Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-12-24
CHAPTER II.
! THE HEIRS.

But the doctor and Suzette counted too
confidently upon the bequests of Aunt
Sarah, because she still lived, and it was.
by no means certain that Miss Waldhorn
would constitute the doctor and his wife
her universal legatees. 1t is true this
amiable couple were III the greatest need
Of such a legacy but there was another
neice and her spouse, the lawyer Clos
sin and there were, besides, two more
nephews, the Rev. Giles Waldhorn, and
the Professor PhloSophia of the same
name. All these, as well as Dr. Falk and
his wife, hadthe same pretensions to the
succession of their Aunt Sarah, and all
hoped with the same ardor for the speedy
dissolution of the ailing spinster.
Of all these pretenders, the phioso-
pher Waldhorn was the one who had the
least occasion for painful anxiety in the
premises. He possessed an ample for
tune, and every day he philosophical
very agreeably before table we'll sup
piled with the choicest food and bever-
ages He had composed an imperisha-
bic monument Of his spiritualism in the
immortal work, in FIVE volumes octave,
entitled "Lnefa6le Serenity amidMe Cares
and Vicissituaes Of Life, IS tie Domain Of
Philosophy" He proved, in this mo t
admirable work, that sorrow, grief, and
evils of every kind existed only in imagi-
nation, and that sagacity consists in con-
templating all things on their agreeable
side. "a
In fact, he contemplated his aunt under
the agreeable aspect, tozwit: under that
of himself being her sole heir. He rem
dered her assiduous visits, he frequently
invited her to his repasts, and ofen sent
her nice bits and choice dishes from his
kitchen. In this way she was led to
term him her favorite nephew. D I'd
g l have nota penny too much" she
would sometimes observe, but when
come TO die, shall remember You, my
dear nephew"
Z The philosopher heard these words
with pleasure. He counted on securing
his aunt's estate and eclipsing all his ri
walls. His philosophy would doubtless
have gained the victory, if his cousin, the
Rev. Giles Waldhorn, had not exercised
a great influence over his aunt by virtue
of his theology. Miss Sarah was ex-
tremely pious, and feared God above all
things. She was regular communi-
cant in her nephew's church, and was a
devoted attendant among the congrega-
ton, who listened TO the sermons preach
ed by the reverend man, Whenever she
held a private conference with him, she
said with, sighs that he was the savior of
her soul, and that she should manifest her
gratitude at her closing hour. The the
olegian heard with joy these promises of
OF his aunt sa.e j3WoI r alal3vLs 9al
8 The succession will not escape me, 3.
said he, with internal glee " my aunt.
is too pious to let her property 60 into
other than pious hands" 3 asi
His confidence would, perhaps, have
been justified, if the legal science of his
cousin, the lawyer Glossin, had not Civ
en- him q position of great importance
with his aunt, Miss Sarah despised, it
is true, the world and its riches, and free
" censured those who were tainted with
such carnal affections but she never
theless lost no opportunity to loan money
At exorbitant rates Of usury, provided the
securities were unexceptiQnal She was
probably led to this course by a desire to
detach the borrowers from a love of ter
Iestrial goods, and to raise their minds to
o more heavenly contemplations. Her
zeal, in this respect, went so far as to in |
rolve her in several serious law suits, and !
she would often have lost both principal
md interest but for her nephew, the law
yer, who was universally known as the
most unscrupulous, crafty and subtle at
orney in the city. He would have de-
orived a poor family Of It's last resources, !
'ather than fail in collecting the utter
most mill of his aunt's usurious interest.
| should surely be a poor, abandoned |
woman, my dear nephew. said Aunt Sa-
'ah, if you did not conduct my affairs. !
What l possess 1 owe to you, and the |
ime will come when itshall be restored
The jurisconsulist lost not word oil
such q speech from his aunt. lie calcu- |
ated on getting the succession, and re-
solved not to forget himself when he
irew up The will. e r3'of hi1s
GTI ppEI9 III -.