THE TIMES NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA., JULY 11), 1881.
The Stolen Will.
SOMB yai ago, I became acrtuxl ntctl
villi ft Mr. Norval, a wenltliy nier
olmiit, who resided In Vent Fortieth
street. He wa9 a w idower, niul the only
persons living with blin were two In
number, niece and an only son.
Mary Nerval, bis niece, was a lienull
fill girl, about twenty years of nge when
I first became hccjuhIhUmI with her.
Had I not been mnrrled and jxtssewsed
of the best wife In the world, Blie would
have been Just the. woman I would have
'ho9en for a wife, for ber nut n nil iINpo.
sltlou, the cultivation of her mind, and
the amiability of her character, fully
equalled her physical beauty. 8he bad
ho won upou her uncle's heart that be
loved ber better tlifiu be did bis own
eon. This, however, tninht be account
d for from the fact that Charles Norval
was a most dissipated young man. He
bad long ago exhausted bis father's
all'ectiou for him by a dissolute life and
was only permitted by sufl'erunctt to be
tin Inmate of his bouse.
One day Mr. George "orval invited
rue to dine with him, I accepted the In
vitation, and we passed a very agreeable
hour together at the social meal.. After
dinner, being somewhat of an Invalid,
my host excused himself for an hour
while be went to lie down. 1 uuiused
myself In the meantime examining some
illustrated works placed ou the drawing
room table. The apartmeut in which I
was seated was only separated from an
adjoining one by folding doors. I
should have stated that Miss Norval
liad also excused herself, under the plea
of having some letters to write. Left
alone to my reflections, I fell luto a
reverie, which, I suppose ended In a
doze, for I was suddenly awakened to
consciousness by the sound of voices in
the adjoining apartment. The evening
was somewhat advanced, and couse
ijueutly the noise In the street had
almost entirely ceased. Owing to this
fact I beard distinctly every word that
was said. It was Mr. Norval 'a sou
Charles' voice that awakened me.
"Mary, listen to me," be exclaimed
with a peculiar thick utterance which
showed that he had been drinking : "you
Jiiiow I love you. Yes, dear girl, I adore
the very ground you walk on. Your
beauty Is so transcendent that you ap
pear more like a fairy creature of the
iiralu than a human being."
"Have done with your senseless com
plimeuts, Charles," returned Mary.
" Why do you persecute me so 't I have
already made known my decision to
you. It is irrevocable."
"Dear gill, do not say that. Oh, if
you did but know Low deeply your
image is engraven ou my heart! My
every thought Is for you ; every pulse of
my heart beats for you angel smile ou
me!"
"Charles, you are intoxicated. How
dare you express yourself to me in this
manner?''
" Dearest cousin, I adore you, and by
Heaven, you shall be mine!"
"I pity your condition, and I beg,
fcir, you will leave my presence."
"Never, my charming cousin, until
you say that you love me. I would sell
my soul for one kiss from those ruby
lips. I could sit all day and gaze wou
deringly into those glorious orbs. Dear
est darling lovely Mary, be mine be
miuel"
It was evident the young man was
vorklngbimself iutoa passion cf frenzy.
"Mr. Norval, unless you leave the
room I will call for assistance."
"No, you shall not. It is true that
you have supplanted me in my father's
love. It Is true that be has left you the
bulk of ills fortune, while 'be has be
stowed a miserable pittance ou me. Not
-content with having effected all this,
you despise my love but by the great
heavens above us, you shall be mine 1"
I could bear the rustling of a silk
dress, by which I kuew that Mary bad
arisen from her chair, doubtless to ring
the bell.
" Mary.you shall not escape me thus,"
continued the young man. "I repeat it,
.you shall be mine. Dearest girl, come
to my heart let me fold you to my
breast."
A half suppressed scream now reached
ny ears, and I beard the infatuated
young man rush toward her. I thought
it was high time to interfere. I rau to
the folding doors, threw them wide open,
and just saw the inebriate seize the
shrinking girl in big grasp. When lie
saw me be looieueil bis hold, adeuioul
utcal expression lighted up bis features,
and he hurried from the room, shaking
ilia list In my face as he made bis exit
I caught the fainting girl in my arms
atnd conveyed ber to a sofa. A few
ulmple restoratives reetoied ber to con
sciousness, but it was some time before
I could make her btlijve that the danger
wag past.
