The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-23
\ WOoDSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER %, 18ls

STRIVING 10 assume a smile ot Incredulr
ty-"do yon dare to assert, Mr.. Ok.
leigh, that there is now living lawful
issue OF Sir Glendower Gwynneg'
"Yes, Sir WilIian, | do-and can prove
H. ! can reduce your in6rm title to
the dust with a breath, whenever ]
please; and thus: Sir Glendower-as
doubtless you kno W, Sir WiIliam--ditd
IN l740, and. as you imagine. without
leaving male issue surviving him, but ]
can show you, that though his daughter
Ellen died unmarried, his son, William
Fowler Gwynne, ,cas married in
1888" 2 ''ii "a 2'@ q" 'i's12A oaa a.1
+ "Itis false as hell! II is false! ltis
ialsew exclaimed the baronet, vehement
Iy-hali choked, yet continuing in his
chair, with his eyes fixed on Oxleigh.
"'Tis too true, Sir lliam-too true
for you, I'm afraid! ] say, William
Fowler Gwynne was secretly married
10 Sir Glendower.s house-keeper in
1888, and had a son by her in 1898, a
te W months only before he himself died.
can produce all the necessary register
and certificates, Sir William | can!
The marriage was in the proper full
name of William Fowler Gwvnne; but
Immediately afterward his wife dropped
the name of Gwynne, and settled in n
distant part Of Somerselshire, under the
name Of Fowler; but hel son was care
! fully christened By the name Of Gwynne.
It is strong case, Sir William : what
we call, in law, a very strong rrima
facie CASE" con tinued Oxliegh, bitterly.
:" can, at n days notice, produce that
son, who is the proper heir and holder
Of all younow have--who is now more
than OF age" ''-''"' a'' p ri ~"
"Why, sirrah! even on your own
showing. Fam safe, you pettiioger,
il by right OF possession only" "Par-
don me-pardon me, Sir Wi|lIam!- :
There renine years and a quarter, and
more, yet to expire, before that can be
the case. have calculated the time
to minute! And nop, Sir William
Gwynne," said Oxleigh, with a startling
change Of tone, "pay me for the kick
you gave mel'' 'H'sa'9' "
| The baronet continued silent, though
the working Of his features showed the
prodieious tempest that agitated with
in. "Le, me be frank, Sir William. 1
do no, presume to blame you for call.
ing yourself a baronet. and enjoying
these fine estates; it was done in ig-
norance; but it is hard-very, Uery
hard, to give them all up, Sir WiIIinm'
"Whv, there glares an improbability.
If not a ialsehood, on the very face OF
what you sayn' saic the baronet in a
How tone. sHow could the damned
vixen that swindled William Fowler
out OF his name and land forget to put
in a clam on behalf Of her son till
now" "You cannot escape me, Sir
William! Mrs. Fowler died in child
bed. and had changed her residence, by
her husbands order, but week before
her confinement. She did not live to
explain the nature Of her sons rights
and birth. I, however, knew them
well, though a, first through blessed ac-
cident; and have for months 'ferretted
out every fact that can establish ihe
right of that w0man's son to the title
and estates you now hold. There is
not, however, anolherperson breathing
bot our two selves, that know of this
indeed there is not, Sir William" p 81
"Have you here the proofs Of all
this'" inquired the baronet, wiping the
perspiralion from his forehead, and
looking anxiously at the packet of pa.
pers which lay in Oxleigh's hat. Mr..
OxIeigh, instantly united them, and prof
!ered them to Sir William. who sud.
denly snatched them up, crushed them
together, and with frantic violence. OF
gesture flung them into the blazing fire,
where in an instant they were reduced
to ashes. Mr.. Oxleigh looked on with
composure, making not the slightest ef-
fort 10 rescue them. swell! il is but
the trouble Of another copy from The
originall' Copy! Copy murmured
Sir William. agbast, sinking back over
whelmed into his chair.
"Yes! You have burned copies only,
Sir William. And could you really
suppose ! would bring here the original
documents. on purpose for you to de-
stroy them. We lawyers, Sir William.
are generally considered cautious Sc,
Of men, and do not usually fling our
selves bound hand and foot into the
hands Of the enemy! And look Zee, Sir
William continued Oxleigh, ferce!y,
taking a small pocket pistol from his
bosom. cooking i, and leveling Il al the
barone,, ''since ] cannot otherwise Oh.
tain civilitS. shall avenge any future
ins,Ilf vf,t, may dare 10 offer me- On the