Page 64 - 1917 Hartridge

William’s Will
(A Frivolous 7'ale of a Serious Matter.)
Mr. William Asquith Penrose, Sr., was dead. Where a story ought
to stop, this begins.
Air. Obadiah Smith, lawyer, came to read the will. Since Mr. Wil­
liam Asquith Penrose, Jr., was the only living relative of the deceased, he
thought it a vast waste of time, which might be otherwise profitably spent playing tennis with Hildegarde Mason, to be present on the occasion. But O. Smith seemed to think his presence important in the legal proceeding, and since W. A. P. Jr. had little mind of his own, he accjuiesced and was waiting when the lawyer was announced.
Smith (we shall refrain from calling him Obadiah, in consideration of our audience’s fastidious taste in names). Smith had entered the library (they always read wills in libraries). He entered pompously, as befitted
his self-conceived importance. He was....................but you may imagine him as you will, always remembering, please, that his name was Obadiah.
After much ceremony. Smith agreed to be seated, and come down to business. Penrose fidgeted on his chair and looked at his watch, cleared his throat, and said,
“ D’you suppose, old man, that you could just give me a ‘movie’ of what the guv’ner said? Pve got an appointment in fifteen minutes.”
Smith regarded Penrose through the lower half of his hi-focals, thereby necessitating a lifting of the eyebrows. ‘‘Young man,” he be­ gan
Penrose waved a deprecatory hand. ‘‘Oh, never mind, if you feel that way about it.”
Smith produced a roll of paper. ‘‘This,” he announced, ‘‘is the will of your late uncle.”
‘‘\Ary late,” announced W. A. P. softly.
‘‘It reads thus.” And in his best last-will-and-testament voice, he read.
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