Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-04-16
a FRENCH WILL STORY.

SHe ucdG SbcHs
'Yes, madam" replied a gentleman in
, brown coat and short breeches.
"And her will!''
, as geing to be opened here Immediately
by her solicitor"
"Shall we inheri. arythingr'
sit must be supposed so; we have claims.
"wtro is :hat niserably dressed person
sge who fntrudes herself heres''
"Oh, she," said the litllei rsan suee41eg,
"she won't have much in the will, she is sis
ter to the deceased
"NVhat! that Anne who welded in 1912 4
man of nothing-an officer
Precisely so."
''She must have no small amount OF impu-
dence To present herself here, before a re-
spectacle family
''The more so as Sister Egerie, of noble
birth, bad never forgiven her that mesaHi-
a7sce."
j Anne moved at this titre across the room
in which the family OF the deceased were as
sembled. She was pale; her Gne eyes were
; f4iet with tears, and her face-was ftsrowed
by care with precocious wrinkles.
"Whaf do you come here forl'-said with
great haughtiness, Madam de Villeboys, the
ladv who, a moment before, had been in
terrouatinp the little man who inherited with
her.
Madam" the poor hdy fePl4eds wifi hrs
militv, 81 do not come here to cfaiEl a part
Of what does not belong to me; come SOLE
ly to see Mr.. Dubois, my poor sisters solFc-
itor, to enquire il she spoke OF me at her last
hour.''
"What! DO you think people BUSY theff-
selves about you'll" arrogantly observed Ma
dam de Villeboys; ''the disgrace of gteas
house--you, who welded a man of nothing,
! a soldier of Bonaparte's."
MADAM, my husband, although a child
of the people, was a brave soldier. and. what
is better, an honest man. observed Anne.
/ At this moment a venerable parsonage,
the notary Dubois, made his appearance.
''Cease,' he said, ''to reproach Anne with
u union which her sister had forgiven her.
Anne loved brave, generous and good mar,
who had no other crime to reproaeh himself
with than his poverty and the obscurity of
his name. Nevertheless, had he lived, if his
family had known him, as / knew him, his
old friend, Anne would be at this time hap
py and respected
'sBut why is this woman here!'
| Because it is her place To be here" said
the notary, gravely; 81 myself requested her
to attend here.'
NJ. Dubois then proceeded TO open the will:
81, being sound in mind aud heart, Egerie
de Damfrelnng, retired boarder in the
convent of the Sisters of the S icred Heart
of Jesus, dictate the following wishes as the
expression of my formal desire and pr incipal
clause of my testament.
/ CATER my Gecease there will be found
two hundred thousand francs in money at
my notary's besides jewelry, clothes and fur
niture, as also chateau worth two hundred
thousand francs.
'.In the convent where have been resi-
ding there will only be found my book,
'Heures de Ia Verge holy volume, which
! remains as it was when took it with me at
f:ime OF the emigration. I desire these OBJ
iects to be divided into three lots
"The first lot, the two hundred thousand
francs in money.
'.The second lot, the chauteau, furniture
and jewels.
ssThe third lot, my book, 'Heurs de la
Verge"
81 have pardoned my sister Anne the
grief which she caused to US, and | would
have comforted her in her sorrows if had
known sooner of her return 10 France
| comprise her in my will.
/ "Madame de Villeboys, my much beloved
/ cosuin, shall have the first choice.
an. Vatry shall have the second choice.
i ''Anne will take the remaining lot.
| "Ah! ah!'' said Vatry, "Slster Egerie was
a good one, that is rather clever on her part!
-I.t7,
! exclaimed Madame de VLlleboys, laughing
aloud
/ The notary interrupted her ioculaIly.
/ 'Maiame,'' he said, (which lot do you
choose"
! "The two hundred thousand francs in mo-
ney.''
"Have you quite made up your mind!'
Perfectly So"
The man of law, addressing himself then
to the good feelings 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 had placed on a par with the 9TH
er lots.''
'You must be joking, NJ. Dubois." ex-
claimed Madame de Villeboys; you must
really be very dali not to see the intention of
Sister Egerie in all this. Our honored cou-
sin foresaw full We IL that her book of prayers
would fall to the lot of Anne, who had the last
clloice.''
s'And what do you conclude from that!''
inquired the notary.
81 conclude that she meant TO intimate to
her sister that repentance and prayer were
the only things she had to expect in this
world.''
AS she flushed these words, Madame de
Villeboys made definite selection of the
ready money for her share. Mons. Vatry as
may be easily imagined, selected the chateau
furniture and jewels, as his lot.
Monsieur Vatry," said NJ. Dubois TO that
gentleman, seven supposing that it had been
the intention of the deceased to punish her
sister, it would be noble OH your part, mil
! Iionaire as YOU are, to give up at least por-
ton of your share to Anne, who wants it SO
much.''
"Thanks for your kind advice, dear sir.''
replied Vatry; 'the mansion is situated on the
very confines of my woods, and suits me ad-
mirably, all the more so that it is furnished.
As for the jewels Of Sister Egerie, they are
"reminiscences which never ought to part
with
"Since it Is SO" said the notary, "my poor
Madame Anne, here is the prayer book that
remains to you"
Anne, attended by her son, a handsome
boy, with blue eyes, took her sisters old
prayer book, and making her son kiss it af-
ter her she said
"Hector, kiss this book which belonged to
your poor aunt, who is dead. who would have
!; loved you had she known you. When you
have learned to read you will pray to heaven
to make vou wise and GOOD as YOUR father