Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-03-05
A Freseh Wi,l story.


" Shall we inherit anythng?''
1t must be supposed So we have claims.
Who is that miserably dressed parsonage who in
truds herself here?"
90, she,'' said the little man. sneeriug-a she won't
have much in the will she is sister to the deceased
What, that Anne who welded in 1912 man of
NOTTINGHAM officer"
Precisely SO.''
She must have no small amount of impudenee to
present herself here before respectable family"
The more SO, sister Egerie of noble birth, had
never forgiven her that mesdlLidnce.
Anne moved at this time across the room in which
the family of the deceased was assembled. She was
pale her fine eyes filed with tears, and her face
was furrowed by care with precious wrinkles.
What do you come here for p? said with great haugh-
tiness, Madame de Villeboys, the lady who, moment
before had been nterrogating the little who nher
ted with her.
Madam the poor lady replied, with humility !" 1
do not come here to claim part of what does not be
long to me L come solely to M. Dubois, my poor
sisters solicitor to inquire if she spoke of in her last
hour"
"What do you think people busy themselves about
you?" arrogantly observed Madame de Vileboys " the
disgrace of great house-you who welded a man of
nothing, soldier of Bonaparte's"
Madam, my husband although child of the people,
was brave soldier and what is better an honest mai"
! observed Anne.
At this moment venerable parsonage, the notary
Dubois made hiAappearance
Cease" he said to reproach Anne with union
which her sister has forg her. Anne loved gener
ous brave and good man, who had other crime to
proach himself with than his poverty and the obscurty
of his name Nevertheless had he lived if his family
had known him as knew him, l, his old friend, Anne
would be at this time happy and respected"
/ But why is this woman here ?"
Because it her place to be here said the notary,
gravey; l. myself requested her to attend here
! NJ. Dubois then proceeded to open the will
Il, being in sound mind and heart, Egcre de DAM
reng retired boarder in the convent of the Sisters
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus dictate the following wish
es the expression of my formal desire and principal
clause ofmy testament.
After my decease there will be found two hundred
thousand francs in money at my notarys besides ewelry
cloths, and furniture, as also cheateu worth two hun
dred thousand francs
In the convent where have been residing there will
only be found my book, " Heures de la Verge holy
volume, which remains it when L took it with
at the time of the emigration. desire that these
three objects be divided into three lots.
"The first lot, the two hundred thousand francs in
money.
i The second lot, the chateau furniture and jewels.
1.-The third lot, my book, " Heures de la Verge"
q have paroned my sister Anne the grief which she
has caused to U.s. and l would have comforted her in
her had known sooner of her return to France
rI | comprise her in my will
MADAME de Vileboys, my much beloved cousin, shall
have the first choice.
"M. Vatry my brother-in-aw, shall have the second
choice.
Anne will take the remaining lott
'!Ah! ah said Vatry, Sister Egere was good
one that is rather clever on her part p
" Anne will only have the Prayer-book!' exclaimed
Madame de Vileboys, laughing aloud. The notary in
terrupted her jocularty.
Madame, he said " which lot do you choose?"
The two hundred thousand francs in money!
; Have you quite made up your mind?''
: Perfectly so.'
The man of law, addressing himself then to the good
feeling of the lady, said, Madame, you rich, and
Anne has nothing Could you not leave her this lo and
take the book Of prayers which the eccentricy of the
deceased has placed on par with the other lots
You must be joking, M. Dubois" exclaimed Mad
anne de VilebOys "you must really be very dull not
to see the intention of sister Egerie in all this Our
honored cousin foresaw full we'll that her book of prayers
would fall to the lot Of Anne who had the last choice
And what do you conclude from that ?" inquired
the notary.
g" conclude that she meant to intimate to her sister
that repentance and prayer the only help that she
i had to expect in this world
4 GAS she finished these words, Madame de Vileboys
made definite selection of the ready money for her share
Monsieur Vatry may be easily imagined selected the
chateu, furniture and Jewels as his lot.
Monsieur Vatry" says NJ Dubois to that gentleman
suppose it had been the intention of the deceased
to punish her sister, it would be noble your part
millionaire as you are to give up at least portion Of
:, your share to Anne, who wants it so much
"ThankS for your kind advice, dear sir, replied Vat
ry the mansion is situated the very confines of my
woods and suits admirably, all the that it is
ready furnished AS to the Jewels of Sister Egere, they
are "reminiscences which ought to part with
Since it is so'' said the notary my poor Madame
Il Anne here is the Prayer-book that remains to you
Anner rattended by her son, handsome boy with blue
eyes, took her sisters old Prayer book and making her
. soon kiss it after her. said
) Hector, kiss this book which belonged to your poor
aunt who is dead but who would have loved you well
IL had she known you When you have learned to read
you will pray to Heaven to make you wise and good as
your father was and happier than your unfortunate
y mother
Il The eyes of those who present were filled with
3 tears Notwithstanding their efforts to preserve ap
y pearance of indifference
The child embraced the old book with boyish fervor
and openingit afterward-
D 40 mamma, he said, " what pretty pictures ~
e Indeed" said the mother happy in the gadness Of
n her boy.
e "Yes. The good Virgin, in red dress, holding the
t. infant Jesus in her arm But why, mamma, has silk
h paper been put upon the pictureS?"
r So that they might not be injured, my dear
r But mamma why there ten silk papers to eacl
n engraving?"
The mother looked and uttering sudden shriek she
fell into the arms of NJ Dubois the notary, who addres
D. sing those present, said
e Leave her alone, it won't be much people don't
die of these shocks AS for you, little one addressing
l. Hector give me that prayer you will tear the
a engravings"
The nhertors withdrew making various conjectures
as to the cause of Annes sudden Illness and the nteres
' which the notary took in her. month afterwards they
met Anne and her son. exceedingly we'll yet not extra
vagantly dressed taking airing i'll two horsechar
lot This led them to make inquiries, and they ascer
g tained that Madame Anne had recently purchased
e hotel for hundred and eighty thousand francs ant
II that she giving rst-rae education to her son.
The came like thunderbolt upon them. Madame
dc vieboys and NJ de vatry hastened to call upon thu
notary to ask for ordinations The good Dubois wa