Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-03-11
VOL. XII.
THE wIFE'S DOVER.
BY A REPIRED ATTORNEY.

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walk the earth. His brother Peter was NOT
whit beuerj SO that it would appear that
meanness ran in the blood of the family.
John wss pretty well off, SO far as this
worlds goods were concerned. His proper
ty was all invested in a building which had
cost him about thirty Thousand dollars.
He did not marry until he was forty,
probably from the fear Of incurring nnne-
cessary expense; and when, finally. he did
take wife, it was only as he would have
taken housekeeper, or a servat.
Mrs. Gordon was poor woman, and had
been obliged TO work for living. Probably
she married on purely prudential considera-
tions, for she could not possibly have loved
such an abortion of man as John Gordon.
She took good care of her husband, trent
ed him better than he deserved, and was in
every respect an obedient and faithful wife.
All she received in return was the meagre
support her husbands house afforded.
When they had been married some three
years, John was taken sick, and fingered
along for year. during which time she was
an excellent and devoted wife. Her whole
aim seemed to be to discharge her duty to
her lord with fidelity. She had made bar
gain with him, and she performed her part
Of the contract with scrupuious exactness.
One day heard that John Gordon was
dead. 1t was a small loss 10 The community,
and | could not think of plying his wife,
for her lot would certainly be ameliorated by
his departure. She would be entitled 10 one
third OF the income of The real estate, which
for poor woman as she had been, and hav-
ing no luxurious tastes to crafty, would be
a princes stipend.
I neither saw nor heard any more of
John Gordon or wife for TWO months when
woman appeared and introduced herself as
the latter.
mime is very bad case, Mr.. Docket
said she, seating herself by my side.
Indeed madam. though, you were very
comfortably provided for. You have one
third OF the income of your husbands estate,
or about thousand dollars year.
1T seems am not 10 have this she re-
piled gloomily.
Not to have it!'
Peter Gordon has taken possession OF the
estate, declaring it belongs 10 him. He
says my husband sold it to him few weeks
before he died.
'How could that be!'
Peter showed me the deed, and says it
has been recorded
Does he! So much the better for you,
madam. The law gives you one-half Of his
personal estate
.But he sold it for one dollar interrupted
Mrs. Gordon.
He could not sell i; without your concur
renee. Did you release your right to dover
to right in the premises!'
No sir, Peter says I did though, and
shows me my name, duly witnessed, on the
decd
Did you sign it!'
No, sir
'Then it is forgery
i suppose it is
'You are confident that you did rot sign
your name to the deed!
i am sure did not, and for very good
reason
'How's that!'
Il cannot write: l never wrote my name.
was brought up in the country, where girls
did not gel so much schooling as now. My
folks were very poor, and never had a
chance to go 10 school, replied Mrs. Cor
don, with some confusion.
did your husband know that you could
not writel' ...-.5
NO, never told him. .5-
l dismissed her with the request that she
would cali the next day. | went at once
to the Registry of Deeds, and found that
Mrs. Gordon had told straight story.
Her miserable, contemplate husband had
given his property to his br other, in his last
days, so as to cheat his wife who cared for
him in health nursed him in sickness, of her
just claim upon. his estate.
He was a villain. | need not say Felt a
deep interest in the case ot my client, and
resolved TO bring matters TO an issue at once
The next day, when she called, she directed
me TO her sister, by whom it could be proven
that Mrs. Godon could not write her name;
who had seen her make her mark often
within very short time. go -a..es--,
H. The person who professed to have wit
messed the signature of Mrs Gordon was q
clerk in the office of Peter. My first move
was to arrest him on q charge of fraud, and
to sue my employer for my clients share o.
the rents. which he had just collected, ant
refused TO pay over 10 her. +a. afe..s4s
When / had proceeded thus far, receiV-
ed visit from Peter Gordon. z a...
81 mean TO get justice for the widow
| "Her husband was worth nothing when
he died. -..-... .....-.-..
| "But his wife has one-third interest in his
real estate" -Ii 7ba-
ait was sold to me; and she signed away
her right to DOVER"
zstDid she!''- -a --r.H
"Certainly she did, ra-' s4s=
"Did you see her sign?' e5
s'To be sure did; so did my clerk
"There is warrant out for the arrest o
your clerk; and have some hopes that ht
will turn States evidence, and convict hi
principal"
He started back with astonishment an
terror.
"I--l don't understand your he stammer
ed out.
"Don't trouble yourself about it Mr.. Cor
don, you will understand it all in due time.
"For Gods sake, don't arrest my clerk
He will be the ruin of me,'' groaned he.
"You should have thought Of that before,
said.
"You don't mean to say that everythin
isn't all right, about my brothers. affairs! :
Because il it isn't, will make it right, yo
know he whined, in supplicating tones.
"You say you saw Mrs. Gordon sign thu
deed!"
"Well. no-not exactly; but | suppos
that she signed it,. a,,., ..,--....
''You don't know she 2idnt!''
"How should know!'
"She can't write; she never even wro'
her name in her life!"
"Gracious!''
l pressed the rascal closely, and made hi
acknow ledge that his clerk had signed ii
| .a e.. coreidnration I wonld hay