The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-03-04
The Wife's Dover.
tY a RETIRED ATTORNEY

ls'ti ubtS WHO hlIDhS JOIN bOikAJl,
knew him TO be one Of the meanest and
most contemplate men that ever was
permitted to walk the earth, Ills broth
CT Peter was not Il whit better so that
it would appear that neanncss ran in the
blood of the family.
John was pretty well off So far as the
worlds goods were concerned. His pro-
rertv was all invested in building
which had cost him about thirty thou-
sand dollars He did net marry till he
was forty, probably from the fear of in
curing unnecessary expense; and when
finally. he did take wife, it was only as
he would have taken him housekeeper
a servant.
Mrs. Gordon was poor woman, and
had been obliged TO work very hard fer
3 living. Probably she married on pure
y prudential considerations, for she could
not possibly have loved such an abortion
of man az John, Gordon. She took
good care Of her husband, treated him
better than he deserved, and was in
every respect an obc1ient and faithful.
wife All she received in return was the
moagre support hethusband's house af-
fordel her
When they had been married some
three years John was taken sick and linz
gerea along for a year, during which
time his wife was an excellent and dovo-
ted wife. Her whole aim seemed to be
to discharge her duty to her lord with H.
deity. She hade made 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
community. and could not think Of pi-
tying bis wife, for her lot would certain
ly be amelioratecl by his departure. She
would be entitled to one-thrd Of the III
some Of his real estate, Which, for poor
woman. as she had been, aud having no
luxulioas tastes to crafty, would be a
princely stipend.
! neither thought nor heard any more
Of John Gordon or bis wife for two
months, when a woman appeared at my
office and introduced herself as The lat
ter.
Mine is a very bad case, Mr. Docket,
said she, seating herself by my side.
Indeed, madame, | thought you were
very comfortably provided for. You
have one-thir,l of the income Of your hus-
bands estate, OF about thousand dol
lars year
1T seems / am nor % have this, she re-
piled gloomily.
Not to have itT
Peter Gordon has taken possession of
the estate, declaring it belongs to him -
lie says my husband sold it to him few
weeks before he died.
How could that bc2'
Peter showed me the deed and says it
has been recorded
Does he? 50 much the better for YOU
madame. The law gives one-hatf of his
personal estate
But be sold it for one dollar inter-
gaptol Mrs. Gordon.
lie could not sell it without your cog
eurrenco' DID you release your right to
dover in the premi,esV
No, sir; Peter says I did. though, and
hows me my name, duly Witnessed On
tie loet'
Did yon sign it:'
No. Sir
Then ii is forgery.
isupposc it is.
you are confident yoa did not sign
your name to the Gcyi?
4 am very sure did not. and for
very good letson.'
How thatY
J cannot write; nescr even wrote my
name. was brought up in the country.
where girls did not get 50 mach -choo!iac
as now, My folks we're very poor, ana
/ never had achance to 60 to school, re-
piled Mrs. Gordon, with some conlusiols.
Did your husband know that you
could tot wrtp2'
No; never told him.
dismissed her with the yeGuest ill.,.
lie wuull call the next day / wcut {!
oaea to the Registry If Deeds, aud fouu
Hat Mrs. Gordon lad told straigh.
story. Her miserable, contemplate nus
band had given his property to his brotj.-
or in his last days, 80 as to cheat lis wifi,
who had cared o him in health, aul
nursel him in sickness, OF her Just claim
Npoh his estatel
&c WAS a villain. 7 nee} not say