Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-14

Hall restrained an overwhelming
curiosity. Where did you find it?" he
asked family.
"Ah, curious. Most curious. An &C.
centric man, your uncle, Mr.. Boni-
stelle. 1t was found in his library. In
fact, if you will believe me, between
the leaves of his own book mean, of
course, the one he wrote himself
Race Suicide and How to Prevent It,
l believe it is called. / have not yet
had the pleasure of reading it."
Mr.. Doremus stopped, and gave the
young man a steady inspection. Il
understand that you will be twenty
eight upon the fourth of May, Mr..
Bonistelle. Am l correct?"
yes. Tomorrow. Why?"
Mr.. Doremus solemnly held up his
hand. "Wait!" he commanded. Let
me, before I go through the whole
document, read this one clause"
Flodie, peeping through the door,
was breathlessly listening. Hall was
growing white.
"Er-here it isl. Mr.. Doremus pro-
ceeded to read soberly. 1.-THE residue
of my estate l leave to my beloved
nephew, Hall Cutler Bonistelle, on con-
dition that he is married before he
reaches the age of t~wenty-eight
years."
"Oh, l knew it! Well, it's all up
then-just my luck!"
eff, however, at the beginning Of
his t~wenty-eighth birthday he is still
unmarried, this residue shall be the
property of my beloved cousin, Jonas
Hassingbury, as a testimony to our
youthful friendship" Mr.. Doremus
looked up.
Hall was scowling. Lets see it,"
he demanded, and he took the instru-
mept, and read the clause over to HIM
self, while Mr.. Doremus' eyes drifted
slowly about the apartment. "How
much will the residuary legatee re-
~ceive?" Hall asked weakly.
ooh, upward of four millions, / ex-
pect," said Mr.. Doremus with junction..
"And l lose all that, just because I'm
a single mani" Hall dropped, limp
and gloomy, into a chair.
Mr.. Doremus bowed soberly. your
uncle held strong views, Mr.. Boni-
STEELE. He firmly believed in marriage.
He thought it a duty. He maintained
high ideals for the future of the race"
ooh, for heavens sake!" cried Hall,
Il know all about that. Didn't Uncle
John talk me to death on the subject?
Why didn't he get married himself?"
ia ,~ 1DxyA n fair nm
derstand, prevented his putting his
own theories into practice" said Dore-
mus. II think-mind, l do not say SO
~positively-but it is possible that, had
you-knowing, you understand, his Pc
culiar theories"
"Acted accordingly" said Hall.
Married on the chance of becoming
his heir? Bright idea! But it's too late
now. Lord!"
at is, as you say, too late, practical
1y, I presume" Mr.. Doremus remarked,
but, legally, l must remind you that
the time has not yet expired. You
have until midnight, you understand,
in which to qualify for the inheritance.
Much has been done in fourteen hours,
Mr.. Bonistelle."
fourteen hours!" Hall repeated.
"Why, fourteen days would be little
enough time. You can't put a thing
like marriage through on a time sched-
ule, you know, a you?"
II confess l do not know" said Mr..
Doremus, rising.
Hall sat in a brown study, regarding
his boots, as Mr.. Doremus prepared to
leave. Flodie, her eyes bright with
excitement, tiptoed back into the Of
fee.
Mr.. Doremus deposited the paper
upon the table. "Well, l shall leave
you this copy to inspect at your
leisure. You may not be aware that l
am a justice of the peace, Mr.. Boni-
STEELE. l shall be quite willing to &C.
commodate you, should you find a
bride. l think l could perform as cred
table a ceremony as any clergyman
at half price!" He chuckled at the
idea.
Hall, In no mood for jests, rose and
followed him. where's Cousin Jonas
Mr.. Hassingbury?" he asked. Lord,
he ought to be a happy man, about
now!"
Mr.. Doremus paused. Il took the
first opportunity of te%legraphing to
Mr.. Hassingbury," he said, Informing
him of the provisions of J. B. Boni'
stelle's will. l requested his immedi-
ate appearance in town, and have no
doubt that he will arrive here some
time during the day" S
think of that old hypocrite getting
all that money!" Hall exclaimed.
Lord it makes me ill-he1l be a thou
sand times more disgusting than ever,
with his religious bosh and his charity
talk!"
Mr.. Doremus lifted an eloquent fin
ger. CAS- an executor, you understand
l must preserve an attitude of strict