Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-14

Cali WesDe
my dear Kate said the lawyer, sim
ply, II assure you that for some time
after l had heard it l did not know how
/ felt The most pleasant part of it was
coming home to tell you. | knew how
delighted you would be-"
"Have you told Felix?" asked the anx,
ious wife.
''No. I have not seen him yet. | can
take him into partnership now. We have
had hard struggle together, Kate, but
it is almost over Yesterday l felt that
the world was my master, to-day | feel
that | have mastered the world"
'We must take Vale House; it is to be
let" remarked Mrs. Lonsdale. 1T is
Just such a house as have always long
ed for: it is so large, so convenient, and
has much better drawing room than
that of the Mertons. What do you think,
DarcyY'
YES; | think we might take Vale
House. i will go out to-day and inquire
about the rent rates and taxes.
"What will Mrs. Merton say" unused
Mrs. Lonsdale.
''Never mind about that" replied the
lawyer. "All that we have to do is to en-
joy our good fortune. Kiss me, Kate,
and we viii not forget to thank heaven
together"
The speakers were Darcy Lonsdale and
his wife. Darcy Lonsdale was the prin-
cipaI lawyer in the clean and well-built
town of Iilford in Loomshire-a man
who had had a 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 blithe,
bonny, rosy girl who loved him with sll
her heart, and thought no one in the
wide world so clever, so great or so good.
For his sake she took little Felix to her
heart, and loved the dark-haired, hand
some boy as much as she did her own
children. Darcy Lonsdale was a very
happy man; he had charming wife,
beautiful children, a good practice, ana
he liked work. The one pride of his life
was his tall, handsome son Felix, in
whom the honest, supplemented lawyer
had concentrated all his hopes and am
billions. The small army" of children
were all under twelve, so that he could
not build any hopes on them at present.
Among his clients was an eccentric
widow named Martha Hardman, and
Darcy Lonsdale had for twenty years
been her faithful friend, adviser and
guide She said to him laoghingly one
day:
"You will have something TO thank me
for when / am dead"
How can | thank you when you are
dead?" he asked.
You will see," she replied. "You have
done everything for me since you began
to practice; but l shall not let you make
my will. Tell me whom you would add
wise me to send for to do So"
Thinking that she was in a capricious
mqQd, be answered;
"Send for George Malcolm; he is an
honest lawyer and an honest man, But
Why not let me make your will, Mrs,
Hartmann"
'Resanse am going to leave you some
thipg IN It."
re laughed at the time, giving little
hee5 to What she said, and soon after
ward he forgot all about the incident.
Three years later Mrs. Hartman died,
and her nephew, her heir-at-law, came
auon the scene. Darcy Lonsdale had all
her papers, an exact list of all her mon
eys, her deeds, leases, documents of va
rious kinds-but he had no will.
did she make will?" asked the heir
at-law.
II cannot tell" replied Darcy Ions
dale. Il have certainly drawn up no
will for her."
HAS she ever mentioned will:" pur-
sued James Hardman.
Suddenly the lawyer remembered that
she had mentioned will, and his face
flushed as he thought of the conversation
James Hardman looked at him suspi.
ciously.
"Shc did speak of her will to me once
she told me that l should not draw II
up for her and asked me 10 name some
| lawyer told her that George Malcolm
was an honest lawyer and an honest man
but / never heard whether she sent foi
him or not"
"You know, of course, of what hel
property consists, aad that am her heir
/ at>lawy'
/ yes" was the cheerful reply; eve
have often talked about Sou. i can give
you the particulars of the late Mrs
Hardmaa's property,
After the funeral George Malcolm
came with the viii, and the instructions
that he had received from Mrs. Hard
man. 1t was read aloud; and then j
| was discovered that the lady had lef
Woodhurn and six thousand pounds 4
| her nephew, James Hardman, while Z
her true friend and adviser, Darcy Ions
dale. in acknowledgment of his soni
friendship and faithful services. she ha'
beoueathed the sum Of six thouSan'
pounds.
On hearing that. the lawyer, delights
with the intelligence, hurried home TO HI
wife. What vista of comfort this les
acy opened out 10 themi For the mrs
time in his long. honorable career IN
| lawyer felt some relief-he could NEE
his expenses now. and when he died Their
would be something for his wife and chi
dren.
Nor was his wife less delighted. In he
heart she had longed for the same lnS
uries that the wives Of other professions
men enjoyed-for drawing room iik
Mrs. MertonS. for a nursery goyernes
such as the doctors wife. Mrs. Dalvcrle,
had engaged. for silk dress Ike the on
that the rector's wife wore
While she sat dreaming with smil
on her face. her stepson. Felix. entere
the room. There was the warmest a
tachment between these swo-kindls III
| ing and respect for his steanlOther on b
] part. the highest admiration and the III
| est love for her stepsan on hers. 81
! | was So young when Darcy I.onsda
brought her 10 the great white sGual
house in Castle street. Lilfevd, that
! seemed absurd to Felix to call her mot
er. As he grew older il appeared to hi
| that, with her soft Italian beauty, q
!, | most suitable title for her was madr
He looked st her now.
] .'Madre," he said. you are aoekir