THE STORY-TELLER. The Lost Will.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STORY-TELLER. The Lost Will.

By GEORGE WILLIAMS. [Arx Rights Reseiivkd.]* i n! 1 !! beg , your P aido "» but Avould you Kindly tell me Avhoso place this is?" It is mine." "I congratulate you. It is charming." Both speakers smiled. Geoilroy l.ascellos waa riding. It Avas his first visit TO Ireland, and Avhile waiting for a, friend who Avas to join him in Dublin, ho aniusod himself by hiring a horso, and exploring the country. The people, with their quaint humour, were a continual ievolution to him, and during his excursions he never missed an opportunity of entoriug into conversation Avith tho peasants. He had been inclined \p doubt, before ho knew them, Avhether thoy Avere as ready as they wore said to be, \mtil one day, ho sprung a test upon tho ostler at the livery stables, by asking him unexpectedly, "If the devil had, to choo-so botAveen you and me, Pat,'wl}om would lie choose?" "ale, your honour, mo," corno tho answer Avithout even the seinblouce of hesitation. I'VVhy?" "Bocouse he is euro of your honour at any time." This put his doubts to flight. He cultivated tho ; native assiduously, and Avas rewarded by many funny^' shrowd sayings, which in tflo evening ho Avould enter in his notebook. His first remark, as most likely to lead to further talK, Avas gonerally Home reference/ to any big house that could be scon from the road, and he Avas only pursuing his usual tactics on this occasion. It Avas a- lovely morning. He had ridden eighteen miles, and was thinking of a halt, and a bite for himself and his horse at tho first farm he came to, when a turn in the road led him to what was . evidently the lodge of an imposing looking country hou&e, part of Avhich. Avas visible through tho trees that surrounded ft. A gentleman, Ayith tAvo terriers at luß heels, AVa# standing lighting a cigar, as Mr. Lascolles rodo up, and it waa to him that he put his invariable question ; but under the circumstances, noting the cigar, the terriers, and the unmistakable bearing of a person h^ addressed, lie raised his hat courteously, without any traco of the easy familiarity which he had found most successful with the horny handed sons of the soil. Tho smile Avas encouraging, so he continued. "Thank you, very npch- I feel I ought to knoAv Avhose place it is, since you havo been so good > as, to tell me, but, as a matter of fact, I don't. My name is Lascelles." This time the other laughed ana said, "CapitaL Even an Irishman, couldn't beat that. I'm afraid I haven't a card with mo, but my name is Fitzgerald. Noav tell me why you Avant to know." "Well, I am afraid I am only a sort of thirsty vagabond. But I must apolofise for trespassing on you in this Avay. f I had known, 1 should never have uttenvpted to quench my thirst at the fountain head." ' ' "Mr. Lascellea, lam a plain man, and I am not good at riddles. What is it you mean?" "I : mean that I am a stranger in. a strange land. I have run over tor a holiday. A "friend *I Was to meet has beeu unexpectedly detained, so I am filling in the time by making acquaintance Avith tUe country. Mounted on my hired steed I go to and fro learning much and enjoying it immensely. The, thirst that is on me is a thirst for information ; and I am very much obliged to you for so goodnaturedly telling me Avhose this beautiful houso is. Good-day, and thank you again. I must pursue my researches further." He boAved, and Avas riding on, when Mr. Fitzgerald said, "Stay a moment, Mr. Lascelles. If you have come from Dublin, your horso will need a rest. Let me offer both you and him hospitality. As you are not pressed for time, you Avill find yourself repaid by a nearer inspection of my old house. 1 must confess to being as proud a» L am fond of it, and I bkiill bo very glad to take you over it. It is quite the show place of tho neighbourhood, and OS a rule, tourists are rather a nuisance to us. But a vagabond's pathetic thirst is a different thing, and I invito you to drink, metaphorically, of course, nothing more questionable thau that." "You are most kind, I shall bo delighted. But a metaphor, as a rule, only holds gtfod up to a cortain point. Beyond that point it is apt to leave something to be desired ; nfter an eighteen mile ride, to bo very much desired," and Mr. Lascelles looked whimsically at his companion, as they tamed in at the gate together. The latter's eyes twinkled with amusement, as he answered gravely, "Yes, I knoAV, metaphors must not bo overstrained," and then with apparent inconsequence, "It is very watm for this time of year." "Very," as3enTed Mr. Lnscellea, and the two understood one another .perfectly. When they had reached the sta&e yard, a groom look charge of tho home, and Mr. Fitzgerald led tho Avay into tho house. It Avas an old building that had been added to by successive generations of Fitzgeralds, the more modern portions being saved from offending the eye by a profusion of creepers, Avhich lent their melloAving harmony to the A^hoie. Thero wero turrets and gables, suggesting ideal nooks and