Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-16
rHE1wIFE,s DOVER.
BY AHETIREDfA fATroRNEY.

knew him to be one Of the meanest and
most contemplate men that ever was per-
mitted to walk the earth. His brother
Peter was not whit better-so that ii
would appear that meanness ran in the
blood Of the family. tad Be-
John was pretty well off, so far as this
worlds goods were concerned. His pro-
perty was all invested in building. which
had cost him about thirty thousand dol
lars. He did not marry until he was for.
ty, probably from the fear of incurring
unnecessary expense. and when finally
he did take wife, it was only as he would
have taken housekeeper or servant.
Mrs. Gordon was poor woman. and
had been obliged to work very hard for
living. Probably she married on pure
ly prudential considerations. for she could
not possibly have loved such an abortion
of man as John Gordon. She took good
care Of her husband, treated him better
than he deserved, and was in every re-
spect an obedient and faithful wife. All
she received in return was the meagre
support which her husbands house af-
forded her.
When they had been married soma
three years, John was taken sick, and lin-
gered along for year, during which time
his wife was an excellent and devoted
nurse. Her whole aim seemed to be to
discharge her duties to her lord with
| fidelity. She had made a bargain with
him. and she performed her part of the
contract with scrupulous exactness.
One day heard that John Gordon was
dead. 1t was small loss to the com
munity, and could not think Of plying
his wife, for her lot would certainly be
ameliorated by his departure. She would
be entitled to one-third of the income Of
his real estate, which. for poor woman,
as she had been, and having no luxurious
tastes to crafty, would be princely sits
pend.
1 neither thought nor heard any more
Of John Gordon or his wife for two months.
when woman appeared at my Office and
introduced herself as the latter
"Mine is very bad case, Mr.. Docket" "
said she. seating herself by my side.
Indeed. Madame, thought you were
very comfortably provided for. You
have one.third of the income Of your hus-
bands estate, or about thousand dollars
a year"
ut seems 1 am not to have tbis," she
replied. gloomiy.
"Not to have it?''
"Peter Gordon has taken possession Of
the estate, declaring it belongs to him.
He says my husband sold it to him few
weeks before he died.
"How could that be ?''
"Peter showed me the deed, and says
it has been recorded"
"Does he (? So much the better for
you, madam. The Law gives one half of
hia personal estate --"
"But he sold it for one dollar" inter.
rupted Mrs. Gordon.
"He could not sell it without your con-
currence. Did you release your right to
dover on the premises ?"
"No. Sir; Peter says did. though,
and shows me my name, duly witnessed
on the deed"
Didn't you sign it 90
"No, SIR"
"Then it is forgery"
81 suppose it isl
"You are confident you did not sign
your name TO the deed ?"
81 am very sure did not, and for a
very good reason"
"How's that 2"
II cannot write never even wrote
my name. was brought up in the coun.
try, where girls did not get 50 much
schooling as now. My folks were very
poor, and lnever had chance to go to
school," replied Mrs. Gordon, with some
confusion.
Ibid your husband know that you
could not write"
"No; l never told him.
dismissed her with the request that
she would call next day. went at once
TO the Registry of Deeds. and found that
Mrs, Gordon had told straight story.
Her miserable, contemplate husband had
given his property to his brother in his
last days, so as to cheat his wife. who
f had cared for him in health and nursed
{ him iu sickness, of her just claim upon
his estate!
He was a william need not say
felt deep interest in the case of my
client, and resolved to bring matters to an
issue at once. The next day, when she
called, she directed me to her sister, by
whom it could be proved that Mrs. Cor.
don could not write her name; who had
seen her make her mark often, within a
very short time.
: The person who professed to have wit
messed the signature of Mrs. Gordon. wa:
clerk in the Office of Peter. My frs
! move was to take steps to arrest him on g
t charge of fraud, aud to sue his employer
t for my clients share of the rents, which
, he had just collected. and which he had
\ refused to pay over to her.
: when had proceeded thus far, re-
ceived visit from Peter Gordon.
"What do you mean, sir 2" he asked