, I thought It my duty to acquaint Mr,
Nwval with the whole transaction, that
proper means might be adopted to pre
vent a recurrence of this persecution.
Charle Nerval was forbidden the house
About a aionth after this occurrence
business took me to a southern city,
where I was detained a week. The
very night I returned to New York, I
received a visit from Mr. M the
fatuous attorney.
" llrampton," said he, as be entered
the room. " I have been here to see
you a dozen times to-day. Thank Qod,
you have come home at last 1 "
"Why, what Is the matter, Mr
M V
"I am in great trouble, and I want
you to help me out. You knew Mr.
Norval, I believe V"
"Certainly, I know him well be Is a
particular friend of mine; but why do
you use the past tense V"
"Are you aware that be is dead V"
"Dead! Is It possible V"
"Yea, be died yesterday.",
"Is there any suspicion connected
with his death 1"'
" None at all, be has beeu ailing for
sometime. He died of disease of the
heart. A post-mortem examination has
settled that question satisfactorily. You
are aware perhaps, that I was his law.
yer, aud you also know the terms on
which he lived with bis son. About
three months ngo Mr. Norval pent for
me to make his will. As I have before
said, he bad been failing in health for
some time past, and did not know bow
soon lie might be called away from this
earthly s'ieue.
" I drew up his will as he requested ;
by its provisions Mary was made an
heiress, a small pension payable at cer
tain Intervals being only left to bis son.
This will was properly signed and at
tested." " Kxouse me for interrupting you,"
said -I, "but was Mr. Charles Norval
cognizant of the provisions of his fath
er's will?"
"Not that I am aware of, but now
you conio to mention it, I distinctly
remember at the time of witnessing it,
a sudden rustling was heard at one end
of the apartment, and a door that open
ed into an adjoining room was beard to
close, but no notice was taken of the
circumstances at the time."
" Exactly, that must have been the
young man who was listening, for I
have reason to know that he was aware
of the contents of bis father's will."
Aud then I related the conversation
had overheard between Mary and
Charles Norval.
" This may be very important," said
M , as soon as I bad concluded ; "but
let me conclude what I have to say.
The will I had drawn up was confided
to my care. I placed it in an envelope
and locked it up in my private desk.
The moment I beard of bis death, I
opened my desk and took out the en
velope in which I had placed the will.
Judge of my surprise aud horror when I
found it only contained a blank sheet of
paper."
"A blank sheet of paper! The will
had been abstracted, then V"
'Exactly. When I made the dis
covery I was completely thunderstruck.
I could neither speak nor act. I sank
down iuto a seat utterly prostrated both
in body and mind. After a little time I
somewhat recovered my faculties, and
then began to turn over in my "mind
the best course for me to pursue under
the circumstances. Fortunately I was
alone."
" Do you suspect any one V"
" I don't know whom to suspect. But
from the conversation you have related
to me, it is very probable that Charles
Norval has something to do with it.
But still it is utterly impossible that lie
could have obtained access to my private
office and desk.
" I have three clerks, aud they all
enjoy my most implicit confidence. In
the llrst place none of them knew . the
will waa there. They have been with
me many years, and I cannot entertain
the slightest suspicion against them.
Long iutercourse with the world has
taught me, however, to be cautious, and
I determined to keep my own counsel,
so I have not mentioned the fact to
them at all. I closed and looked my
desk again, and went about my business
as usual."
"You did quite right. Did the desk
show any evidence of having beeu look
ed into?"
" Not the least in the world. Whoever
entered it must have possessed a dupli
cate key."
"Aud you have no reason to suspect
your clerks since?"
" No when they entered I watched
them narrowly, but could not detect
any evidence of guilt in their manner.
I then determined that I would apply to
you, Brampton. I assure you I have
eaten nothing since the fatal discovery.
The thought that Mary Norval will be
reduced to penury is horrible to me."
" Leave the matter in my hands, I
will do what I can.. If the will is not
already destroyed, I trust I shall be able
to restore it to you."
