ich Mr. Black let
fall in my hearing I gathered that Mr. Black's talk with Uncle Si had
been rather of a historical and reminiscent than of a business
character. But this mattered not to me; it was clear that Mr. Black
approved of our purchase and of the improvements we contemplated, and
that was enough to insure our entire satisfaction.

When I came down from my study that evening I found Mr. Black and Alice
sitting in the parlor, looking mysteriously solemn.

"I have been advising your wife to make a will," said Mr. Black.

"Why, Alice dear, are you ill?" I asked, in genuine alarm.

Alice laughingly answered that she had never before felt heartier or in
finer spirits.

"Then why make a will?" I asked. "Who ever heard of a person's making
a will unless he was sick?"

"You are laboring under a delusion too common to humanity," said Mr.
Black. "In the midst of life we are in death. It is during health and
while we are in full possession of our physical and mental faculties
that we should provide against that penalty which we all alike as
debtors are sooner or later to pay to nature. Your wife has recently
become possessed by purchase of property that may eventually be of
large value. It seems proper that she should draw a will indicating
her desires as to the disposal of this property in the event of her
demise."

"But what," I cried with honest feeling, "what would be lands or gold
without my Alice?"

"Calm your agitation, Reuben dear," said Alice. "The suggestion which
Mr. Black has made does not involve you to the extent of making you an
heir."

"No," said Mr. Black, "it is proper that you should have a life estate
in the property, but the property itself should ultimately go to the
children."

"Still," said Alice, thoughtfully, "if Reuben were to survive me it
would be just like him to marry again, and I believe I should just rise
up in my grave if I thought another woman was living on the premises
which I myself had earned."

"Oh, but Alice, that is very unfair!" I expostulated. "It is _I_ who
am earning the money--or, at least, it is I who expect to earn the
money wherewith to repay our dear friend, Mr. Black, the sums he has
advanced and may advance for our property!"

"There! I suspected it all the time," cried Alice, indignantly. "You
are already claiming the property--you are already preparing for my
death--I daresay you have your eyes already on the woman who is to step
into my place