A SHORT STORY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13747, 9 September 1908, Page 8

A SHORT STORY.

"Please make that will just as I have given it, and with regard to tho 'resiuo and remainder of my real and personal estate'— l think that is what^vou called n— say that I wish it to go as if I hadn't made a will at all. Goodbye. So sorry to have taken up such a' lot of your time."

LADY CARTERET MAKES HER WILL.

(By Geo. A. McDonald, in the Daily

Mail.)

Mr Golightly rose slowly and opened the window. * There was a scent of violet in the room which might prove disconcerting to the next caller. Then he delivered himself 01 an apothegm: "Experience teaches me that, except when she has a husband, the law generally makes a better will for a woman than she can make for herself."

Mr Golightly scanned thoughtfully a neatly-typed letter before him, then added to it a signature of amazing illegibility and turned to the clerk waiting beside him. "Have that delivered at once, Pounce, and show Lady Carteret in." There entered a lady, opulent of presence, expensively attired, obvioiisly of social importance. She made a little gesture of indicating coquettish protest at the dusty surroundings, swirled gracefully into the armchair, and ropped a toy Pom into the wastepaper basket. "I have come to ask you to make a will for me, Mr Golightly." The lawyer nodded slowly and gravely, took a sheet of blue paper, dipped his pen in the ink, and looked at his client. "I have ventured more than once to suggest that it would be a wise and prudent thing to do." Lady Carteret was of inconspicuous descent. She had started life dowered only with a good education, an alluring smile, and an incomparable chin. The equipment was slender but adequate, for it made her a baronet's wife. When, a year after her marriage, Sir John died suddenly, she found herself the owner of half his wealth. When poor little Sir Julius Carteret — ten weeks old — born to riches which did not matter to him but with a puny physique, which did matter very much — had wailed himself into final silence, she became the owner of the other half.

Cot your piano where yon eau rel> on quality and value. Hundreds of people are taking advantage of the Dresden Piano Company's time payment system ; and shipment upon shipment of pianos and organs is coniine in month after month. "The Dresden," with years of experience, and a remarkable turnover, is ever able to bell tho best goods at the lowest market rate. But it is not satisfied with merely gaining a new customer; it aims ri making another business friend — and usually does so. Now, with the Dresden Piano Company Limited, absolute quality is guaranteed. Every piano issued is perfect material and workmanship. This reputation is guarded most jealously. Whore, for example, will you find better instruments than the Broadwood, the Lipp, the Ronisch, and the Steinway — they are indeed four great pianos. You should certainly cither call on or write to the Dresden Piano Company Limited, Wellington, or you could see their local representative, J. W. Henrichs.

Now fifteen years had passed. Time and temperament had softened and then obliterated tragedy. The incomparable chin had developed a sequel,; and no longer merited the adjective. Lady Carteret had tasted power and the good things that money can buy. She was worldy wise to the finger tips. had said "No' J with decision and judgment at least three times, and so far as natural affection still swayed her it displayed itself mainly towards the small dog that now yelped in the lawyer's waste-paper basket. ' "I believe," said the lady, "I have thought of everything. I should like my maid Anita to have my wardrobe." Mr Golightly neither expressed nor felt surprise at this announcement. He was a student of human nature. He had observed that women attach more importance to what Mr Wemmick called "portable property" — their jewels and visible surroundings — than they do to ' > c unseen and uninteresting it jcks iUiJ funds which render possible the enjoyment of these things. He had known a duchess with the disposal of half a county in her hands whose first testamentary instruction concerned the successive enjoyment of a silver teapot. | "The whole of my wardrobe to my maid, Aftita," the lawyer wrote and repeated. ! "Yes, and a year's wages to all serlyantu in my employment, and not under notice given or received. Wardrobe wouldn't include laces, would it?" Lady Carteret added suddenly. The lawyer looked up. "I think it might be held to do so." "Gracious! My Irish point is worth hundreds. Anita would sell it and marry one of the tradespeople. Please make it clear that the lace is not included. I must think of someone else to have that."

Mr Golightly added a note to his paper of instructions. "Now, please put down my jewellery to be divided among my nieces in accordance with a memorandum that I shall leave." /

The lawyer smiled and looked up. He had been waiting for that proposition. "I am afraid that isn't practicable," he said, and proceeded to explain the principles as to formality and attestation which underlie the law relating to wills. "What is a poor woman with no family to do?" exclaimed Lady Carteret pathetically. "Affection for nieces must fluctuate. Yesterday, before she made a flimsy excuse for not accompanying me to Marienbad, Marjorie would have had my diamond pen dant. Now I want to give it to Ethel, who is going to do her duty by her aunt. Later on, when- Ethel's giggle pets on my nerves as it always does, ii shall want the pendant to go to Ger-| trude — though I dislike her husband." "You can always make a codicil," suggested the lawyer. "Yes, if there's time," assented hisj client. "Well, put them all in the will" — she handed him a sort of catalogue — "and I must bring it up to date every now and then by codicils."

There followed instructions for sundry other bequests. The provision with regard to the family plate, which in certain contingencies of marriage was to go to Captain Carteret, and in others was to pass to his sister, proved complicated under Mr Golightly 's analysis, and the lady grew restive. The lawyer observed his client's mood, and suggested an alternative and simpler course. "Yes,'' said Lady Carteret, beamingly, "that will be splendid. And now' I think I have thought of everything. Please have it written out. and I'll come and sign it." She rose, glancing at her watch. Mr Golightly looked surprised. "My dear madam, are you forgetting your income •* Stocks, mortgages, houses, lauds; what is to become of these?" Lady Carteret resumed her seat. "I don't know,"' she said slowly. "I hadn't thought." Then her brisk, decisive manner re-asserted itself. "The money wouldn't do my nephews and niecesfany good. The boys who now work would give up working, the girls who haven't married would get husbands of the sort they are better without." "Your friends," suggested the lavyer. Lady Carteret looked earnestly across the table. "Mr Golightly, have you ever thought how thin and slight is the affection which makes us polite and hospitable to each other in this pleasant world? I like society. I like people. They amuse me, they interest me, they stimulate me. When they drop out I am sorry. But it would be affectation to say that I love my friends. If there is anyone whom f should like to benefit by a large legacy lam sorry to say I cannot think of her or his name." "Charities?" said Mr Golightly helpfully. ' I "A splendid idea," said Lady Carteret. "Divide £50,000— nO, £25,000--among some hospitals. I leave you to decide which, but please find out and include the name of the ono where they took my coachman last year after that horrid accident." "There remains £175,000 or there- » bouts." 'Mr (>olightly, tell me what will happen to it if I don't leave it to anyone." The lawyer indicated its dnstiimtion Recording to the Statuses of Distribution. Lady Carteret thought for a minute, then rose derisively and buttoned her glove.