cosy retreats ; and, built as it round three sides of a rpacious quadrangle. The Towers, as tho house Avas called, was a fine cxnmplo of what ono sees only now and then, a faultless and picturesque! tsxterior with no distinctive style of architecture. "Welcome, thirsty vagabond," Mr. Fitzgerald began, ns thoy «tootl at tho open front door, Avaving liis hand, Avith a humorous affect io>i of ponipomiiess ; then with a hurried change ot manner, ns v lady crossed the hfUl, he added, "My dear, let me introduce Mr. Lnscelles, whom good fortune has brought us as our , gueat. Mr. Luscellos my Avife." She greeted him with a frank cordiality, and before luncheon Avas over, he Avas as much at homo with them, as they were with him. Given a certain subtle sympathy, friendships soon ripen, and it was Snot long before they were all on excellent terms. The children claimed him for an hour to show him their ponies, and rabbits, and generally to do the honours of their department, and then the inspection of the house took up the rest of the afternoon. In tho course of it, while his host was called a\ray for a feAV minutes, Mr. Lascelles Avas standing Avith Mrs. Fitzgerald in front of a picture, one amongst many in the Gallery when she J said, ! "There is some sort of mystery connected with tliia Hugh Fitzgerald. He Avas of tho elder branch. But the estate is not flntailed, and my husband's father came in by Avill. An odd report is going about that some person is claiming to bo tho direct descendant of Hugh" (pointing to the picture), "and occasionally we hear of it from our lawyers, but until lately my husband has made light of it. I don't mean that be is at all anxious now, but it appears that tho lawyers find it necessary to put all tho papers in order, so [•Copyright in the -United States of America by D. T« Pierce.]

a» to be ready Bhould any real attack bo made. Of course, it would be a very serious thing for us, and for tho poor children, if anything did go wrong, as I am told this person is thoroughly unscrupulous, and has degenerated into a mere adventurer, who would not hesitate to take adfontugo of any legal technicality." Mr. Lascelles murmured some words of sympathy; when she resumed, "What a bhaine to bother you with all this. 1 always think of it when 1 pass this pioture, but I ought not to spoken of it. Come and sco something plousauter." They ' strolled on, sometimes to look out of a window at some effective point in the landscape, sometimes to bend over a case of miniatures or enamels or dainty ehiim. The gallery was a veritable musciun of troasures, and Mr. Lascelles, who was iui ardiMit lovor of art, was beginning to npprociuto what slr.uigo good luck had befallen him, when Mr. Fitzgerald came back, and said, looking at his watch, "Mr. Lascelles, it is getting late, and it is a long wny,to Dublin. From what you let fall as to your movements, I gather that nothing imperatively compels you to be there to-night. Let us persuade you to waive all ceremony, and stay here. It will bo a great pleasure to us, and I daresay we can. find something more to show you to-morrow before you go." "Yos, do stay," urged Mrs. Fitzgerald. "We will do our best to make you comfortable." "How good of you. I should like nothing better, but—-" looking at his boots. "Oh, never mind that sort of thing. My wife knows you are without your luggage. The necessaries I will supply you with, and we will make shift without the rest." So it was settled. Mr. Lascelles gave another hour to tho children, who were in uproarious spirits at having got their playfellow to themselves again; and then tea- wns brought into the library, where ha remained until dinner time, poring over some manuscripts and illuminated Missals, which • wero the gems of Mr. Fitzgerald's collection. Tho children oame down to dessert, and extorted from Mr. Lascelles the promiso of a romp in the "morning ; they then vanished with their mother, and when the two gentlemen were left to their coffeo and cigarettes, Mr. Fitzgerald remarked— "I always trust a man that children like. Forgive- tho impertinence of my question, but may I ask if you are in any profession?" "Well, no, I am unfortunate in that' respect,' for I have always rather despised an idle man. I once tried to get into Parliament, but they wouldn't have me, and I have never tried again, for in my heart I prefer literature to politics, and I give a good deal of my time to writing. The, rest of it is devoted' to an experiment I am trying. I have a fair-sused place in Warwickshire, and I manage it myself." "That's right," replied Mr. Fitzgerald. "Tgajßiany of us shift our responsibilities on the shoulders of agents. But 1 half thought you were a lawyer, I hardly know why, I suppose the wish wa« father to tho thought." Ho was evidently of tho threatened proceedings his wife had mentioned in the Galloiy, but he made no definite allusion to it, and Mr. Lascelles felt it would havo been an intrusion on* his part to have done so. They went into the drawing room, and when Mars. Fitzgerald retired, they went into the bil* Hard room, and