The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-06
IL 4 NATTER = II
l. Of WILLIONS. -
-4 s's "a d s1eo<&t~
By Anna Katharine Grssu Author % # .Ens s, sor''A'n
SONS
3 Dy Auud hdihdilHS uIeSu, lnn,' Etc.

NO mdller now large tue DULL 10,
the larger the better, I say. Ah! this
is delight after years of vain desire
and want
1.-The lawyer drew up a small table,
placed upon it writing materials, and
began to fill in the draft Of a will
which he had brought with him. While
he was doing this talked with the
doctor, and lent such assistance as was
necessary to make the dying man COM
Portable and keep up his strength.
When it came time for him to name the
person to whom he wished to leave
his money I withdrew as far from him
as possible, but the room was too
small for me to escape hearing the
eager whisper that left Mr.. Delancys
lips, even if the words had not been the
familiar ones:
"'Hamilton Degraw.' 4.
"'You wish-'the lawyer stammered,
as much taken back as I was myself.
"'To leave all my property, real and
personal, to this gentleman, whose
name you say is Hamilton Degraw.'
"'But,' now cried, with an embar-
rassment easily to be understood; I
am a stranger to you; as much of a
stranger as either Of these gentlemen.
1 pray you to reconsider this matter.
I do not need your wealth. Besides
"'Don't waste the precious moments,
he entreated, with burst of his omin-
Gus cough. You are a stranger, but
you have a face like my brother
Frank. He was the most loyal soul
alive, and so 1 believe are you. And
that is what I want; loyalty and truth
in my heir. They will both be needed,
I forewarn you. Write down the
name,' he now commanded the lawyer,
and be sure you make the will legal or
I will rise from my grave to reproach,
you
There was no use in trying further
discussion. He was in full possession
of his faculties, as even the doctor was
ready to swear, but he was growing
very weak, and opposition robbed him
Of even the slight remains Of strength
which were still left him. Mr.. Cutting.
who was pale as the paper on which
he wrote, put down my name, as re-
qpested, and then, asking the doctor
to call in his man from the buggy be-
fore the door he put the pen in the
dying mans fingers and watched him
breath1essly, as We all did, no more
than the rest-while he scrawled those
few lines which in one moment raised
me from a gentleman of respectable
means into man Of fortune.
"The sigh of relief which followed
the completion Of his signature came
from his breast, not mine. I was in
daze, and realized little Of the impor-
tance Of the moment. I did not even
fully comprehend the looks Of pardon
able astonishment and good-natured
sympathy that passed between the two
professionals present, or notice when
or how the witnesses affixed their
names to this most hurried and re-
markable Of wills. I was only con-
scious of a great oppression, as If a
burden under which I felt unable to
stagger had just fallen upon my shoul-
ders, and was greatly relieved when
the sick man called me by name and
said:
NOW I am going to tell you what
I wish you to do with this money If
these gentlemen will only leave US
alone
"The lawyer, who had just stepped
forwardHto offer me his hand in con-
graduation, stopped and looked as if
he did not know whether to continue
this ceremony or not But when he
observed my relieved countenance he
grew quite cheerful, and warmly
wringing'my hand whispered:
cit is a matter Of three million,
Degraw; so be careful what you prom.
ise.'
~ stared; I could not take IN the
figures at first, but when did I felt
actually chilled as if dash Of cold
water had been thrown upon me.
Three million! I hardly dared to look
the reckless giver Of this fortune in
the eye. Three million! And two
hours before I had neither heard his
name nor he mine. What mystery
thought L; I hope he will tell me what
he wants me to do with all this
money
1.-THE two gentlemen had by this
time withdrawn into the hall, the doc
tor whispering as he passed me:
Raise your voice if you See him
going. There is nothing more we can
do. for him now but close his eyes
"a task which it seemed for the mo-
ment as if we should not be called
upon to perform, for when turned
toward him he already lay like one in
his last rest, save that his hands still
moved among the blossoms ! had given
him. But when he felt me near he
raised his heavy eyelids and beamed
upon me with an inexplicable smile
that was at once sad and searching.
"'Will it be great disappointment
to you to lose the use Of the money
have just put into your hands?
my cheeks flushed; it was little
hard to see the prospect of so much
wealth dissolve into nothing, with a
suddenness equal to its coming, but
my tone, I am sure, showed no real
regret as I answered:
"It is your wealth, and 7 have not
the shadow"of q claim upon it. What
ever you wish me to do with it will
do; that you may rely upon
Even if it involves trouble and sac
rifce?
"'MoSt decidedly,'