thinking that she was In 4 capriciOu
mood, he answered:
"eend for George Malcolm; he IL NJ
honest lawyer and an honest man. Blu
why not let me make your WILL Mrs
Hsrdman2'
"Rscau.e am going to leave you some
thing In It," .,
He laughed at the time, giving littl
heed to what she said, and soon after
ward be forgot oil about the incident
Three years later Mrs. Hardman died
aud her nephew, her helr-at'law, cam
upon the scene. Darcy Lonsdale had a
her papers, an exact list Of oil her MOI
eys, her deeds, lenses. documents OF W
rious klnds-but he had no will.
did she make will?" asked the hell
at.law.
"r cannot tell" replied Darcy Lon,
dale. II have certainly drawn up n
will for her."
HAS she ever mentioned . will?" pnl
sued James Hardman.
Suddenly the lawyer remembered tbs
she had mentioned q will, and his fac
flushed o. he thought OF the conversation
James Hartman looked at him susp
ci0usiy.
"She did speak Of her will to me once
she told me that ] should not draw
up for her, and asked we to name son
lawyer. I told her that George MalcOl
was an honest lawyer and an honest maj
but I never heard whether she sent Z.
him or not"
"You know, Of course, OF what h
property consists, aud that ] am her bel
at-lawY'
eyes," was the cheerful reply; ~
have often talked about you. ! can gi'
you the particulars Of the late Mr.
Hardman's property"
After the funeral George Malcol
came with the will, and the instruction
that be had received from Mrs. Har
man. 1t was read aloud; and then
was discovered that the lady had le
WOODBURY. and six thousand pounds
her nephew, James Hartman. while
her true friend and adviser. Darcy Lon
dale, IN acknowledgment Of his loI
friendship and faithful services, she hi
beQueathed the sum Of six thOusal
pounds.
On hearing that. the lawyer, delight
with the intelligence, hurried home to