ut about midnight they went to bed. Tho dinner had been light, and cooked to perfection ; the wine Tiad been of the besc, and but little bad been drunk ; neither the music nor th*o billiards could account for it, but as Mr. Lascelles sat before his cheery fire, he found himself growing strangely excited. Something was going to happen. A conviction of this laid hold of him, and kopt him on the alert. He rose presently and opened his door. Tho passago was in absolute darkness, and ho Stood there listening, but no sound was to be heard. He still had this feeling of vague expectation, but nothing happened. After a while he realised that he was tired and* very sleepy, and muttering half aloud, "What nonsense this is," he -shut the door, and veiy soon he was in bed and fast asleep. Then something did happen, but it was only a dream, a vivid,,.but by no means an unploasant dream. Ft was a patchwork of tho day, with its various incidents absurdly enough distorted, but, still reproducing with sufficient accuracy his. arrival ut The Towers, his welcome, and his inspection of tho house and its contents. The conversations were as calmly irrelevant as they usually are in dreams, and a stranger was present, and rooms he had not seen, one especially, were lionised, and several things of that description kept him busily dreaming, till ho woko with a start to find the morning sun streaming into the room. He smiled ;is ho recalled his uneasiness of the previous evonir.g, and the harmless dream which had been the only outcome of it. It assuredly had not been worth worrying about, and before he had finished dressing, he had almost forgotten it. But, as ho \Mi passing tho open doqr of the library. on Pus way to* 'tho dining room, it came back to him, down to its' roiuutest details, for hs saw Mr. Fitzgerald standing by tho window talking earnestly and Avith unmistakeable anxioty to the stranger of his dreum. He recognised him at once, and tho sight of hia faco arrested lub steps, wlMe he suddenly became conscious of the same curious feeling of oxcifcement, which hud perploxed him the night before. Mr. Fitzgerald looked up, and called him to come in. Ho soemed haggard und careworn a 8 he addressed him. "Good morning, Mr. Lascelles, theugh I am sorry to' say that it is a very bad morning for mo. I will not trouble you with what affects only my family and myself. But lam obliged to go lOf Dublin at once on business of tho last importance. - This gentleman has brought me most unexpectedly bad news. I would ask you to go with me, only I should be «uch wretched company for any one. And besides,, it Avould cut short your visit here. If you would do me a favour, stay till I come back to-night, and try to prevent my wife from distressing herself before we knoAV the Avorst. Of course, there may be a best to it, but I am afraid it is not likely," turning to the stronger, who shook his head thoughtfully. "She will tell you nil about it. I can't rest. I have oidered my dogcart, and I am just off. Good-bye for the present." He held out his hand, Mr. Lascelles took it, but did not realise it. His dream Avas strong upon him. "Mr. Fitzgerald," he exclaimed with illsuppressed eagerness, "I can't tell you lioav sorry I am, whatever it may be that you fear. And I daro not tell you what ! is m my mind. You may think me mad —you muy even think me brutal. But there is ono question I must ask you. Yesterday did you show me the whole of your house?" Mr. Fitzgerald made on impatient attempt to disengage his hand. "Really," ho protested, "I did not oxpect this from you. Can't you see that I am not fit to speak of anything but Avhat

is pressing on me so heavily just now?" "Yes, I kriow. But, believe me, tbiu concerns you, not we. Let me ask my question in another way— ls there an octagon room in tha house?" "Octagon room ! Oh, you mean in tho n»nh whig. You noticed it from tha outstido, no doubt. No, we didr?t go there, but Mrs. ffitagerald Avill'take yQU to see it. Gbme, Cameron, we ought to be goiug," and he looked hurt, as he bofl»ed coldly, to M*\ Lasoollea. But tha latter had passed from excitement to act, ual elation, as he, cried — "At the risk of offending you, I beg you to shew me tha tfdtagou room before you start." Mr. Cameron, who had been eyeing him keenly, stepped forward in time tt> prevent an indignant explosion. "The dogoarl is not at tho door yet," bo remarked, "wo still have a few minutes. If you will- allow me I will ba' your friend's guide, whilo you finish those memoranda." As soon as they were in the hall, Mr. Cameron whispered — "I am a junior partner in the, firm of Mr. Fitzgerald's solicitors. I grieve very much to say that I have brought him disastrous iojteLigence. I was 'struck with one thing In your interview with him. What did you mean when you said that yout\seoing tho octagon room concerned him and not you?" "I am ashamed to. tell you. I really" am. Thero may be nothing in it. Bur I am quite willing to be thought a fool on the remote possibility of being of useto him. Even oue chance in ten thousand is not to be neglected as