Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-09-24
vol. XII.
A WIFEs DOVER.
nx nrrrrnf. .rraarrr

Ill. ALI.
A wIFE'S DOVER.
By RETIRBD ATTORNEY.
Everybody who knew John Gordon hnew
him TO be Une Of the meanest and most con-
femptibIe men that ever was permitted to
walk the earth. His brother Peter was
not whit better-so that it would ap-
pear that meanness ran in the blood of the
family. @
John was pretty well of, so far as this
worlds goods were concerned. His proper
ty was ali invested in building which had
cost him about thirty thousand dollars He
did not marry until he was fosiy-probably
from q fear Of incurring unnecessary expense,
and when finally he did take wife, it was
only as he would have taken him a house
keeper, seryant.
Mrs. Gordon was poor woman, and had
been obliged to work very hard for living
ProbabIy she married on purely prudential
considerations for she could not possibly have
loved such an abortion of a man as John
Gordon Shetook good care OF her husband,
treated him better than he deserved, and was
in every respect an obedient and faithful
wife All she received 10 return was the
meager support her husbands house afforded
her.
When they bad been married some three
years John was taken sick, and fingered
along for year, during which time his wife
was en- excellent and devoted nurse. Her
whole aim seemed to be TO discharge her du-
ties to her lord with fidelity. Shs had made
a bargain with him, and she performed her
part with scrupuIous exactness.
One day heard that John Gordon was
dead Il was small loss to the community,
and could not think of plying his wife. for
her lot would certainly be aneliorated by his
departure. She would be entitled TO one-fhird
of the income Of his real estate, which for a
eoor woman, as she had been. aad having no
luxurious taste to crafty, would be P:incely
stipend.
j neither though. nor heard any more of
John Gordon or his wife for two months,
when a woman appeated At my Office aud in
troduced herself as the latter.
mime is very bad case, Mr.. Docket" "
said she, seating herself By my side,
"fndsed, madam, { ti1eoght you were very
comfortably provided for. You have one
third Of your husbands estate or about
alt seems [ ana not to have tEisj" che re-
phi ed, sloomiiys
aNot To have iti''
"Peier Gordon has taken possession of the
estate, declaring It belongs to him. He says
sny husband sold il to him a few weeks before
he died."
"How could that be.''
"Pe,er showed fne the deed, and says it
has been recorded"
.Does hes So much the better for you
madame. The law gives one hall OF his
personal estate
'But lac sold i for one dollar" interrupted
Mrs. Gordon
aHe couldn't sell il without your concur
renee. Did YOU release your right to dover
in the premisesT'
,.No, sir, Peter sayssI did, though. aud
show ed me my name, duly witnessed on the
deed .
"Didnt you sign it.'
sNo sir.'
"Then it is a forgery"
81 suppose it is.
"You are confident you did not sign your
name to the deed!"
si am very sure l did not, and for very
good reason"
"IIew's that"
ST cannot write; | never even wrote my
mame was brought up in country where
girls did not get SO much schooling as now
My folks were very pour. and never had q
chance to go TO school," replied Mrs. Gordon
with some confusou-
bid your husband know tha. you could no
write.n
"No, never told him"
/ dismissed her with the reques, that sh.
would call next day. l went at once to th,
Registry of DECIDE, and found that Mrs. Gvr
don had told straight story. Her miserable
contemplate husband had given her propert,
to his brother in his last iays,ss as 10 chea
his wife; who cared for him in healih am
nursed him in sickness, of her lust clam
upon his estate!
| He was william. | need not say | felt
deep interest in the case Of my client, am
resolved to bring matters to an issue a
once The next, day when she called, sh
directed me to her sister, by whom
| could be proved that Mrs. Gordon could no
write her name: whe had seenher mark ofteI
within a very short time.
The person who protested to have witness
ed the signature Of Mrs. Gordon was a cler
! in the Office of Peter. My first move was I
| take steps TO arrest him on charge of fraud
ana TO sue his employer for my clients shar
Of the rents he had just collected, and which
/ be refused to pay over to her.
/ When had proceeded thus far, Ireceive
a visit from Peter Gordon.
aWhat do you mean, sil ]" he asked rathe
sourly.
81 mean to get justice fol. the widow :
/ ..Her husband was worth nothing when h
died.
/ aBnt his wife has one.third interest in b
! real estate.'' s
81, was sold to me. and she sigued ava
her right to dover.
"Certainly she did,
'sDid you see her sign.'
I "To be sare Ibid; so did my clerk"
/ aThere is warrant out for the arrest {
your clerks ard Thave some hopes that he vi
turn States evidence, aud convict his prime
pal.''
i He started back With terror and aston isl
Aient.p- ..s-
all don't understand yos!n he stammere
out.
"Don,t trnubie yourself about it, Dir. Go
don, you will understand il sA in due time.
eFor Gods sake, don't arrest my clerk
He will be the ruin of me-" groaned he.
"Ycu should haye thought Of that before
/ said.
"You don't mean TO say that eyerytbin
isnt all right about my brothers afairsl-
Because if it isn'f will make it all right yc
know, !" he whined in supplicating tones.