The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-03-31

three lots.
The first lot. the two hundred thousand
francs in money.
The second lot, the chateau, furniture
and jewels.
The third lot, my book, 'Heures &c la
Vierge.'
Il have pardoned my sister Anne the
grief which she has caused to u.s. and l
would have comforted her in her SORROWS
tif l had known sooner of her return to
France. compromise her in my will.
Madame de Vilieboys, much my be-
loved cousin, shall have the first choice.
M. Vatray, my brother,in-law shall
have the second choice
Anne will take the remaining lot"
'Ah! ah!' said Vatray, Sister Egerie
was a good one; that is rather clever on
her par,!"
Anne will only have the prayer bookl'
exclaimed Madame de Villeboys, laughing
aloud.
The notary interrupted her jocularity.
Madame he said, which lot do you
choose?'
The two hundred thousand francs in
money
Have you quite made up your mind?'
Perfectly so.'
The maa Of law, addressing himself
then to the good feeling of the lady, said,
Madame, You are rich, and Anne has
nothing Could you not leave her this
lot, and take the book of prayers, which
the eccentricity of the deceased had placed
on par with the other lots?'
You must be joking, NJ. Dubois!' ex-
claimed Madame de Yilleboys; you must
really be very dhl not to see the inten-
ton of Sister Egerie in all this. Our
honored cousin foresaw full well that her
book of prayers would fall to the lot of
Anne, 4who had the last choice
And what do you conclude from that?'
inquired the notary. I
i conclude, that she meant to intimate
.po hcr sister that repentance and prayer
a1Ee the only help that she had to expect
IL ,hisyworld'
AJshe finished these words, Madame
de villaoys made definite selection of
the readslneuey for her share. Monsieur
yatray, as lF be easily imagined, select
ed the chatc@, furniture and jewels, as
his lot.i
/ .Moasicur F1fay,' said NJ. Dubois to
that geuaemen, fen suppose it had been
the iatentleY of tie deceased TO punish
her sister, itw$uld v noble on YOUR part,
millionaire ayy you. are, !o'give up .atjesst
portion of yonf Shaa ,9 AyN, Wy
wants it SO muchfi !:
Thanks for kind adycc;4sar sA,' re;
Piled va,ray; the m;l sn is yates on
the very confines of I'D woods. bid suits
me admirably, all the more sFhat it is
ready furnished AS to the jewels of So
ter Egerie, they are "reminiscences of which
one ought never to part with
Since it is so, said the notary, my
poor Madame Anne, here is the prayer
book that remains to you.'
i sAEue, attended by her son, took heI
4 sisters old prayer book, and making hel
son kiss it after her, she said:
4 Hector, kiss this book which belonged
to your poor aunt who is dead, but who
would have loved you well had she known
you. When you have learned. to reat
you will pray Heaven to make you wise
and good as your father was, and happier
than your unfortunate mother
The eyes of those who were p-esen
were filled with tears. notwithstanding
their efforts to preserve an appearance o
Indifference.
: The boy embraced the old book witt
boyish fervor, and opening it afterward-
| oh! mamma he said, what prett!
pictures
Indeed! said the mother, happy in the
gladness of her boy.
I yes. The good Virgin. in red dress
holding the infant Jesns in her arms
But why, mamma has silk paper been pu
upon the pictnres?'
so that they might not be injured, my
dear.
But, mamma, why are there ten sill
papers to each!'
Il The mother looked, and uttcring sud
den shrek, she fell into the arms of M
Dubois, the notary, who. addressing those
present, said:
i Leave her alone; it won't be much;
people don't die of these shocks. As fol
you, little boy addressing Hector, give
me that prayer book; you will tear the
|engraviDgs
The inheritors withdrew, making vari'
ous conjeetures as to the cause of Anne's
sudden illness, and the interest which the
notary took in her. A mouth afterward
they met Anne and her son, exceedingly
well, yet not extravagantly dressed, taking
an airing in a two horse chariot. This
led to make inquiries, and lhay ascertain
, ed that Madame Anne had recently pur
chased hotel for one hundred and eighty
! thousand francs and that she was giving
! a first rate education TO her son. Tht
news came like n ,hunderbolt upon them
Madame de Villeboys and VI. de Vatray
hastened to call up)n the notary tosasl
for explanations. The good Dubois was
} working at his desk.