M took his leave. I then threw
myself back in my easy chair, and
tortured my mind for some means to
discover the missing will. I formed
, half a dozen different plans, but was at
a loss to know which to adopt, for the
case was Involved In much difficulty.
While I was thus engaged, my eye fell
upon a copy of the New York Jlcrrdd
which lay on my desk. I mechanically
took It up, wlthouti however, Intending
to read It. My eyes rested on a column '
of advertisements. Suddenly they were
arrested by the following, under the
head of " rersonal"
"ARtronu will can overcome every
obstacle. Eight o'clock to night. Jove
and Joy await you !"
I started from my chair like one bereft
of his senses. A sentiment which I can
never explain told me that I bad found
a clue. The mysterious advertisement
seemed to me as plain as daylight. "A
strong will can overcome every obsta
cle," evidently referred to the missing
document. "Eight o'clock to-night,"
was the time appointed for a rendezvous.
" liove and joy await you," meant that
the place of meeting was to be Lovejoy's
hotel."
1 was very much pleased with this
discovery, for besides my wish to oblige
M , I really felt a great esteem for
Mary Norval, while ou the other hand
I knew her cousin to be a worthless
young man. I felt perfectly , certain
that he was at the bottom of the con
spiracy, and that he bad In all proba
bility bribed one of Mr. M 's clerks.
I almost fancied that I had the. will
again in my possession, aud I pictured
to myself M 's joy at recovering it
again from my bauds. My mind waa
immediately made up what to do. I
determined that I would visit Lovejoy's
hotel, and be present at the interview."
. I sat and watched the clock until the
hour should arrive. How slowly the
time passed. At last the hour pointed
at 7.30. I rose up, put on my overcoat,
and departed ou my errand. It was a
bitter cold winter's night. The snow
was drifting directly in my face, but
still I pressed on. I soon reached the
hotel and entered one of the private
supper rooms. These rooms as every
frequenter of Lovejoy's knows, are
divided only by a tblu partition from
each other, so that a conversation car
ried ou in the adjoining apartments,
can, by attentive listeners, be overheard.
I ordered my supper, and while pretend
ing to eat It, I kept my ears open. Some
time passed and no souud reached me.
At last I beard the sound of a door
shutting, aud one person entered the
room ou my right; a few minutes more
elapsed, and again the door shut. The
first person bad been joined by another.
I crept cautiously up to the partition
and lixed my ear to it.
"Mr. Norval," exclaimed a voice
which I did not recogul.e, " I am glad
to see you."
"And I assure you, Sir. Mills, I am
more pleased to see you. I saw your
advertisement In to-day's Herald, and
am herein consequence."
" I knew Mr. Mills was Mr. M 's
confidential clerk. The other speaker
was of course Charles Norval.
" Yes, I worded it as agreed," con-
tinued-the.clerk. " I was almost afraid,
however, you might have forgotten it,
aud feared it would be too obscure. But
it was necessary, you know, to blind
other's eyes."
" O yes, I understand all about that.
When did you get hold of the precious
document?"
"Only yesterday. You know he had
left the will in his private desk, and it
was only by chance that I obtained the
key. The moment I did so, I seized the
document, and put In its (lace a piece of
blank paper."
"Do you think he has discovered the
loss yet ?"
" Oh, no ; I am certain he has not.
I have watched him well all day."
" Well, then, now to business," said
young Norval. " How much do you
want for the will ?"
" It's a very valuable paper, Mr.
Norval," replied the villainous clerk.
" I suppose you know its provisions ?"
".Oh, yes ; I overheard M read the
paper after he had drawn it up. I know
that father lias left cousin Mary every
thing, while on me, his lawful heir, he
has ouly settled a miserable pension.
When that document is burned, I will
bring her haughty spirit down. Khe
will cringe and fawn on me then.
But come, what am I to give you for
it?"
" You shall give me your note of
hand for $5,000, payable when you come
into the property."
"Agreed agreed ! . Here, I will write
it ou the spot."
I could hear them arranging some
papers on the table. I cautiously left
the apartment, and crept noiselessly to
the door of the room where this worthy
pair were seated. I applied my eye to
the keyhole and saw that Norval was in
the act of writing a promissory note.
