The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-11-27
Select Story.
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A WIPES BOWER.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

Everybody who knew John Gordsn
knew him to be one of the meancst aud
most contemplate men that was ever
permitted to walk the earth His brother
Peter was not whit be,ter-so that it
would appear that mesnness ran in the
blood OF the family.
John was pretty we'll of, so far as this
worlds goods were concerned His pro-
perty was all invested in building that
had cost him about thirty thousand dol
lars. lie did not marry until lie was forty
probably from fear of incurring un-
necessary expense, and when finally he
did take wife, it was only as he would
have taken him housekesper, or a ser
want.
Mrs. Gerden was q poor woman, and
had been obliged to work very hard for a
living. Probably she married on entirely
not possibly have loved such an abortion
of u man as John Gorden. She took
good care Of her husband, treated him
better than he deserved, and was in every
respect an obedicut and faithful wife
All she received in return was the inca
ger support her husbands home afforded
her.
When they had been married some
three years, John was taken sick, and
fingered along for year, during which
time his wife was an excellent aud devo
ted nurse. Her whole aim seemed to be
to discharge duties to her lord with hdel-
ity. She had made a bargain with him
and she performed her part with scrupu-
lous exactness.
One day | heard that John Gorden
was dead 1t was q small loss to the COM
munity, aud could not think Of pity
ing his wife, for her lot would certainly
be amclorated by his departure. She
would certainly be entitled 10 one third
of the income Of his real estate. which
for poor woman, rs she had been, and
having no luxurious taste to crafty,
would be prlnceIy stipend.
neither thought nor heard any more
Of John Gordcn or his wife for two
mouths, when a woman appeared at my
Office, and introduced herself As the lat
ter.
"Mine is very bad case, Mr.. Docket,
said she, seating hcrelf near me.
"lndeed, madam. | thought you were
very comfortably provided for. You have
one third Of your husbands estate, or
about thousand dollars year.
at seems l am not to Rave this she
replied, gloomlly.
mot to have it,
"peter Gorden has taken possession of
the estate, declaring it belongs to him.
lie says my husband scld it TO him few
! days before he died.
"How could that be-"
! .pet6r showed me the deed, and says
! il has been recorded.
"Does he So much the better for you,
madame. The law gives one half OF ms
personal estate----
"But he sold it for one dollar, inter
rupted Mrs Gcrden.
..He couldn't sell it without ysur con-
currence. Did you release your right to
dover in the premlsess
No sir. Peter saysI did, though, aud
showed my name, duly witnessed on the
deed
"Didn'. you sign it,
"No, sir,
..Thcn i, is q forgery
81 suppose 1t IS: =, .;an
lyon are confident you did not sign
vour name TO the decd
~ am sure did not, and for very
good reason.
"Hov's that
al cannot write; never wrote my
name Twas brought up IN . country
where girls did not get SO much sc"oo.' w
inc :. now. Nv folks were very poor
a + never had chance to go 70
school . replied Mrs Gorden, with some
"Did your husband know you could
not writey'' ;,
"No, / never told him
I dismissed ber with. the request 'na'
.hs wonld cali next day. ] vent at once
- the Registry Of Deeds, aud ienna ina
NJ Gorden had told straight story;
Her miserable contemplate husband hao
given away her property to h's 0t9.n, D;sa. rh1
| his last days, so as to cheat h's VIE, w, ~.
cared for him in health and nufsea h..n
v = sickness, Of her just claim on ms o.
tate.
uev,ss villain. I need not 'sy eo''