Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-31
CHAPT r w,
READING THE WILL,


The last sad offices were Reformed. The sol
eml burial service was read, aud A. lien Au
berry slept with his fathers.
During the interval preceding the funeral
Edgar and Gerald had not met. The hear
of Edgar was wrapt up in grief for the loss o
his father, and th= thought Of the estate h
had left behind him never at once entered hi
mind.
Two days after the funeral, the late Mr.
Aubrey's solicitor, summoned the cousins Il
meet him for the purpose of hearing the viii
read.
'Of course said he 'it is very easy 10 guess
in what manner the property has been dispos.
ed of, but this is necessary form.' So say.
ing he deliberately broke the seals of the in.
stIument, and cast his eyes over it before he
lead il. He uttered a alf exclamation OF sur.
prise, and, as if he could hardly believe the
testimony Of his senses, rubbed the glasses oi
his sPectacIeS, thinking they might have play.
ed him false.
Singular! Cnaccountable = he muttered
half TO himself, When he was thoroughly CON-
vinced that the first impression was The right
one. Il do not understand it at ALL
DO not understand what p said EIrar,
rouSing from IisltSSness at this demonstration
Of surprise on the part of the solicitor; dc
not umderstand vbat? Anything in my faith.
er's will 2
Gerald remaina silent, and apparently un-
moved, though hb heart was beating rapidly.
Listen SAID phe solicitor, and he com
mcnced reading tie will:
'knOw all Men by these Presents, That |.
Allen Aubrey, being Of sound mind, do devise
aud bequeath my tslate as follows -
TO my son Edglr the sum Of Two hundred
dollars Annually, 10 lie paid from the estate.
10 my nephew Gtr0ld, the whole of my pos
sessions, Cf whaleter character, subject only
10 the annual dedtctlon as above.'
The remainder Has couched in the same
form Of the origlnal, W lh which We are al
ready acquainted.
Edgar Stalled vlEenily, and red flush over
spread his lectures Have you read Alright |?
Are you quite suIe" said he, placing his
hand heavily on tl4 solicitors shoulder.
Look for yourself. | have read 1t every
word as it is here.
The young man POST his eye hastily over The
will. 1t was os tht lawyer had said. 'There
is some vlllany hcE,' said he in deep tone.
My tather neuer 7tgde that toiH! l am Just
as sure OF 1t as that The sun rose this morning.
Perhaps yOu,' he continued, looking toward
his cousin, "know something of it,
Gerald had expefted such an appeal, or
rather accusation, Ind he had Summoned 10
his aid all the firhneSS and dissimula;ion
which on the occasion he could muster, and
in tone which apptsred TO be genuine, he
replied:
Edgar ] Solemnly declare that you wrong
me with your suspicious. You cannot be
oVeTwhe lmned with surprise at the contents of
thai Will, than myself Permitm to look al IT,
The will was handed TO him, and Edgar
watched him narrowly as he scanned it. But
not the qulveIlng oil The eyelash, not the NOV.
ing OF muscle, betayed that he had laid eyes
upon 1t before. IT seems genuine he at
length remarked, returning it to the solicitor,
1anG am mole puzzled than ever. What is
your opinion Of NJ
Il do not know wlat 10 think was the re.
ply. That the late Nr. Aubrey was OF sound
mind when this instrument was dawn up,
not the leaS doubt. Then this will
bears every mark Of sennineness. The sigma
ture Of Mr.. Aubrey Slperfcct, even TO the ne
cullar flourish with which he has been in The
habit of ending his ma ne. know not wha,
10 Think
When the solicitor spoke Of the perfest sig
nature, m0menlary geam Of exultetion slot
from the eyes Of Gerald He at once queled
/, and cast down his eyes upon the floor.
But he was too late That geam, though
asling but second was revealed 10 the |
searching glance OF Edgar, and served 10
trengthen the opinion which had already Ia.
Ten trm hold OF his mind, that there was
ONE villiany OF the bottom Of all this, and