This done, he handed it to the clerk, who
after examining it, placed it carefully
in his bocketbook. He then drew out
the will and handed it to Norval. The
latter eagerly perused it, a smile of gratl
fleatlou overspreading bis features.
" Now," said he, "my fair cousin
Mary, you are In my power, and by
heavens, I will teach you bow to lore
me. Ho, so, you are a beggar now, and
I am the wealthy Mr. Norval. They
say money cau buy anything. I will
see If It cannot buy your smiles. But I
will not marry you ; that Idea has iss-
ed. To the tire, then, I commit the
only thing betweeu me and my rightful
property."
Bo saying, be placed bis bands on the
will In order to cast it lito the flames,
but at that moment I burst into the
room and pinned the legal document to
the table with my baud. My motion
was so rapid, that the two conspirators
must liave thought that it was some
thing supernatural.
" Hold !" I exclaimed in a loud voice :
"your villainy is not yet perpetrated."
I shall never forget the look of horror
revealed on the countenances of the two
villains. I quietly folded up the will
and transferred it to my pocket. M 'g
clerk rushed from the room, aud from
that day to this I have not seen him. I
have beard, however, that he Is In Aus
tralia. Young Norvul was completely
crestfallen, and left my presence without
uttering a word. The same night I
restored the will to Mr. M 's posses
sion, and the delight with which he
received it was beyoud all bounds.
Mary Norval had no difllculty what
ever, In proving her right to the prop
erty ; in fact there was no one to dispute
it. It was her desire that her cousin
should not be prosecuted for the part be
had taken In the nefarious transaction.
Bhe Increased his allowance to double
the amount that bad been left him by
bis father. He did not live long, how
ever, to enjoy it, for he died of delirium
tremens a year after his father's death.
Mary was soon after married to a
wealthy Bostonlan. I had the pleasure
to be at her wedding. Bbe is now the
mother of a happy family, and beloved
by all who know her In her new home.
M was so well pleased with my
share of the transaction that be became
a staunch friend of mine, and materially
increased my business by recommending
me to all In want of the services of a
good detective oflleer.
Carries His Own Well with Him.
At a meeting of the California Acad
emy of Sciences the other evening, a
very tine specimen of the desert land
tortoise, from Cajoii Pass, San Bernar
dino county, in that State, was received.
The specimen bad been carefully pre
pared, aud was as large as an ordinary
bucket. The tortoise is a native of the
arid regions of California aud. Arizona,
and Professor E. T. Cox, who was pres
ent, related a. curious clrmcumstance
connected with it. He found on dis
secting one of them that it carried on
each side a membrane, attached to the
inner portion of the shell, in which was
about a pint of clear water, the whole
amount beiug about a quart. He was of
the opinion that this water was derived
from the secretions of the giant barrel
cactus, on which the tortoise leeds.
This cactus contains a great deal of
water. The tortoise is found in sections
of country where there Is no vegetation
but the cactus. A traveler suffering
from thirst could, in an emergency,
supply himself with water by killing a
tortoise. They are highly prized by
Mexicans, who make from them a deli
clous soup. The foxes of the desert
attack the tortoise and finally overcome
it by dragging them at times for miles.
Earth's Crown.
In a valiant suffering for others, hot
in a slothful making others suffer for
us, docs nobleness He. The chief of
men is he who stands in the van of
men, fronting the peril which frightens
back all others; which, if it be not
vanquished, will devour the others.
Every noble crown Is, and on earth
will forever be, a crown of thorns.
Cartyle.
t3T We should be as careful of our
words as of our actions, and as far from
speaking III as from doing ill.
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ESTATE NOTICE. Notice Is hereby given,
that letters o( administration ou the estate
i( Rev. r). S. Kielnooud lateot Xorone township.
Perry County. Pu .deeeased. have been granted
tothe undersigned. P. O. Address LauUWburg.
Perry County. Pa.
All persous indebted to a1d estate are request
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settlement to
ALBIRT E. RICHMOND,
Chas. H. 8fiLEr. Att'y. Administrator.
May 10. 1W1.
bjuibenlvl