Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-12-10

missed them by signal, btu ala hos Ieea
the desire of food restored By their absence
the old couple eat as usual, and some
times looked up with an expression OF
vague and vacant wonder, and KIND OF
sluggish reluctance to admit the fear or
belief of approaching calamity. Towards
the end of. their cherries meal Weiberg
was called oat he returned 80 few
minutes, aad there was no appearance OF
change In his counteuance. He seated
himself and only his wife perceived the
traces of a wild smile stealing over The
trembling lines of bis fIce, as be tilled
large glass of wine, and raising it to ms
lips, pronouncing, A health TO the heirs OF
Guzman.' But instead of drinking the
wine, he dashed the glass TO the floor, and
buryed his head in the drapery ofthe table
on which he flung HIMSELF he exclaimed,
Not ducat not ducat not a ducat!
all left to the church Not ducat
"In the evening the priest called, and
found the family much more composed.
The certainty Of evil had given them a
kind of courage. Suspense IS the only
evil against which it is impossible TO set
up defence and, like young mariners In
an untried sea, they almost felt ready to
welcome the storm, as relief from the
deadly and loathsome sickness of anxiety.
The honest resentment and encouraging
manner of the prist, were cordial to thei r
ears aad hearts. He declared hts belief,
that nothing but the foulest means that
might be resorted to by interested and
bigoted monks could have extorted such
will from the dying man his willingness
to attest in every court in Spain, the inten-
ton of the testator (tfl within the hours
of his DEATH to have bequeaihed his whole
fortune TO his family intentions which
he had repeatedly expressed to him and
others and to which effect he had seen a
former will of no long date ; and finally
gave his strenuous advice to Welberg tc
bring the matter to legal arbitration, in aid
of which he promised his personal exer-
tons, his influence with the ablest advo-
cafes i'll Seville, and every thing-but
money. The family went to bed that
night with spirits exalted by hope, and
: slept in peace. One circumstance alone
marked a change in their feelings and
habits. As they were retiring the old
; Imam laid his tremulous hand on the shoui-
der Of Weiberg, and said mildly, MY SON,
shall we pray before we retire ?'-'Not to-
night, father said Welberg, who perhaps
: feared the mention ofthat heretical wor-
ship might ALLEVIATE the friendly priest; or
who felt tho agitation of his heart too
great for the solemn exercises /! Not To-
9 night, | am too happyP -,
: ssThe priest was as good as his word
e the ablest advocates in Seville undeftooE
0 the cause of Welberg. Proofs of undue
$ influence, of imposition and terror being
J! exercised on the mind Of the testator. were
q ingeniousIy made out by the diligence en-
g spiritual authority Of the priest, and skill
e fully arranged and ably pleaded by the aid
y vocates. Welberg's spirits rose with eve
ry hour. The family, at the time of Guz
Al mans death, were in possession OF con
le siderable sum of money, but this was soor
,r expended, together with another sun
l. which the frugalIty of Ines had enabled
'r her to save, and which she now cheerful
d Is produced in aid of her husbands ext
% gencies and in confidence of eventual sue
81 cess. When all was gone, other reasons
n still remained the spacious house wa
ID disposed OF, the servants dismissed, til
t furniture sold las usual) for about fortI
!; of its value, and in their new and humble
Is abode in the suburbs Of Seville, Ines ont
is her daughters contentedly resumed thos
&c domestic duties which they had been il
l. the habit of performing in their quiet hom
u in Germany. Amid these changes, tn
u grandfather and grandmother experiences
le none but mere change fplaces Of whicl
er they hardly appeared conscious.
sr "The assddous attention Of Ines 4
be their comforts was increased not diminish
IN ed, by the necessity Of being herself th
en- sole ministranf TO them and smiling sh
IN pleaded want of appetite, or trifing indis
ne position, as an excuse for her own an
40 her children's meal, while theirs was CON
q posed of every thing that could tempt th
tasteless palate Of age, or that she ren1en
e bered was acceptable to theirs.
oh "The cause had now come to hearin
US and for the two fist days the advocates d
60 Welberg carried all before them. q
er the third.the ecciesiastical advocates mad
" a firm and vigorous stand. Welberg ii
~ turned much dispirited his wife saw
ne and therefore assumed no airs of chez
fulness, which only increased the irrftafio
y of misfortune bat she was equable, an
e steadily occupied in domestic busine.
the whole evening in his sight As the
Pc we're separating for the night, by a singl
y lar contingency; the old man again reniir
rs ded his son of the forgotten hour of famil
''' prayer. Not tonight father SAID We
Is E, berg impatiently mot tonight 81 al
IL too unhappy ?-'Thus,' said the old MAJ
'n' lifting up his withered hands, and speal
aE ing with an energy he had not shove
ou for years, thus, o, my God, prosperii
d and adversely alike furnish us with exc,
ur ses fornegiecting thee ? And lie tottete
ne from the room, We,berg declined his hea
ne on the bosom of his wife, who sat besid
g. him, and shed few bitter tears. An
r. Ines whispered TO herself The saeriffc
ne of God is troubled spirit, broken hea
ke he will not despise.'
le "The cause had been carried ON with
n spirit and expedition that had no breeder
~ in the courts of Spain, and the fourl
al day was fixed on for a final hearing an
ne termination ofthe cause. The day dawr
40 ed and at the dawn Of day Welbero arosl
o. and walked for some hours before n
nd / frafos IF fl,n I;1,T rsf ss,,ey;s.s - -