you very well know. Would you mind telling me if any papers are in question?" "One paper is, very vitally, in question. Wo -have- lost all traoe of it. I , much doubt whether it has ever been in our possession. Wo have always underI stood that it was here, but Mr. FiW | gerald knows nothing abdirt it. He thought we had it. If it is lost or destroyed, and it looks uncommonly lake it, I dread to think what bseorue of thw family. But here is th« stone staircase leading up to the octagon room. The door I believe, is never locked. Will you go up by yourself, and — " "No, no, sir," interrupted Mr. Lmcelles, wha could by this time hardly contain himsaLf, "at any cost you inusb come too. It wm your face T wv. It was yt>u who did it before. Oh, I'll explain it all to you directly. But you niuut come up, and you go first." Mr. Camertn dill not altogether relisk this. lie would have preferred to huvo this incoherent young man in front of him ; but, as there was no tirno to lose, he decided upou humouring him, and fro can up the stairs, two steps at a time, with * quickly formed resolve not to be attacked at a disadvantage. As he breathlessly pushed open the door, hewever, I\lr. Luscelics was at his shoulder, and Ins first words wore not ro-assufing. " I knew it, I luiew it," ho gasped in » chokod voice. Mr. Cameron glanecd at hn suspiciously. They wero on tho threshold of an octagon room with a pointed rbof, forming one of tho turrets visible from outsido. The door by which they had entered occupiod ono side ; against the other seven hung full-length family portraits in various stage* of dilapidation, evidently,, stpwed away here, as being beyond the reach of the restorer's skill. The one opposite was in no way remarkable. The point hud peeled off in largo patches, and .what was left was very dirty ; but Mr. Lascellos seemed fascinated ; his eyos wero rivetted upofi it, as he repeated two or three-, times, in a dazed, mechanical way, "Tho left-hand bottom corner." He turned abruptly to Mr. Cameron, who as abruptly stepped back out of hi> roach, and cried, " Yes, lam sure of it. The left-hand bottom corner, Mi 1 . Cameron. I see you distrust me. But indeed 1 am as much astonished at what I see, as you are at me. I will ruako it clear to you in a moment. Go to that picture opposite, •and pull out the left-hand bottom corner. Oh 1 do go ; you will soon understand my impatience." Mr. Cameron hesitated, but he wont to tho picture, though ho watched Mr. Lascolles narrowly all the time. The picture was a heavy one, and it needed ;un effort to do as he was bidden. "Well," ho said. "What next?" "Put your hand against the wtfU behind the picture. Is there anything thore?" " No ; only a hole ; a brick must have fallen out." " Hhat's it. I am certain it's all right. • Feel inside that hole Push your hand in, farther, man, farther, as far as you can. Now?" " Bah !" grumblad Ml. Cameron, " it's all choked with — Hullo! what's this? There is something her#. It crackles like— lt is paptr." ,And with an agitation that equalled that of Mr. LascelTes, he drew out, smothered in dust, a long folded paper, tied with tattered^and decaying tape. Each of them forgot the other, as they tore the paper open. One look was enough for Mr. Cameron. " Good heavens !" he almost shouted. "It's tho Lost Will. You've saved Mr. Fitzgerald. But how did it get there? And how on earth did, you know that it was there?" The two men, shook hands warmly, and Mr. Lascelles replied, " I urn indeed thankful. But come .along ; Mr. Fitzgerald ought to know at once I will explain my share in this extraordinary business when you are together." They found him in tho holl,drawing on his gloves, aad looking miserable. He stared in amazement as they rushed up to him, Mr. Cameron' waving the recovered document wildly above his head. " Hero it is," he cried. " Send the dog-cart away. Mr. Lasoellos has found tho Missing Will. I wish you joy with all my hearW Mr. Fitzgerald turned from one to the other with a bewildered expression on his faco. " I doa't understand," he stammered. "No mor« do I," laughed Cameron, "but here's tho Will. I understand that." "Thank God," answered Mr. Fitagerald with emotion* " But how did yov find out where it was, Mr. Lascellos?" ' "I confess I understand it as little as you do. But everything that has happened to-day I dreamed last night. The sight of Mr. Cameron's face- brought my whole dream back to me ; and though I fancy you both thought I had taken leave of my senses, I folt it would have been cruel to have raised false hopes, if nothing had come of it. Mr. Cameron will toll you how capriciously he thought I behaved. That was because I wanted to stick to even the smallest features in tha dream, and give it every chance of coming true. Silly of me, wasn't it? But it did come true." " Well ! it is the strangest thing. Come and tell my wife. She will thank you better than I can. I am longing for the details." Then in the low measured tones of a solemn conviction he added, "Mr. Lnscelles, in entertaining you, I have been entertaining an angel unawares."