Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-15

tue COlldSSSs WueI6 ne was SO wei
come when a boy, and smoke and chat;
but usually he kept to his room.
But wherever he went he was the OBJ
served of all observers. Every night
the little club that met in the bush"
parlor talked about him, and wondered
why he didn't go to the Hurst, and
whether he would be the new squire.
The day of the funeral arrived at
last-a cold, wet day, that foreshad-
owed the approaching autumn; and
Jack put on his black suit-made by
the village tailor who had described
Stephen as a nice-spoken gentleman
and went up to the Hurst.
1t was the first time he had been
near it since the night he had the
scuffle with Stephen on the lawn; and,
to Jacks eyes, it looked gloomier than
ever.
AS he entered the hall, a shrunken
figure in shabby black came to meet
him; it was old Skettle, Hudsley's
clerk.
The old man peerd at him curiously,
and made him a respectful bow in re-
spouse to Jacks blunt greeting, and
opened the library door.
Mr.. Hudsley was standing at the
table, and looked up with his wrinkled
face and keen eyes-not trace of ex-
preston beyond keenness in them.
Jack shook hands with him and looked
around.
where is Stephen" he said.
AS he spoke the door opened and
Stephen entered. Jack, frank and
candid, stared at him with astonish-
ment.
"Are we ready?"
And they passed out.
In silence they stood beside the
grave while all that was mortal of
Ralph Davenant was consigned to the
earth, and in silence they returned to
the library.
With the same stony, impassive coun-
tenance, Mr.. Hudsley seated himself
at the head of the table; Stephen sank
into a chair beside him, and sat with
his eyes hidden under the white lids;
Jack stood with folded arms beside the
window, glancing at the far-stretching
lawns and watching the servants as
they filed in, long line of black.
When they had all entered Mr.. Hubs
ley drew from his pocket a folded
parchment. slowly put on his spect-
acles. and without looking round,
said:
81 am now about to read the last will
and testament of Ralph Davenant."
There was a pause, a solemn pause,
thea he looked up and said:
"This will was drawn up by me on
January - last year. 1t is the last
will of which l have any cognizance.
A careful search has been made, but
no other document of the kind has been
found. That is so, Mr.. Stephen, is it
not?" and he turned to Stephen so
suddenly that all eyes followed his.
Stephen paused I. moment, then
raised his lids, and with a shake of
his head and sigh murmured an as
sent.
Mr.. Hudsley allowed his keen eyes
to rest on him for an instant, then
slowly looked in the direction Of Jack
"A most careful search" he re-
peated.
Jack, feeling that the remark was
addressed to him, nodded and looked at
the lawn again.
Mr.. Hudsley cleared his throat, and
opened the cracking parchment.
There was an intense silence, so in
tense that Stephens labored breathing
could be heard as plainly as the rain
on the windows.
In the same dry, hard voice Mr..
Hudsley began to read. Clause by
clause, wrapped in the beautiful legal
jargon in which such documents are,
for some inscrutable reasons, worded,
no one understanding the import, but
suddenly familiar words struck upon
the ear. They wer the servants lega-
cies, and a mourning ring to Mr.. Huds-
ley; then. in a stiffness that was OPP
pressive, there fell the words:
ITO my nephew. Stephen Davenant, I
will the whole and sole remainder of
all I possess, be it in lands or money,
LOhoCo vi oCCuAAllCos oil anu VI every
kind of property, deducting only the
aforementioned legacies."
A thrill ran through the assemblage.
every eye turned, as if magnetized, to
the white, death-like face of the heir.
There he sat, the new squire, the
owner of Hurs tLeigh and the uncount-
ed thousands of old Ralph Davenant,
motionless, white, too benumbed to
tremble.
Slowly Mr.. Hudsley read over the
signatures, and then slowly commenc-
ed to fold the parchment.
Then, from the shadow Of the cur
tains, Jack emerged pale, too, but with
cool, calm dignity.
Quite quietly, and with perfect self
possession, he came to the table and
looked at the dry. wrinkled face.
$50 I understand, Mr.. Hudsley. that
the squire has left me-nothing"
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