The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-05-02
THE CHANGED WILL

IA OAtAf AAAhA - AN>nAAAA OF NNALNa "a. Ut
Lagarde. however. was colossaly rich.
and all Albert's fine show was kept I'd
ut his expense
After having thrown sufficient dust
In the eyes Of the world Of Y. 1t the
end Of about two years Lieutenant de
Serrigny thought it was time to change
from his cool indifference toward the
feminine element. The daughter OF the
general was his selection
The general was widowcr. an old
African campaigner. frank and brusQue.
Serrigny began the siege in military
fashion.
General. love Mile. Jeanne. win
you give your consent to my marriage
with her:"
Give me your hand. lieutenant You
can be my son-in-law."
As 10 fortune. general continued
De Serriguy. Il know how much mon
ey adds to happiness. and would new
er have thought of Nile. Jeanne if I
had not enough 20 keep her in a state
betting her rank"
Enough. lieutenant You are a gen
tleman. l understand an that"
Thanks to the compiaiSauce Of an IN
scrupulOuS notary and the connivauce
OF his sister. Nine. lie Lagardc, Albert
was able 10 arrange contract showing
an income of $4,000. 10000 Of which
lie made as settlement on his YOUNG
wife. Two months after himself and
his young wife were spending their
honeymoon under the blue sky of Pro
vence.
Albert apparently was wildly gay aud
happy. Nevertheless he was not with
out subjects of preOccupation. The fu-
ture was Swallowed by clouds. debts
pressing everywhere around. and for
the present no possible means of pay
ing them. For Nine. de La-ardc. to sat
isfy the eXigencieS Of the marriage of
her brother. had exhausted an her re-
sources. even every possible pretonse
OF obtaining money from her husband.
The lieutenants last demand for
money had been without the least re
suit and on receipt OF his sisters cx-
cuses be had replied 10y a letter full OF
vindictivcness and bitterness. contain
ing. among other things. the following
suggestion:
You would not even put an end 70 the
old monkey faced miscr. Then We might
CO as We liked with his money.
Then one night at Nice on his return
from the theatcr Serrigny found tele-
gram which had been forwarded from
Cannes:
Husband died suddenly At O'Clock.
Come at once. fIENRIETTE
1t was an unexpected piece of news.
but not too hard TO be borne
Albert. without a change OF express
sion. passed the telegram to his wife
and as she seemed very much sur
prised and saddened said with sigh
as full Of relief as OF regret.
What can we do. my darling? 1t IS
very hard on Henriette. TO be sure. but
when couple are SO very badly as
sorted such premature separa tons
must be expected"
The next day while travelling huS-
band and wife thought vaguely now
and again that they were going to see
some one Inferred. but that was all.
Albert was irreproachable IN the
manner with which he performed the
last duties for his brother-in-law. Then.
the distressing functions over. he went
back to V. with his sister. preSum-
ably to distract her from the contem-
platon Of her sorrow. in reality TO wait
feverishly, neryously for the opening
of the will
For there was n will. VI. Oncsime
Gaudarey, notary. had announced II on
the day Of the funeral. adding that
after the usual conventional delay lie
would make known lis contents 10
those interested.
The important day came at last. Ser
rigny, becoming more and more anx- .
ious. got permission to remain away
from parade in order TO have the news .
at the earliest possible moment.
At 3 o'clock Nine. de Lagarde was
with her brother, telling In few
words the terrible details of the will.
NJ. Lagarde left TO his widow an in
come of 5000 francs which could nei-
Their be transferred nor negotiated. The
Of his immense fortune was
left to distant relatives and public
charities.
And, detail most overwhelming OF
NIL dN'dCheu 10 lbe VIII was a certain .
letter of Albert de Serrigny's which
ended in these words:
You would not even put an end TO the
old monkey faced mlser. Then we might
DO as we liked with his money
Across the letter in red ink was writ
ten:
This is the only reason for my present
Will Were II not for this letter my wife
would have had all possess.
1t was the husband who had re-
eeived the letter, and he took good care
never TO show it to Nine de Lagarde.
The Vicomte de Serrigny was
obliged to quit the army, and while
his wife is seeking a divorce from him
II Is stll his sister who. touched with
pity, gives him a home and secures
him from want.
Almost According to BurbaEe.
Inc London Daily News inclines to
n h..