Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-17
A French Will Story.
"Is she dead, then ?"

llcIlill III DIOWu anu SQOfC DreocnGS.
':And her will % .-
rs going to be opened here immedi-
ately by her solicitor"
"Shall we inherit anything?
"lt must be supposed so; we have
elaims.''
"Who is that miserably dressed per
sonage who intrudes herself here %
"Oh, she,'' said the little man, sneer-
lng-''she won't have much in the will:
she is sister to the deceased"
"What, that Anne who welded in
1912 a man of NOTTINGHAM officer? %
''Precisely So
"She must have no small amount of
|impudence to be present here, before a
respectable family rf
''The more so as Sister Egerie, of
noble birth, had never forgiven her that
mes0lli0aacs."
Anne moved at this time across the
room in which the family of the de-
ceased were assembled. She was pale;
her fine eyes we're filed with tears, and
her face was eurrowed by care with
precious wrinkles.
''What do you come here for?'' said,
with great haughtiness, Madame de
Villeboys, the lady who, a moment be-
fore, had been interrogating the little
man who inherited with her.
'Madam," " the poor lady replied, with
humility, 81 do not come here to claim
a part Of what does not belong to me !;
[ come solely to see M. Dubois, my poor
sisters solicitor, to inquire if she spoke
of me at her last hour
'What! do you think people busy
themselves about you?" arrogantly OBJ
served Madam de Villeboys; ssthe dis
grace of great house-you, who we'd
ded a man of nothing, a soldier of Bo-
naparte's! -
''Madam, my husband, although a
child of the people, was brave soldier,
and, what is better, an honest man.
observed Anne.
At this moment venerable person
age, the notary Dubois, made his ap-
pearance.
Cease" he said, ''to reproach Anne
with union which her sister has for
given her. Anne loved a generous.
brave and good man, who had no other
crimes to reproach himself with than
his poverty and the obscuritv of his
name. Nevertheless, had he lived. if
his family had known him as | know
him, l, his old friend, Anne would be
at this time happy and respected.'
"But why is this woman here 20
"Because it is her place to be here,''
said the notary, gravely; II myself re
quested her to attend here.''
NJ. Dubois then proceeded to open
the will:
II being sound in mind and heart,
Egerie de Damfreming, retired as a
boarder In the convent of the Sisters of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus, dictate the
following wishes as the expression of
my formal desire and principal clause
OF my testament.
"After my decease there will be found
two hundred thousand francs in money
at my notary's, beside jewelry, clothes
and furniture, as also chateau worth
two hundred thousand francs.
Gin the convent where / have been
residing, there will only be found my
book, 'Heures de la Vierge,' holy vol
ume, which remains as it was when
took it with me at the time of the emf
grafton. | desire that these three OBJ
jects be divided into three lots.
''The first lot, the two hundred thou
sand francs in money.
"The second lot, the chateau. furni-
ture and Jewels.
s.The third lot, my book, sHaures de
la VERGE
81 have pardoned my sister Anne the
grief which she has caused to us. and !
would have comforted her in her sor-
rows if | had known sooner of her re-
turn to France. l comprise her in my
will.
MADAM de Villeboys, my much be-
loved cousin, shall have the first choice.
s'M. Vatry, my brother-in-law, shall
have the second choice.
"Anne will take the remaining lot. y
'Ah-ha'' said Vatry, "Sister Egerie
was good one; that is rather clever
on her part!''
"Anne will only have the PRAYER
book!' exclaimed Madam de Villeboys,
laughing aloud. The notary interrup-
ted her .jocularity.
"Madam," he. said, switch lot do
YOU choose ?" ....... .....
''The two hundred thousand francs
in money! ... ....
Have you quite made up your
mind 90
'Perfectly so.''
The man of law, addressing himself
then to the good feeling of the lady,
said, ''Madam, 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 ?'' .....
s'You must be joking, NJ. Dubois !''
exclaimed Madam de Villeboys; s'you
must really be very dull not to see the
intention of Sister Egerie in all this
Our honored cousin foresaw full well
that her book Of prayers would fall to
the lot Of Anne, who had the last
choice
s'And what do you conclude from
| that 2" incurred the notary.