Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-18

L
M. Vatray, my brother-in-law, shall
have the second choice.
"Anne will take the remaing lot"
"Ah. ah." said Vatray. "Sster Egerie
was good one; that is rather clever on
her Part!"
"AEDe will only have the prayer book.'
exclaimed Matame de ViilebOvs, laughing
aloud. The notary interrupted her jocu,
larity.
MADAME" he said, "which lot do you
choose!"
"The two hundred thousand francs in
money.
..fsave ysu quite made up Pour nisdl"
"Periectiy So"
The man of law, addressing himself then
TO the good feeling of the lady, said, "Ma-
dame, 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 has placed on par with
the other lots!"
"YOu must be joking, NJ. DuboIs!" ex-
claimed Madame de Villeboys; "vou must
really be very dull not to see the intention
of Sister Egere in all this. Our honored
cousin foresaw full well that her book Of
prayers would fall to the lot of Anne, who
had the asst choice"
"And what do you conclude from that!"
inquired the notary.
Il conclude, that she meant to intimate
to her sister that repentance and prayer
were the only help that she had to expect
in this world.
As she finished these words, Madame de
Villeboys made definite selection of the
ready money for her share. Monsieur
Ustray, as may be easily imagined, select
ed the chalesu, furniture and jewels, as his
lot.
Monsieur Vatray," said NJ. Dubois to
that gentleman, seven suppose it had been
the intention Of the deceased to punish her
sister, it would be noble on your part, mil
lionaire as you are, to give up at least a
portion of your share to Anne, who wants
it so much"
"Thanks foi kind advice, dear sir" re-
piled Vatray; "the mansion is situated en-
the very confines of the woods, and suits
me admirably, all the more SO that it is
ready furnished. As I'd he jewels of Sister
Egerie, they are "reminiscences oi which
one ought never to part with"
"Since it is so,' said the notary, "my
poor Madame Anne, here is the prayer
book tina: remains 10 yoU.''
Anne, attended by her son, handsome
boy with blue eyes, took her sisters old
prayer-book, and making her son kiss ii
aGer her, she said:
"Iiectur, kiss this book which belonged
to your poor aunt who is dead, but VINO
would have iores yca well had she known
you. When you have learned To read 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 presentwer
filled GiIh tears, notwithstanding their ef
forts to preserve an appearance OF inc fer
ence.
The boy embrace! the old book with boy
sh fervor, and opening it afterwsrd--
go! mamma" he said. "what pretty pic
lures"
"lndeed!" said the mother, happy in :he
glsdness OF her boy.
Yes. The good Virgin, in red dress,
holding the infant Jesus in her arms, But
why, mamma, has silk paper been put upon
the pictures"
$50 that they might not be injured, my
dear"
"But, mamma, why sre there len silk. pa
pera to each"
The mother looked, and utteFing "a sud-
der shrek, she fell into the arms OF NJ.
Dubois, the no,ery, who, addressing those
present. said:
Leave her alone; it won't he much;
people don'i die of these shocks. AS for
you, little boy" addressing Hector. "give me
that prayer-book; you will tear the engra.
wings"
The inheriturs withdrew, making various
coniecIures as to the cause Of Anne's sud
den illness, and the interest which the no.
tary took in her. A month atterward they
met Anne and her son, exceedingly we'll,
yet not extraragan.ly dressed, taking an
airing in two-h rse chariot This led 10
make inquiries, and they ascertained that
Madame Anne had recently purchased a
hotel for one hundred and eighty Thousand
francs, and that she was giving first-rate
education to her son. The news came like
a thunderbolt upon them. Madame de Viii
leboys and NJ de Vatray hastened to call
) upon the notary to ask for explanations
The good Dubois was working at his desk.
"Perhaps We are disturbing you!" said
the arrogant old lady.
mo matter. was in the act of settling
a purchase in the state funds for Madame
Anne"
"What!" exclaimed Vatray, "after pur-
chasing hotel and equIpages, she has
still money to lnvest!"
"Undoubtedly So"
, "But where did the money come frOmr
.What! did you not sect"
> "Wben!"
Il "When she shrieked upon seeing wha
:, the prayer-book conte ined what she inner
tied"
1--WE observed nothngr'
= .Oh, | thought that you saw it, said th'
- sarcastic notary. "Thai prayer-book con
tanned sixty en9ravings, aid each engra
{ wing was covered by ten notes Of thousan
francs each"
u Good heavens!' exclaimed Vatray
thunderstruck.
: al had only known it," shouted Ma
= dame de Villeboys.
- "You had the CHOICE" added the notory
land myself urged you to take the prayer
book. but you refused"
1t "But who could have expected 20 find
fortune in oreviary."
J. The two bafflcd old egotists withdrew
their hearts swollen with passionate envy.
Madame Anne is still in Paris. If yo
> - pass by the Rue Lafitte on fine summe
:" evening. you will see a charming plctur
'e on the first floor, illumin ited by the pal
re Election of wax lights.
&c adv, uho has Joined the two hands